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[0:11] Robert Bannon: It's the round table with me, Robert Bannon. Hi, Benny. This is the round table with Robert Bannon. And this is Sam. Do you remember? We did the Survival Job podcast. Hello, this is Samantha John Titzlo from Survival Jobs Podcast. Tune in to episode 80, The Dairy Queen.

[0:31] Robert Bannon: We're here. This is a very personal night for me. For ten years, I have been incredibly blessed to be good friends with the one and only Matt Gould. They're screaming for our friend Eden Espinosa here on the red carpet. "Lempicka" opens at the Long Acre Theater, and I have been following and been a part of the show since it was, I told you, on the set of Avenue Q over at New World Stages for a musical theater workshop. I've seen it in Williamstown. I've seen it in La Jolla, and now we come to you from Broadway. Eden's back, and Amber Iman is back, and Beth Leavel's back, and my Matt Gould is making his Broadway debut, and I am gonna cry like a baby at the show tonight. I cannot tell you how long I have waited for this moment.

You all need to get your tickets and come down here. Go to LempickaMusical.com to see the life of Tamara de Lempicka, and we are here on the red carpet, and I am going to fan out and freak out for all my friends and family that are here only at the Long Acre in New York City. You have to get your tickets and come on down.

[1:25] Robert Bannon: I've ever heard you look around for the long hair. Lempicka herself, Eden Espinosa.

[1:31] Eden Espinosa: Hi babe.

[1:32] Robert Bannon: You're on Broadway, and we're here and it's your—I have what?

[1:37] Eden Espinosa: We talked to you, so I'm gonna keep you one minute. I just want to say congratulations.

[1:40] Robert Bannon: Thank you. I know the blood, sweat, and tears that you put on that stage.

[1:45] Eden Espinosa: Just gratitude. I'm so grateful.

[1:47] Robert Bannon: I'm just so grateful.

[1:49] Eden Espinosa: Yeah.

[1:49] Robert Bannon: I'm gonna be a puddle crying.

[1:52] Eden Espinosa: Same.

[1:52] Robert Bannon: Same. We'll be there together. And then I'll have a drink because I'm gonna need all the drinks after I cry my face off. Congratulations. What you're doing on the stage, nobody can do what she does. She is—

[2:02] Eden Espinosa: I'm so proud of you.

[2:07] Robert Bannon: Composer and co-writer, Matt Gould.

[2:11] Matt Gould: I'm gonna cry.

[2:13] Robert Bannon: I told every person in the show that I'm gonna cry. You look gorgeous.

[2:16] Matt Gould: Thank you.

[2:17] Robert Bannon: Matt, this is your Broadway fucking debut.

[2:20] Matt Gould: Don't make me cry. You can't start me now.

[2:23] Robert Bannon: Okay. Listen, he looks gorgeous. Everyone, we talked bad about you and talked about how hard you write music. You write the most gorgeous, epic, high, incredible score.

[2:33] Matt Gould: Thank you.

[2:34] Robert Bannon: This is a score like none other. What's it like to see it done on stage? You've lived here in this Long Acre for the past month.

[2:39] Matt Gould: Yeah, I mean, look, first of all, I don't write high to be mean or hard. I write high because the characters demand that. Um, and I guess that's just how I like—I write for me first. And I'm like, I have to sing like this to make a makeup. So to get to listen to Amber Iman and Eden Espinosa and Beth Leavel and Natalie Joy Johnson and Andrew sing these fucking songs, it's just a dream come true. It's literally a dream come true. Like not a bullshit dream come true. Like this is literally what I dreamt of when I was a little boy. So it's amazing. It's amazing.

[3:14] Robert Bannon: And now you get to share this with your family. You get to share this. Your parents are here.

[3:18] Matt Gould: Yes.

[3:18] Robert Bannon: You get to share this with your boys and this creative team. We are—we are—we are on camera.

[3:24] Matt Gould: No, we're—we're five.

[3:26] Robert Bannon: We are—we're—we're—what? How do you even sum it up? How have you been dealing with—you're such an interpersonal person. You do the work. So how have you been taking this in?

[3:37] Matt Gould: One day at a time. A lot of meditation.

[3:41] Matt Gould: Yeah. Um, I've realized like I have to cry a lot. I know that sounds crazy, but it's like sort of a reading thing. Like I have to like walk out of rehearsal sometimes and like walk around the block and like call my friend Jesse and just be like, can I cry? I don't know why I'm crying, you know? And it's just like sometimes you just gotta get the shit out.

[3:58] Robert Bannon: I hear you. Well, I've cried already. I cried, I went to your house and cried, I came here, I cried, I've talked to your team, I cry. I'm just crying all day long.

[4:08] Matt Gould: That's what we're gonna do.

[4:09] Robert Bannon: We're gonna cry. Co-writer Carson Kreitzer, meet in person. Oh my goodness, such an iconic carpet, such an iconic moment. It's pretty amazing. How are you taking it all in?

[4:09] Carson Kreitzer: I mean, in bits and pieces and also like a breath of opium smoke, you know?

[4:09] Robert Bannon: That's right. And when people don't hear the song, watch the show, you get the whole thing. Well, me and you did a—not that I really know. No, I mean, I do. I did all my research. Well, this is gonna be some party then, that's all I'm gonna say. We are so excited. Carson and I have a full-blown 30-minute chat together that you need to check out this week. It shows up tomorrow.

[4:09] Carson Kreitzer: Oh really?

[4:09] Robert Bannon: It sure does. We're picking it up. The only ones who know about it right now, we are. It's me, it's you, and I. Happy opening! I want you to enjoy the evening. She is such a fan of yours, and she is so excited to talk to you. So Carson wrote this baby, congrats.

[5:27] Robert Bannon: Back, you're back.

[5:28] Amber Iman: I am. We are back like I never left.

[5:32] Robert Bannon: Works her fricking face off.

[5:34] Amber Iman: Thank you.

[5:34] Robert Bannon: Singing four days. I think the spectra special, it's Matt Gould's Broadway debut.

[5:37] Robert Bannon: Woman is Raphaela herself, Amber Iman.

[5:39] Amber Iman: It is.

[5:40] Amber Iman: Hey friend, hey Amber.

[5:40] Robert Bannon: Our friend. He did it.

[5:41] Amber Iman: He did it.

[5:42] Robert Bannon: I always say this shouldn't be his Broadway debut, but it should be because it's never our timing. It's his timing, and I think it's right on time.

[5:47] Amber Iman: It's right on time.

[5:53] Robert Bannon: Your Raphaela is so nuanced and so gorgeous and such a character, and the work you're doing and the vocals you all run for days. How's it feel to be up there with Eden of all people and share this?

[6:07] Amber Iman: That's my sister. And we've been grinding it on this show together for six years, and it's an honor to be able to support her. That's like my favorite part of the job. And we have leaned on each other. We have supported each other. We have showed up for each other—crying, sweat, blood, tears. It's a real sisterhood. She and I, that's my girl. And it is a blessing to share this place with her every night.

[6:34] Robert Bannon: Well, it's a blessing to see you on stage. It's a blessing to hear your voice every time I've gotten to hear it through these years. You are—

[6:40] Amber Iman: This is a lot of this is a lot of ab work.

[6:40] Robert Bannon: This is a lot of lean protein.

[6:46] Amber Iman: Hey!

[6:48] Robert Bannon: Yay! Congrats, break legs, happy opening.

[6:52] Robert Bannon: Lempicka, Andrew Samanski.

[6:55] Andrew Samanski: Andrew, hi, how are you?

[6:57] Robert Bannon: Good, how are you? So nice to see you. Congratulations.

[7:00] Andrew Samanski: Thank you.

[7:01] Robert Bannon: I have seen you do this show in many theaters.

[7:04] Andrew Samanski: Okay.

[7:04] Robert Bannon: Through these years.

[7:05] Andrew Samanski: Thank you.

[7:05] Robert Bannon: How's it feel that this road has taken you now you're here on Broadway?

[7:09] Andrew Samanski: You know, it's surreal, you know. The moment I was part of it, I knew it had to be on Broadway. There was nothing like it that I'd experienced. But every year that goes by, you're like, is this thing gonna happen? And you know, I look around me right now and I go, I guess it happened. And it's surreal.

[7:27] Robert Bannon: The journey you tell and your part has such an arc to it. And what is it like emotionally? You go through quite the roller coaster on stage.

[7:38] Andrew Samanski: Yeah, it's a big arc for today, Ush. From kind of a shattered soul to putting himself back together. Um, it takes it out of me emotionally, but I also find it very cathartic. I think a good cry is so healthy for everyone, and I get to have one or two of them in the show, so I'm kinda grateful for it.

[8:01] Robert Bannon: Well, there's incredible duets. Your duets with Eden and your duets with Amber. That second act duet with Amber is show-stopping. What's it like to perform with them specifically eight shows a week?

[8:11] Andrew Samanski: It's a thrill. I mean, you know, they're like singing in your face, and you're like, oh, I have to sing too. Um, it's wild. I mean, you don't know until you see it what their voices can do, and I'm just trying to keep up.

[8:26] Robert Bannon: I hear you. Well, I told Eden my bucket list item about the show is to go downstage when you are in prison. I wanna know what's down there. What's in that little room down there, Andrew?

[8:36] Andrew Samanski: I'll tell you, it is little. So I don't know if there's room for the both of us. But yeah, it's dark. It's very—no, it—it's wonderful.

[8:46] Robert Bannon: Well, break a leg, happy opening. We're so excited that Lempicka's here on Broadway. I feel it. Broadway legend, Tony winner, Beth Leavel.

[8:57] Beth Leavel: It's good to see you in person.

[9:00] Robert Bannon: So nice to be back home.

[9:00] Beth Leavel: I mean, I know.

[9:06] Robert Bannon: Beth, you told me that you are back there in the ghosts of the Long Acre, back here, climbing stairs from the basement to enter the stage in a brilliant—I mean, what can I say?

[9:20] Beth Leavel: Yes, there are stairs. And she walked on them. You should really feel my butt right now.

[9:27] Robert Bannon: Um, that's consent.

[9:29] Beth Leavel: Oh, don't do it. Um, yeah, it's really cool. And I, you know, I know so many of the crew, and I tell the secrets of the theater to the kids here who haven't been in the Long Acre. Like, yeah, you can cut through that and cut through that. But it does feel like I'm back home.

[9:45] Robert Bannon: Well, this part and your eleven o'clock number, I mean, there will not be a dry eye in the house. It's such a privilege to sing that song. I had no idea that it would resonate so much with audiences, but I, as an actor, to be able to do this song, to originate that song in this role on Broadway is why we do what we do.

[10:05] Beth Leavel: Yeah, I told Matt Gould they asked in Broadway World, does Beth Leavel sing in the song? And he said, oh, she is gonna sing, and everyone is going to die in their seat. And that's why you need a ticket, because you are going to Beth Leavel.

[10:19] Robert Bannon: She's got more Tony Awards than all of us.

[10:23] Beth Leavel: Thank you. God bless you. I love you. Happy opening. So good to see you. Congratulations.

[10:29] Robert Bannon: I love that. Marionetti, Georgia Bood is here.

[10:34] Georgia Bood: How are you?

[10:37] Robert Bannon: Can I see you for a minute?

[10:38] Georgia Bood: Yes, please.

[10:39] Robert Bannon: George, this is a bowl of fucking fruit right here.

[10:42] Georgia Bood: I and I look like a bowl of fucking fruit tonight.

[10:48] Robert Bannon: I'm obsessed with what—where—yes, I'm obsessed with it all.

[10:52] Georgia Bood: Thank you. I love this outfit. I just need your color. That's the only thing missing. How do you feel? You've been with the show for a moment.

[11:00] Georgia Bood: I've been for a moment. Literally, a moment compared to what this show has been, which has been a long time coming. I've been with it like two and a half years, like since La Jolla.

[11:07] Robert Bannon: Yes.

[11:09] Georgia Bood: And I fell in love with it at the audition when I got the material. Because an actor that you—when you've been in it a bit and you get a lot of auditions and you do all this stuff, you know what's yours. You know what you believe in, you know what you love, you know what's something. And like not just you look at the creatives and you go, oh, that's something. But then I look at Marinetti and the material, and like my audition was his first scene with Tamara when he's teaching her in the studio, and I was like, oh, I said, I love this. I said, oh my god, real people that are like grand and beautiful and mad and wild and not—and it's not like boring. It's so rich and delicious and vibrant. I was like, I have to get this. So I fought really hard for this.

[11:53] Robert Bannon: And you are transcendent.

[11:55] Georgia Bood: Thank you.

[11:55] Robert Bannon: No, like you all don't understand what the arc you have in the show. And in this time, by the end of this show, it's relevant as ever.

[12:03] Georgia Bood: Oh, it's terribly relevant. Um, for many reasons, but yeah, just the idea of like—I mean, in simple terms, like an oppression of art, an oppression of thinking, or an oppression of like people just trying to live. I'm like, when sadly will it ever not be prescient, you know? But it's—but the way it's told in the story is very meaningful and beautiful, and the nuance of like her story and what happens to her and how she comes through it and what she like imbues in the rest of us. People run out of that theater with that message.

[12:34] Robert Bannon: Oh, yeah, and they run out crying.

[12:36] Georgia Bood: I'll be crying tonight.

[12:38] Robert Bannon: I'll be so crying now. Congratulations, Frank. You were amazing in Williamstown. You're amazing here on Broadway, and I can't wait for this run.

[12:45] Georgia Bood: You're so sweet. Thank you so much.

[12:48] Robert Bannon: I think I stole Natalie Joy Johnson.

[12:50] Natalie Joy Johnson: Oops, hi.

[12:53] Robert Bannon: You have the most gorgeous track in this show.

[12:56] Natalie Joy Johnson: Oh my god, thank you.

[12:58] Robert Bannon: You are running—you leave the show on Thursdays and you go monocle your life away and then sing for another ninety minutes.

[13:04] Natalie Joy Johnson: Yes, yes, yes.

[13:05] Robert Bannon: Well, look, I sing like a song and a half in Lempicka. So I can go sing for another ninety minutes. My lift is light, but I do enjoy it. It's the most fun. Thursday night, you need to get a ticket to Lempicka and then walk on over and then get the second show.

[13:18] Natalie Joy Johnson: That's—it's mandatory.

[13:19] Robert Bannon: That's right. We're gonna now that we have 7 p.m. curtains, it'll be at like 10:15. Come on over to the Monocle, aka the freaky tiki, and come party with us. It is a party every week.

[13:31] Robert Bannon: It's an absolute blast. And we'll always have a Broadway guest. You won't know who it is, so you just have to be there to find out. Um yeah, it's a blast. I mean Kevin Smith Kirkwood was there last week and nobody sings like Kevin Smith Kirkwood.

[13:45] Natalie Joy Johnson: Correct. Say that again. You've been with the show for a minute.

[13:49] Eden Espinosa: I have. You've championed the show. The show has spoken to you. I mean, I don't think I'm ever gonna find a role that is more me than this one. So I mean, I just love the show so much. I've been crying to the music for 11 years, being the crazy girl on the subway that's just like weeping to Matt Gould's demo of "Woman is," you know. Like it's just so incredible. From the workshops to Williamstown to La Jolla to Broadway. I saw every single one of them. I sure did. Oh my gosh! And I was here addressing I cried, and I'll be here tonight, and I will cry, and I will keep crying because you're back on Broadway and Matt Gould's Broadway debut. Come on. Come on. I just I'm excited. I'm excited for the ride ahead. Congratulations, Break Lake. So good to see you.

[14:41] Nathaniel Stampley: Hey Nathaniel, you know so many people have are excited to have you back on Broadway with the "Color Purple" fandom in the out here. They're no joke.

[14:49] Robert Bannon: No, they are not. I saw you do the show. You have some history with this show. This is not your first time up on the Topeka stage.

[14:56] Nathaniel Stampley: Yeah, um, I joined the company six years ago when we were in Williamstown Theater Festival, and uh I didn't do the La Jolla run, but I'm grateful to be back uh with the show and with this incredible cast and creative team and for New York audiences.

[15:11] Robert Bannon: Yes. It's amazing. I was at Williamstown six years ago.

[15:14] Nathaniel Stampley: Oh, awesome. And it blew us away. And now the long road here to Broadway. How does it feel? The pro the show is frozen. You're opening uh right here at the Long Acre. What's the thoughts? What's the energy behind backstage?

[15:24] Nathaniel Stampley: Oh, we're all we're all really excited. You know, it we've uh I mean it's wonderful for any actor to be a part of an original new musical. But also the big thing is like to take a show from like the studio and readings all the way to the finish line of Broadway is it's a dream come true. It's a dream come true.

[15:44] Robert Bannon: Well, this creative team from Rachel to Matt to Carson. And we're on Rachel Chapkin Way. Yeah, it's on Rachel across the street. Come on, across the street is Rachel. Well, break all the legs. Congratulations.

[15:57] Nathaniel Stampley: Thank you. Thank you. Come check us out. Check us out. Check us out.

[16:00] Robert Bannon: Thank you, Albert. Cazette, Zoe Glick is here. Zoe. How are you doing?

[16:07] Zoe Glick: I'm great. I'm great. Welcome to Broadway. Here we are. I'm so excited. How has it been to rehearse this show? What's it been like through the preview process to get to opening night?

[16:17] Zoe Glick: It's just been so incredible. I love to see how the show has evolved, and just working with this entire casting creative team has been amazing.

[16:23] Robert Bannon: Well, you don't have uh easy job, because you know your character's got a complex story here.

[16:29] Zoe Glick: Yeah, no, she does. And I had to find the balance of creating this character for myself and also learning from the books she wrote and the historical context.

[16:40] Robert Bannon: Did you enjoy doing the research? Did you enjoy figuring out that this is based on a real person and a real family and all of the the inform an incredible family?

[16:47] Zoe Glick: Yes, it was so cool to do the research. And Tamara has just a fascinating story. What's it like to work with Eden and Andrew and to be a part of their onstage family?

[16:57] Zoe Glick: Oh, it's so incredible. They're just incredibly talented and just the kindest people, and I've learned so much from them. Well, I'm so excited to be here tonight. Congratulations. Welcome. Happy opening, break all the legs.

[17:08] Zoe Glick: Thank you. So nice to meet you.

[17:10] Robert Bannon: Nice to meet you. So good. Choreographer Raja Feather Kelly.

[17:15] Raja Feather Kelly: Raja! It's me. It's opening night. It's opening night. I'm so excited. I am so excited. You have built the most beautiful, gorgeous show. The movement is incredible.

[17:24] Robert Bannon: Thank you so much. And it's frozen and it's open.

[17:28] Raja Feather Kelly: It's frozen. It's frozen, it's open. I'm excited. How are you feeling? Your journey with this show has been a moment.

[17:33] Raja Feather Kelly: Yeah, yeah. It's it's wild to think about. You know what I think about actually when I think about how epic the show is, and I'm like, how has Tamara de Lempicka lived all of this life? And then when I think back to 200018 when we started and how much life we have all lived, I'm like, I get it. Real life makes real musical.

[17:51] Robert Bannon: Yes. Well, from La Jolla to the workshops to this, this show is the most original thing you could see on Broadway.

[17:58] Raja Feather Kelly: Thank you for saying that. I think that's what we're striving for. Something radical, something original. And that's what this creative team, everyone. Matt, Carson, Rachel, Raja. It's it. Yes. Where all the cool kids are. Congratulations.

[18:10] Robert Bannon: Thank you so much. We fan out. I fan out for your work.

[18:13] Raja Feather Kelly: Thank you. Let's go. I'm so excited.

[18:15] Robert Bannon: Producer Greg Noble. Greg.

[18:20] Greg Noble: Hi, Robert. Greg Noble. How are you doing? You you brought Lempicka to Broadway.

[18:25] Greg Noble: I actually think you brought Lempicka to Broadway. Robert has been the most extraordinary champion of this show for so many years. And it is really because of people like you who have been getting the music out there, getting the story of the show out there, that it is now actually able to be here. It's really exciting.

[18:40] Robert Bannon: Greg, it's your company and your vision and the way that you organize a team and you found this story. And many a years ago and many times. Ten years ago. And I met Matt Gould ten years ago, and he told me about this show.

[18:55] Greg Noble: Yeah. And I can't believe it's here. How do you feel?

[18:58] Greg Noble: I feel so excited. I'm so proud of this creative team for sticking in on this journey. It's a long journey and it's taken multiple out-of-town productions and a pandemic that we got waylaid by, and all of the things that like make making these things feel almost impossible. And this team has made just the most gorgeous production that we're so excited to share with everybody.

[19:18] Greg Noble: It is nothing like you will see on Broadway. It's an original piece. Original. It's it's in a year of such like robust new musicals on Broadway, so few of them are actually original. And the fact that we get to add to the canon, and that's why it's just really exciting.

[19:32] Robert Bannon: Well, I'm everyone needs to come down here. I am so excited about it. I'm gonna be a puddle of tears.

[19:37] Greg Noble: Well, same. You me both. Congratulations.

[19:41] Robert Bannon: The incredible Dylan Mulvaney. I just say that what you do and represent as a fifth grade teacher and as a queer person, my kids that come out to me, they you inspire them so much.

[19:51] Dylan Mulvaney: We tell them hello for me. And you are so brave and so incredible. I just want to say thank you.

[19:56] Dylan Mulvaney: Just trying to get through. It's hopefully we're gonna be okay. And this show is something you're gonna, it's gonna blow your mind. Very queer-coded. I've seen it, I saw it at La Jolla Playhouse, and so I'm very excited to see it again tonight. And um, I think it's gonna be magic.

[20:08] Robert Bannon: We love you.

[20:09] Dylan Mulvaney: Love you so much. The one and only Shoshana Bean is here.

[20:13] Robert Bannon: One and only Miss Shoshana Bean!

[20:16] Shoshana Bean: Oh my god, are we live? No, we're not. Not yet. But you're about to open your show.

[20:20] Shoshana Bean: Yes. And I'm ready for all the Alicia Keys vocals of it all. This tonight, I mean, Matt Gould's Broadway debut is a special moment. Yes, and Eden Espinosa's return to Broadway is a very special moment. How's it feel to be here tonight and be a part of the season with these amazing pieces?

[20:34] Shoshana Bean: It's a wild season. It's um unprecedented, I think. So it's I'm I'm proud to be a part of that and excited that Broadway is back and so vital and that the audiences appear to be showing up, which is amazing. Um, but it's really special to be here tonight to see my friends. This is a triumph. And I'm not gonna cry again as I've done every fucking interview tonight. But I will reiterate that it is the work I've seen her do off stage that is what I'm the most proud of to get to this moment. Whatever happens after this is icing on the cake. And I know how the cake was baked. Amen. I told Matt today, you all already won. They won.

[21:14] Robert Bannon: That's true. They won. And you want I'll be at your show next week.

[21:17] Shoshana Bean: I can't wait! Shout out to Health Kitchen Opens. Come support theater. Thank you for watching. Broadway star Nick Adams.

[21:25] Robert Bannon: Ooh, this show is personal for him. Nick! Nick Mario! Handsome as changes. This jacket is everything.

[21:33] Nick Adams: Thank you, Teddy Von Ranson. If I could only be so skinny, I'd borrow it from you.

[21:40] Robert Bannon: You would look amazing. No, you. So Eden, I mean Qualcetos, Bestie, Eden Espinosa singing to the bejesus up here on the stage. And your partner is a good one.

[21:52] Nick Adams: I know. It's too much. And he has arms and no body. There's no body fat. No one has eaten a piece of fat in the Kyle Nick home.

[22:02] Robert Bannon: If only that were true. Uh he's fat on talent though, I'll tell you that.

[22:06] Nick Adams: Fat on talent. There you go. Uh it's been amazing to see this show's journey for you to be so close to Eden and to hit what is what has it been like for you? And then the kismet of this all happening together.

[22:15] Nick Adams: And I it's honestly like I've been so emotional all day. It's so beautiful. Uh uh to have my partner and my best friend be on this journey together. And um I s I s you know, I s I heard about this show during the pandemic. I saw it at La Jolla when they afterwards when they were like remounting it, and um, and then for my partner to join it last minute before it came to New York, it's just been a dream. For him to, you know, to have eyes on the whole process and be with her. Um I love the show. I think it's so singular and unique and uh sweeping and in this and this Broadway climate right now, to have an original show that's just based on a human being without any sort of you know book or movie to reference to to base it on is a breath of fresh air.

Um, Matt Gould, uh the the score is it's a it's a journey, it's a ride, and I hope everyone goes to see it. Um Kyle just got the legacy robe. I just watched that happen back like five minutes ago, and I'm I'm like I don't have the words to really articulate how today feels, but I'm just so happy to be. And I did "Lakage" at this theater, like I have I'm very emotional. Yeah. Me and Matt were crying out here before. This is it's a it's a family affair here.

[23:23] Robert Bannon: As it should be. It's a big deal. It's a big deal. Um and I was just texting with Kyle and I said, just remember to be where your feet are, and that like eventually it all turns to dust, so just hang on to this moment, you know, we'll have these memories until we don't. So that's what the show's about. So yes. It's so good to see you. I look forward to seeing you.

[23:40] Nick Adams: This is my friend, y'all. Come on. Aisha Jackson, your voice is like the goldenest most sunshine.

[23:48] Aisha Jackson: Yeah, yeah. Oh, come on. That's not even fair. Well, hi, have you ever? Hey, happy over!

[23:55] Robert Bannon: This show's personal to you. You have friends.

[23:57] Aisha Jackson: No, so many friends. I fun fact, I did a workshop of it way back when it was at Yale Repertory Theater.

[24:03] Robert Bannon: Oh my goodness.

[24:03] Aisha Jackson: With Shoshana Bean and a few other peeps. And so I'm really happy to see my friends shine on stage tonight.

[24:10] Robert Bannon: Absolutely. And this is the Matt Gould debut.

[24:12] Aisha Jackson: I know. Mart, I call him Mart. You have literally traveled the world with him.

[24:18] Aisha Jackson: Yeah. I'm so proud of him. This is his moment. I hope that he gets everything he wants out of his. You know, he's not a big in your face. You know, but but he's in your face. He's sure it's music is. But yeah, I'm so proud of him, and this is such a beautiful moment for him. I'm I'm excited to support him.

[24:34] Robert Bannon: I adore you.

[24:36] Aisha Jackson: I already love that I used to jack and this family wall, they can sing their teeth out and out. You know, we do a little singing here and there. Send love to your brother, your sister, your parents, everybody.

[24:47] Robert Bannon: Broadway star Demarius Copes.

[24:50] Demarius Copes: Hello? Damarius sings up and down and down and around.

[24:54] Robert Bannon: Sometimes.

[24:55] Demarius Copes: A lot of time.

[24:56] Robert Bannon: Okay. A lot of time. You know what's fun? And I know this for a stand this is a trouble. Like a fun time.

[25:02] Demarius Copes: Well, a fun time. But when you get on that stage, you burn this place down.

[25:08] Robert Bannon: Okay. Yes.

[25:09] Demarius Copes: Come on. What did you think? You saw you were here, you saw the show, you saw the dress.

[25:13] Demarius Copes: Yes, I saw the invited dress. I'm so excited to see it again. I'm thrilled by the voices that we hear. I'm thrilled by the movement. The um the costumes are so amazing. The lighting design is incredible. I'm excited to be back because I've been telling everybody I cannot wait to hear Amber Iman sing to me for a long time. The voice that she is giving us at the Long Acre Theater is unmatched. She makes choices and runs.

[25:30] Robert Bannon: Yeah.

[25:37] Demarius Copes: She hears delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. We'll be able to most. We love that voice too. This voice is inspire everybody. Thank you so much. Come down here and see the show. Good to see you. Watch Anna Wintour walk by.

[25:50] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? Anna Wintour and our winter and our winter and her winter and a winter. Woo! Wherever you want to be, because you look gorgeous.

[25:59] Anna Wintour: Thank you, Jolly. How was it to pick out this outfit?

[26:02] Kirk Cambridge: Easy. It's or two. Of course, yes. Tell everyone your name, if you don't mind.

[26:06] Kirk Cambridge: Kirk Cambridge Doutbush Makeup Designer. What is it like to do makeup for this beautiful cast?

[26:11] Kirk Cambridge: It is out of this world. I it I came into it not realizing what it was going to be. And so I had one I had an idea. And then I had a talk with Rachel and with Paloma. And it turned into what we see.

[26:26] Robert Bannon: Well, they're beat down from head to toe up there. They look gorgeous.

[26:29] Kirk Cambridge: Thank you. Do you now like create a design? How does it teach me? I'm dumb about this.

[26:34] Kirk Cambridge: So you go in, and I'm I I came in early, um, and so I pre-designed everything with the cast, and I was like, what do you see? What do you feel? How do you want? And so we came up with a very 1920s that that was able to transcend time and become what it became. So especially for the ensemble. With ensemble, what we did is we we I felt like we needed to make take them off of the off of the canvas and put them on stage.

[27:03] Robert Bannon: And so when you look at them, there's a smoky eye, there's a glossy skin. And it is so sure there's lines, this woman is up there in makeup, and uh when I win the mega millions, I'm just gonna have you do me beat my face down every day.

[27:18] Amber Iman: Anytime.

[27:19] Robert Bannon: That's happy opening. The show is stunning like oh my god, it really is.

[27:24] Eden Espinosa: I saw it for the first time um two nights ago.

[27:27] Robert Bannon: Well, I'm gonna be in there crying my face off.

[27:29] Eden Espinosa: Oh my god, you cry, you laugh, you feel it's incredible. It's an incredible production, and it's really the show to see now.

[27:36] Amber Iman: It is it is the show to see, so get your tickets and come on down, LampikaMusical.com.

[27:40] Robert Bannon: Such a pleasure to meet you.

[27:41] Amber Iman: Likewise, thank you.

[27:43] Robert Bannon: Incredible Limpica ensemble. Here's Nicholas Ward.

[27:48] Nicholas Ward: I'm on the range, come on, Range. You know, you know this is what we do, this is what we do. How you feel?

[27:53] Nicholas Ward: I'm ecstatic, like exhausted, but also super excited to finally get to share this with audiences.

[28:00] Robert Bannon: I'm obsessed with this outfit.

[28:01] Nicholas Ward: You know, we had to dress it up for Limpika Jenkins, you know.

[28:07] Robert Bannon: And the boots.

[28:08] Nicholas Ward: Come on, boots, you know, serve in loops since evening.

[28:11] Nicholas Ward: Yeah, well, the show's frozen. I mean, thank God. I did Frozen on Broadway, so that's a little triggering for me. But that said, yes, we are finally frozen.

[28:22] Nicholas Ward: Hey! We're dropping bombs on Lampika Red Carpet!

[28:26] Robert Bannon: I arranged that.

[28:27] Nicholas Ward: That was good. I arranged this. This is Giving New York, exclusively giving that to us. Um what is it? How do you take care of yourself to do this HR? Because you're a dance dance and walking upstairs.

[28:36] Nicholas Ward: I'm not a dancer, so it's been a challenge, y'all. A challenge. But you know, I love to go to get a foot massage at least once a week. A little reflexology because my feet be burning from walking up all these stairs.

[28:51] Nicholas Ward: There's a lot of stairs. I sometimes call it stairs the musical, but I'm it's an honor to be nominated. Happy to be here, easy to work with. Um, and yeah, we're just trying to get through, you know. It's the Broadway schedule, it's not easy, but that said, we're so excited to like share this beautiful show with audiences.

[29:06] Robert Bannon: I'm so excited to be here tonight. I'm so excited to see it. Congratulations. Break a leg, yeah, singing easy show to sing.

[29:14] Nicholas Ward: No, it ain't. I'll be going home like let me get a little tea and a cough drop on my way home.

[29:19] Robert Bannon: Yeah, it's so good to see you. It's crazy here. It's busy. There's a lot of people here. And I know these people. It's and I'm so excited for them. And it's wild, and it's weird, and it's surreal, and I'm excited. I'm like the most excited you need to see this show.

[29:38] Michael Milcannon: Michael!

[29:44] Robert Bannon: His height comes in such handy. How do you feel tonight? You're opening Limpika!

[29:46] Michael Milcannon: I am so excited. I have never felt shorter in my entire life, Michael.

[29:52] Robert Bannon: You know, you dance your face off.

[29:54] Michael Milcannon: We do. They have us doing a lot of dancing. And a lot of singing. High belting singing.

[30:01] Michael Milcannon: Belting, dancing, singing, kicking. And you gotta s and the looks. What is it like to put this costume on and then get up there and tell this tale for two and a half hours every single night?

[30:11] Michael Milcannon: It's so thrilling, especially for the ensemble. The design is built to be sort of anonymity, have anonymity through the decades, and so you have this fabulous femme look that allows you to also be masked. It's it's such a blend of both worlds. It is like the most modern classic epic show, and it's original on Broadway.

[30:31] Robert Bannon: Oh, 100%. We need more originals. More originals, please.

[30:34] Michael Milcannon: Thank you so much. Break legs, happy opening!

[30:36] Robert Bannon: Thank you. Bye. Thank you. Would you introduce yourself?

[30:41] Julio Ray: I'm Julio Ray.

[30:42] Robert Bannon: Julio, how's it feel? Your opening here on Broadway, it's Limpika.

[30:46] Julio Ray: I know, it's so exciting. We've been in rehearsals for so long, so it's it feels nice to finally be at the end of the beginning.

[30:53] Robert Bannon: Yeah, this exactly. And what was your journey like to join the show?

[30:57] Julio Ray: Oh my gosh. Well, I'm I'm one of the new company members. I had not done the show in previous iterations, so I came in not knowing a thing, and the show has been such a blessing. It's a fresh new story that people wouldn't expect to be thrown on a Broadway stage. So I'm just grateful to be here.

[31:14] Robert Bannon: What can you say about singing Matt's words and and and and speaking Carson's words and doing the Raja dance?

[31:21] Julio Ray: Not easy. Not easy, but it's all intentional. Like everything serves a purpose, some way, some form in the show. So it feels cool to be doing a piece where there's weight to everything and there's meaning behind everything.

[31:36] Robert Bannon: Oh, yes. And it is it is thrilling.

[31:39] Julio Ray: Yes.

[31:40] Robert Bannon: Absolutely. It is, it is, one thousand percent. Well, break legs, happy opening, congratulations.

[31:44] Julio Ray: Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Nice meeting you guys.

[31:46] Robert Bannon: Hi, Steven. I'm obsessed with you, Steven.

[31:49] Steven: Oh, you follow me on Instagram, don't you?

[31:50] Robert Bannon: I did. I followed Steven on Instagram because I wanted him to come to the red carpet and say which one of us reporters would he date. But you know.

[31:57] Steven: Well, you're the one in the pink suit on the carpenter interview. Steven, you're so good in this show.

[32:02] Steven: Thank you, thank you. And yes, I know I'm everyone wants to talk to you about what potato you would date, but it's so funny. You know, I haven't gotten a lot of that tonight, so I'm happy to talk about my potato journey.

[32:12] Robert Bannon: The peeps made me die. The artwork made me die.

[32:15] Steven: Right.

[32:16] Robert Bannon: I'm like, I remember that.

[32:17] Steven: Right.

[32:18] Robert Bannon: I do, I do. It's important work and ever and someone has to do it. It's because it's this. It's the if you were beeps, would you jane, would I date you guys? Some people don't recognize me without the little turn in my eye.

[32:27] Steven: But you sing and dance.

[32:29] Robert Bannon: Thank you. I do. I my roots were in the theater. How long have you been a part of this Limpika journey?

[32:34] Steven: This journey started for me in October, I think, is when I auditioned. So pretty recent. I thought originally that the show was uh called Lusitania, and it was about a boat. And I was wrong. It's about a bisexual icon.

[32:46] Robert Bannon: Yeah, literally. Yeah, different. Written by some queer icons and with an incredible cast OP.

[32:52] Steven: Right. And that's not to say that the Lusitania wasn't bisexual, it's just it hasn't been reported.

[32:56] Robert Bannon: No, but I heard rumors.

[32:58] Steven: Yeah, I mean boats. There are a lot of down low boats sail both ways. See why you need to follow him on Instagram and come down to Lumpica? How's it now that the show's frozen in your opening? How do you how's it feel to it's it's set, you're ready.

[33:11] Steven: I we're so excited, and we're so ready. Like it's been a wild previews process, and we've just been sharpening the show every night, and it's so gay, and it's so sexy and so fun, and you're you have to see it. You'll you'll miss out if you're done. You have to see it.

[33:25] Robert Bannon: I'll be excited. I saw a dress, and now I'm here tonight. I can't wait to see the changes.

[33:30] Steven: Yeah, baby. So congratulations on everything. So nice to meet you.

[33:34] Robert Bannon: How are you?

[33:35] Alex Aquilino: Good, how are you?

[33:35] Robert Bannon: Great. Would you like to introduce yourself?

[33:37] Alex Aquilino: Yes, hello. My name is Alex Aquilino. I'm in the ensemble of Lampika on Broadway.

[33:41] Robert Bannon: And you are on Broadway, and it's opening night.

[33:43] Alex Aquilino: I know, it's very exciting. And it is an energy that is beyond out here. Everyone is very excited. I'm excited.

[33:49] Robert Bannon: How long have you been a part of this show?

[33:52] Alex Aquilino: I just started when they moved the cast to New York, so it's been about two months of a wild two months.

[33:52] Robert Bannon: A wild two months. I can imagine. Learning, changing, editing, making better.

[34:04] Alex Aquilino: Yes.

[34:05] Robert Bannon: Grueling.

[34:05] Alex Aquilino: I heard I've been saying this over and over again. I came to the invited dress, and I hear it's a whole new show.

[34:09] Alex Aquilino: It's a whole new show. I mean, the bones are still there from what you saw at Invited Dress, but what was that? Four weeks ago?

[34:15] Robert Bannon: Yes.

[34:15] Alex Aquilino: Yeah. So it's there's definitely a lot of new stuff, and I think it's all wonderful work. I don't think the creative team in this cast has slept in the past four weeks.

[34:23] Robert Bannon: No, I don't think so either. I'm pretty sure we would finish the show at like 10:30, and they would just stay for hours, just figuring out what we're gonna switch and clean up the next day. And I don't know how they've done it all.

[34:36] Alex Aquilino: If you're a queer person, a woman, an artist, a human being who's ever been in love, this show is for it's really for everyone. I think it's for everyone. If you uh uh art, love, romance, fear, uh all of it. It's it's epic, epic, epic.

[34:53] Robert Bannon: It is an epic musical. Epic music congratulations, thank you. Let's go.

[34:54] Alex Aquilino: Thank you.

[34:59] Robert Bannon: Would you mind introducing yourself?

[35:01] Lauren Blackman: Yeah, I'm Lauren Blackman. I'm in the ensemble.

[35:03] Robert Bannon: And you're gorgeous. Your dress is gorgeous. Come on.

[35:05] Lauren Blackman: This is my mom's dress from 1980 something.

[35:10] Robert Bannon: You are kidding. Well, it is living out here on the carpet.

[35:13] Lauren Blackman: Thank you. How was this journey for you to join Lampika? When did you join the show?

[35:16] Lauren Blackman: I joined Lampika in 2018. I was doing Anastasia, and there was another show about Russia to Paris that I thought I wasn't cool enough for. It's like this feels like an edgier show than I am. And luckily they saw something in it, and I've been with it ever since.

[35:34] Robert Bannon: There's a lot of Anastasia on up most.

[35:37] Lauren Blackman: We have a lot. There's there's a total of four of us. This one being one and uh Anastasia is represented. We are in Lampika. And this long journey, it's been for you six years, it's 14 years for this show. How does it feel that this show's opening on Broadway?

[35:51] Lauren Blackman: Uh it feels extraordinary. I'm really I'm on the verge of laughing and crying and you know all the emotions at once.

[35:59] Robert Bannon: Well, I tease. Um, Raja doesn't do easy choreo, and Matt does not do easy music. And um, you guys are working your faces. It is a feat, it is brilliant.

[36:09] Lauren Blackman: Yeah, it's a lot of it's a lot of fun among all that work. When you hit it, it feels really good.

[36:16] Robert Bannon: Well, it feels really good to be in the audience, so I'm looking forward to tonight. Congratulations, break all the legs. Happy opening.

[36:21] Lauren Blackman: Thank you.

[36:22] Robert Bannon: We're squeezed in here, but come on in. We're we're gonna get close real fast here on this red carpet. So we love to tell everyone your name.

[36:27] Simone Rose: My name is Simone Rose.

[36:30] Robert Bannon: And you're gorgeous.

[36:32] Simone Rose: Thank you. Thanks. And your art is gorgeous. I was here the other night.

[36:36] Robert Bannon: Yo! You were up here singing and dancing and giving looks.

[36:40] Simone Rose: We are certainly trying.

[36:41] Robert Bannon: You certainly are. What has this process been to get this show to opening night?

[36:45] Simone Rose: Oh my god. It's been crazy. I mean, previews in itself is insane because we're changing things every single day. But you know, I've been with it for five and a half years and just watching the monumental changes that have been made since I joined in December 2018 is crazy.

[37:04] Robert Bannon: So when you joined in December 2018, where where was the show at that point?

[37:08] Simone Rose: We were doing a lab. It was right after they did Williamstown and they did a lab that winter. And I was doing Once on this Island at the time, and I was rehearsing that during the day, and I was like, I don't know what this show is, but I'm in love. Please never fire me.

[37:22] Robert Bannon: Well, let me tell you, I was at that lab.

[37:24] Simone Rose: Oh yeah, were you really?

[37:26] Robert Bannon: I sure was. Do you re okay? Back then, one of the ensemble girls had her own song and it was a lot more foo, and it was like French.

[37:32] Simone Rose: That was me. Get yeah, I was like spelting in French really high. And they caught it, and I was like, No, bring it back!

[37:39] Robert Bannon: Well, you never know. Now you have it for your 54J below solo show. But you they this team seems to keep people and it becomes a family.

[37:48] Simone Rose: Oh my god, absolutely. Yeah. Well, I'm excited to see the show tonight.

[37:53] Robert Bannon: I oh yes. I have I am like I've been Matt Gould has been like a brother to me for 10 years, and I cannot be more excited about his Broadway debut tonight. I'm gonna like boo-hoo cry.

[38:02] Simone Rose: Oh, dude. Bows is like, good luck. I'm I'm happy I'm changing my makeup back to this after the show because I will be hopping.

[38:12] Robert Bannon: You got on Broadway. We'll be happy break legs, happy opening.

[38:15] Simone Rose: Thanks. So beautiful to see you. Congratulations.

[38:18] Holly Conway Fields: Would you like to introduce yourself for us? We become very close friends, real close on this record.

[38:23] Robert Bannon: Hi, my name is Holly Conway Fields.

[38:26] Holly Conway Fields: Holly, I saw the show. You are dancing.

[38:29] Robert Bannon: Allegedly.

[38:30] Holly Conway Fields: Oh no, I see. Dancing. You know, Matt Gould does not write easy music to sing.

[38:35] Robert Bannon: He does not. The first day, I was like seven, four time signature. Who invented this? Did Matt Gould invent this?

[38:40] Holly Conway Fields: Yes, he and he thinks everyone could sing like he can sing up there in editing. It's impressive.

[38:45] Robert Bannon: Well, it's the most amazing score on Broadway right now. What has it been like to be in the room with this cast and tell this story?

[38:51] Holly Conway Fields: I feel like I've gained so much knowledge, my head could explode. I mean, everyone is a genius. Every single person, the creative team, the cast. I learned something from all of them every time I step into the room. Um, and it's been a very big challenge for me being in the show because I didn't think I could dance the way they have us dancing. Um Yeah, so I I really think that the show has simply made me a better person, a better artist, a better performer.

[39:14] Robert Bannon: Yeah, and it's been very inspiring.

[39:15] Holly Conway Fields: Well, it's been inspiring to watch. I was at Dress and I heard this a whole new show.

[39:19] Holly Conway Fields: You all worked. It is a whole new show. Every day it was a whole new show. What was it like when it froze?

[39:26] Holly Conway Fields: Oh my gosh, I've got a margarita. I think we were all just like glory, glory.

[39:33] Robert Bannon: It's just amazing how much I mean she's done so much in her life. How do you pick what we put on stage and and how we tell it?

[39:39] Holly Conway Fields: You have to be very specific about how you tell a story like this, you know, because you want the importance to get through, the important stuff to cut through. And we worked really hard to make sure that the important stuff cut through.

[39:48] Robert Bannon: Well, break legs. Let's go. I'm so excited to be here tonight. Congratulations on all the hard work.

[39:53] Holly Conway Fields: Thank you so much.

[39:54] Robert Bannon: Well, there you have it. We're here. I'm going inside, so I gotta hurry on up, everybody, and get out of here. LampikaMusical.com, get your tickets, come see the show. I'm gonna boo this is a special moment for me for Broadway, for art, for queer culture, for original musicals. Thank you for being here. The best is yet to come. Robert Bannon is saying, have a good one. Woman is gorgeous, y'all.