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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. My name is Robert Bannon. I'm so excited you're here listening to us on the Broadway Podcast Network or watching us on our roundtable YouTube channel. No matter where you're watching or listening to us, find us. Find us on Instagram at Robert M. Bannon. Find us on the Broadway Podcast Network. Go to BroadwayPodcastNetwork.com. Find us on Fridays on Broadway World. Find us on our YouTube channel. Make sure you like, comment, and subscribe. You know all the deal. You know how we do. Well, one of my favorite events of the year, covering red carpets and stuff, is being able to go to the Rosie's Theater Kid Gala, the Passing It Forward Gala this year for 2024.

It was a beautiful event. It is always a nice event that is so heartwarming and inspiring to see the kids, to see the next generation of artists and leaders learning for free. 25,000 New York City public school students over the past 21 years have gotten in service from the Rosie's Theater Kids. They don't only teach theater, they teach SAT prep, college readiness, job readiness, tutoring services. Plus, they teach them how to sing and dance and act with the best mentees that you can possibly find. We had the chance to speak to this year's honoree, Charles Randolph-Wright, who went from Broadway in "Mean Girls" to being in directing, producing, writing TV, film, Broadway. You've seen so much of his work. He is such an inspiration. And trustee member B.D. Wong was there, host Judy Gold was there. Some really great Broadway talent as well. Check out our coverage of the Rosies Theater Gala.

[1:25] Charles Randolph-Wright: Well, we're here with Charles Randolph-Wright, who is, I don't know how to describe you. You're an actor, you're a writer, you're a director, you're a producer, you're a teacher, you are an artist. Passing it on, right? That's what that is. I was an actor. I don't think of myself. But you know, if you walk down the street, you're an actor. Just to function, you have to be an actor. And in today's world, we all have to be actors. But what I'm fascinated by your career is that you have pivoted and adjusted and grown and evolved into so many different roles. You never put yourself in a box.

[2:32] Robert Bannon: Exactly. Because people try to put you in a box, and they put you in a box because then they know how to ignore you.

[2:39] Charles Randolph-Wright: And I decided, no, I will not be ignored. I will go after anything I want. And succeeding at it wasn't the point. It was to attempt it, to try what that was. I'm a little kid from South Carolina. The fact that I'm here, it's everything else is icing. It really is. Do you still remember making the debut doing "Dreamgirls"? You remember the moment?

[3:01] Charles Randolph-Wright: I will never forget that. And we, so many of us, we talk about it constantly, and everyone wants to know about it anyway. There's so many stories. It would be hours and hours. We should do the special for the stories. We have heard Jennifer's, we've heard Opa's version. I'm ready for your version.

[3:20] Charles Randolph-Wright: I'm ready for the Horace version. That's where the fun happened. Come on, that's, I mean, my first act partner was Vanessa Bell Callaway. My second act partner was Felicia Rashad. That's the chorus of "Dreamgirls." Insane. And then you go on with "Motown," which was brilliant. From "Dreamgirls" to "Motown" was pretty crazy.

[3:39] Robert Bannon: Pretty crazy. Yes. And you're working with Maurice Hines and all you have, you're, and now television and film.

[3:45] Charles Randolph-Wright: Yes. But you make time for an organization like Rosie's Theater Kids to be honored tonight. Why is that important? Why do you, in your schedule, make sure you give back and the next generation is as important as the work you're doing professionally?

[3:58] Charles Randolph-Wright: Well, it's so unlikely that I would be here doing what I'm doing. And so I'm so grateful for that. And despite the madness, despite the insanity, the fact Rosie's Kids for 21 years has been giving people permission. And that's what I love so much, and that I can be a part of that. It's always what I wanted to do as a performer, but especially as a writer, as a director, being able to take someone from one place and send them on their way to another place. That's amazing. And I've hung out with the kids that we'll see tonight. And they're not kids, they're extraordinary. They're much older than I am. They're adults. I hear that. But just to see them and that hope, because we forget that hope. Our world is insane. And you look at them and you think, no, no, no, we have to make this better. We have to all do better.

[4:47] Robert Bannon: Well, I know they're gonna have some beautiful tribute for you. I know there's some surprise.

[4:51] Charles Randolph-Wright: I'm gonna say nothing. Well, Steven Jamaleo, who's amazing, amazing. I have no idea what he's doing. And they actually sent me, well, it wasn't by accident, but they sent me a rundown of the show. I said I can't look at it. No, be surprised. I have no idea what they're doing.

[5:03] Robert Bannon: Well, I'm excited. And we're ready for the BB, we're ready for the wine and musical to come to need it.

[5:09] Charles Randolph-Wright: Yes. I'm ready. Yes. I'm gonna work on my clapping. I'm, I can't, don't look at me when I'm in the corner. One and three or two or four. I'm, you know, I'm trying, I'm gonna give you a two and four.

[5:20] Robert Bannon: Okay. Is that a good, is that the right answer?

[5:22] Charles Randolph-Wright: That's what you should do. Okay, but we'll accept the one and three. I mean, when I film it, I'll just take that out.

[5:27] Robert Bannon: Okay, thank you. Right? But I will. I mean, that's, don't make it complicated. What was I saying? You must try.

[5:31] Charles Randolph-Wright: All right. That you may not succeed at the two and four. But you have to try for it. Okay. That's what that's. That's a congratulations. It's an honor to talk to you. It's such a thrill. I'm so honored to be here. And for this, especially. Because it's the passing it on Gala. And to think that I've done that is unbelievable for me. And I hope to continue.

[5:51] Robert Bannon: You sure did. And there's millions of people who have admired your work and have been inspired. So thank you for being here.

[5:55] Charles Randolph-Wright: Thank you. Have a good time. Thank you. So good to see you again.

[5:57] Robert Bannon: B.D. Wong, last year, you were the recipient.

[6:04] BD Wong: It was a gorgeous honor. It was a gorgeous night.

[6:06] Robert Bannon: Oh wow, thanks. It's just always a gorgeous night. I love it. I never miss it if I can.

[6:12] BD Wong: And you now being on the board and being taking a part of this. How's this year been since last year and now to be here at the Gala?

[6:15] BD Wong: Well, it's wonderful. I mean, the Gala is always a celebration of the work that's being done the whole year, and it's a challenging time, and so it's really even more important than ever for us to be gaining support from the community and letting, putting the word out about what it is that we do here. It's a really wonderful organization. The kids are New York public school kids who get full-on musical theater training and all of the other stuff that comes with it, discipline, teamwork, help with their college applications and their high school applications and auditions. There's so many things that the org, it's like a full-service educational arts-related organization that I just feel really into. I'm really passionate about it. And so it is a challenging year, and so we're putting the word out that it is, it's time for us all to step up as a community and look after these young people.

[7:13] Robert Bannon: Well, thank you for the work that you do. I tell you when I saw you last year, the work that you've done for queer families and rights and sharing your story is the most moving story, and thank you for telling your truth besides us, besides theater, besides TV, that you are, but she's naming all the shows you've been on because we love you.

[7:29] BD Wong: Thanks. You know, the queer family thing, you set example by just being who you are. And I didn't choose to start a queer family in order to create any kind of change, but it's really great that that change is inevitable, that you can't really avoid it. It really, it just happens by being yourself and not kind of living in the shadows of it.

[7:51] Robert Bannon: You're an inspiration, so it's so good to see you.

[7:53] BD Wong: Thank you so much for being. I finally got it. It's Judy Gold.

[7:58] Judy Gold: We go way back. How are you?

[8:02] Robert Bannon: I'm not gonna do it. You know, they love it though. The people love when you mispronounce my name.

[8:08] Judy Gold: But you know, you know, are you, you're so good at the auction party.

[8:13] Robert Bannon: You you're an auctioneer at this event, right?

[8:15] Judy Gold: I've done, I honed my auctioneering skills at Hulaen. And I used to do that for years and years and years. And I realized as a comedian, you know how to really connect with an audience, right? That's the most important part. And if you want them to donate money, you have to connect and they have to be drunk. And the open bar helps a lot.

[8:42] Robert Bannon: You're so brilliant. I know you st Rosie and you go back. The show raised me, it raised many young artists.

[8:48] Judy Gold: Was the best. The best. And what you do and for the community, I know all the work you do for free.

[8:54] Robert Bannon: I know, I see.

[8:55] Judy Gold: Yeah, I know, and my manager really enjoys that.

[8:59] Robert Bannon: That's why you keep ready.

[9:00] Judy Gold: I just, it's, I mean, everyone's like, stop it, stop it. And it's just like, but that's who you are. You have to give back.

[9:06] Robert Bannon: And you look so good.

[9:09] Judy Gold: Really? Thank you.

[9:10] Robert Bannon: So good. And do you know that after we had our little moment?

[9:13] Judy Gold: I heard this is a moment.

[9:15] Robert Bannon: Yeah. She sent Julie, Judy.

[9:21] Judy Gold: Julie sent me a picture of the two of you.

[9:23] Robert Bannon: Oh, Julie.

[9:24] Judy Gold: And said, I know Judy, and people do it to me too. So adore you.

[9:29] Robert Bannon: Thank you.

[9:31] Judy Gold: Thank you. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winning writer, Lynn Nottage. Welcome to the Rosie Theater Kids Gala.

[9:35] Lynn Nottage: Oh, I'm really excited to be here.

[9:39] Robert Bannon: Well, we are, I mean, you have done some work here in the city and around the world. What do you, how do you define yourself as an artist?

[9:46] Lynn Nottage: Um, well I'm a playwright. I'm an educator. And the book of "MJ," can we just talk about how beautiful it is and how amazing that cast is and the work that you did on that show?

[9:58] Robert Bannon: We love Miles and we love your work.

[10:01] Lynn Nottage: Thank you. Wow, why here tonight? What about tonight?

[10:06] Lynn Nottage: Well, I'm here not only to celebrate Rosie's Theater Kids and the organization and the work that they do, but also to fetch Charles Randolph-Wright, who's their honoree, who is just an astonishing human being. You know, he's a writer, he's a producer, he's a director, he's a renaissance man.

[10:22] Robert Bannon: And your work is in drama book stores, being studied in schools. As a Meisner student myself, your work is on our list. What is it like when you see the youth reading your words and getting to see your work inspire the next generation of writers and actors?

[10:37] Lynn Nottage: Well, you know, as an educator and a mentor, it's really important for me to be in dialogue with the next generation. It's like I'm super aware that there has to be continuity in this business. And I enjoy when I have students who read my work and have, and write in response to that, or write in, you know, against it.

[10:58] Robert Bannon: Yes.

[10:59] Lynn Nottage: Well, I'm a fan. And this season in New York, there's so much new work, there's so much theater on Broadway and Off Broadway. It's exciting of this like renaissance of creativity.

[11:08] Lynn Nottage: Yeah, it's gonna be quite a season going forward. I think that there are eight or nine plays that are open and opening on Broadway, but off also there's Off Broadway, which has work that has been just delightful and challenging, and all the things that you want theater to be.

[11:25] Robert Bannon: Lynn Nottage teaches you that you can do musicals, you can do comedies, you could do drama. You write everything. So you are as an inspiration.

[11:33] Lynn Nottage: Well, you know, I have to keep myself busy.

[11:35] Robert Bannon: Yes. Congratulations on everything. Thank you for chatting with me.

[11:38] Lynn Nottage: So nice to see you, Q.

[11:40] Camille: Hi, when I see you, I'm ready to like the American revolution. I'm gonna tell the story of America.

[11:45] Robert Bannon: Yes. That's "Hamilton" right here.

[11:47] Camille: And you, I feel like we're gonna throw a net into some water and we're gonna go fishing on "Once on This Island," and all, or you're gonna teach me how to, you know, dance and sing like Joe Jackson.

[11:57] Robert Bannon: But not that.

[11:58] Camille: No, no.

[12:01] Robert Bannon: But your voice, your body of work, you as a performer, the presence you've had on stage, I will never forget going to see "Once on This Island" and the amazing production and that what that cast was. All the kids come to see these shows. Kids, my fifth grade students in Jersey are obsessed with "Hamilton" or they're obsessed with theater. Why is tonight important? Why is being here for the next generation so important?

[12:24] Camille: Well, because they're the future. I mean, and we were all once there, so it's always giving back this whole circle of life that we're just always building together. And it's always good to always remember that and always give and share with them. It's everything to me.

[12:37] Robert Bannon: And to come.

[12:38] Camille: Oh no, I piggyback on that. Like this is why we do what we do. And now even being behind the table at "Hell's Kitchen" and being behind the table even at "MJ," providing opportunity for this up and rising, you know, beautiful, talented young people is just, it's amazing. So it's very important for us to support them and to raise them up.

[13:02] Robert Bannon: Well, I will be at "Hell's Kitchen" next week. I was on the carpet. I was on the carpet with Bean, with Miss Bean herself last night.

[13:09] Camille: How exciting is it to be a part of that show?

[13:12] Robert Bannon: Oh my gosh.

[13:12] Camille: I'm assistant choreographer along with Camille A. Brown. And it has been, yeah, well, if you have to, all that energy comes so fast.

[13:21] Robert Bannon: I get it.

[13:22] Camille: That's right. It does, it does.

[13:23] Robert Bannon: No, he holds me down.

[13:24] Camille: He holds me down. But it's gonna be a fantastic night. And speaking of young kids, it speaks to that generation. And it's gonna be all love and joy and a few tears.

[13:35] Robert Bannon: Yes, I'm sure there are absolutely just like heart pouring out on that stage. So I'm excited for you to see it.

[13:41] Camille: I'm excited.

[13:41] Robert Bannon: Well, it's quite a season on Broadway. What's it been like to see these new shows open and a show like "Hell's Kitchen" to move from the public and you get to be with the assistant choreographer and get to hear the ideas and the good days and the bad days are making art?

[13:53] Camille: Incredible. The best part about this year is holding her bags everywhere she goes.

[13:58] Robert Bannon: It's phenomenal.

[13:59] Camille: I'm taking a rest and it's been great. I'll be back next year with another show. But this year's been amazing, and I can't wait to see more of the talent and the new talent that will be coming to Broadway this year.

[14:09] Robert Bannon: Well, we're rooting for you. I'm a fan, we're fans, we're ready for this incredible work and enjoy tonight.

[14:15] Robert Bannon: Thank you so much for chatting with us.

[14:17] Rochelle Rack: No doubt.

[14:18] Robert Bannon: Well, hi, we're here.

[14:20] Rochelle Rack: Yeah, how are you?

[14:20] Rochelle Rack: I love this event. I'm so excited. This is the first time I've performed at this event.

[14:26] Robert Bannon: Tell us. Give us your full name, please.

[14:28] Rochelle Rack: Hello, my name is Rochelle Rack. My friends call me Sass.

[14:31] Robert Bannon: And I heard that. And wait, you have quite you do a little bit of everything.

[14:36] Rochelle Rack: I do a little bit of everything for sure. I've had a long, a long and wonderful Broadway career.

[14:41] Robert Bannon: Oh first of all.

[14:42] Rochelle Rack: Yes.

[14:43] Rochelle Rack: I'm very grateful for first thing. But you dance.

[14:46] Rochelle Rack: I do dance. I dance. I dance. People know me from Dance Moms.

[14:51] Robert Bannon: That's what I was gonna say. She was on Dance Moms.

[14:54] Rochelle Rack: It's crazy. I taught a class yesterday, and they were like, we know Rochelle from every little step and Dance Moms. And I was like, oh my god. Like that's the extreme.

[15:04] Rochelle Rack: The fun group of people here today. I saw you and I was like, I'm from Jersey, so I love a Dance Mom moment.

[15:09] Rochelle Rack: You know, we Amen. But you also did like real Broadway, like happy hoofing yourself across New York City.

[15:16] Rochelle Rack: Yes, I mean, I have to say, I started with Cats. My catchphrase is I didn't go to college, I went to Cats.

[15:22] Rochelle Rack: Perfect. So I started there and I've spent most of my life in musicals as a dancer, singer, understudy, all of it. And I am also my mother was my dance teacher. So I'm from Pittsburgh, and my mother was my dance teacher, so it's so nice to continue this legacy.

[15:39] Robert Bannon: Yes. And what does it mean? You work with children all the time, but this specifically, this organization gives their money so that there's arts programming funding in the most needed towns and cities in New York City, the most needed boroughs in New York City.

[15:51] Rochelle Rack: Yes. How does that make you feel as an artist to be able to give your time and be a part of this organization?

[15:56] Rochelle Rack: It's incredible. I think what Rosie is doing, her team, the staff, it's so inspiring because we take it for granted. You know, you take it for granted when it's still a part of the school. I have a daughter, it's still a part of the music program at her school. So when you think about these kids getting an opportunity, and I think Steven Jamel said to me, he's the musical director, a dear friend. He said, It's like their home. They get to come here and feel safe. They come here and they feel great. They're learning. I hear them singing, harmonizing. And the one kid just said to me, He's like, Rochelle, what do you do for your nerves? And I said, You just feel them because they're not going anywhere.

And you just get on stage and breathe and you breathe. But to see what they're doing in these different areas of town, all over New York, what she has brought to life, it's touching. It touches us, and that's why we're here. I'm here for these kids. I said to them, make sure if I'm looking at you, we have a connection. I'm not here to perform in front of you. I'm here to perform with you. And I'm just so I'm so moved by it all. They knocked my socks off last year. It is not like when you think of a group of kids from school, this is a product they put on a show here.

[17:05] Rochelle Rack: Yes. A show. It is a show. I wish I had that. I was like, can I learn those harmonies?

[17:09] Robert Bannon: Yes, that's what I'm saying. I need to get in that music.

[17:11] Rochelle Rack: That's what I'm saying. In the training, the training. The training, the love, the respect, all of it. I'm just so just kudos to Rosie and to her entire team.

[17:21] Robert Bannon: Well, kudos to you for lending your expertise. And thank you for entertaining us on stage and on screen and all the kids and all of my I'm a teacher in Jersey, and the teachers' room's gonna be so excited because they're like Dance Mom reality TV.

[17:33] Rochelle Rack: Oh my god, I know it's crazy. I'm also going to be the associate choreographer on the new musical Boop. So we just did our out of town run in Chicago. Just to be legitimate in the Broadway where Betty Boop of it all.

[17:48] Rochelle Rack: I'm stepping onto the other side.

[17:52] Robert Bannon: Yes.

[17:53] Rochelle Rack: I mean it's unbelievable. So just to have the opportunity in life to step over and to be like, let me sit here and support you, dancers, singers, and watch you. It's incredible. And I'm sitting there, I feel like I'm the biggest cheerleader.

[18:07] Robert Bannon: You are. Your energy is beautiful.

[18:09] Rochelle Rack: Thank you. We're ready for Boop to come to New York.

[18:12] Robert Bannon: Yes, let's bring it. Bring on the Boop. Enjoy tonight. Have an amazing time. Looking forward to the show.

[18:16] Rochelle Rack: Thank you so much.

[18:20] Robert Bannon: Thank you. Will you tell you're gonna pronounce your name better than I am, right?

[18:23] Rochelle Rack: Okay, Nikki Kimbrough.

[18:25] Nikki Kimbrough: Nikki Kimbrough. Come on, Nikki Kimbrough.

[18:30] Robert Bannon: I know Strange to the Rosie Theater kids. I've been a mentor for them for years, and so excited to be with them today. Feeling a little under the weather, these allergies, they're killing me, but I'm but you do it for the kids, right?

[18:42] Nikki Kimbrough: That's right.

[18:43] Nikki Kimbrough: And you show up and you're here for the kids. But your voice, your body of work, your journey is something that is special.

[18:50] Nikki Kimbrough: It is it's it, you know, it's been great. It's been wonderful. You know, I made my Broadway debut with Santa James and the Night with Janice Chaplin. And right now I'm on tour with Kristen Chenoweth and Orfe.

[19:03] Robert Bannon: Yes.

[19:03] Nikki Kimbrough: So it's been great. You all know when you're on tour with Orfe, you all know that I'm your baby tonight breakdown. Like you're gonna have a lot of baby, I'll be able to do it.

[19:14] Robert Bannon: See? I know that because that's a showstopping opener that you all have.

[19:15] Nikki Kimbrough: Oh yes, yeah. I you sing, sing, sing, sing. So I want to learn from you. I want to be a Rosie Theater kid.

[19:25] Nikki Kimbrough: Oh, yay. I you know it's so cool. When I go into the schools and I share my journey with them, the kids grab me and want to share their journey with me, you know, and so I love that. And I remember being I remember having a Miss Lisa and a Miss Lori and a Mr. Stephen. Like I remember having those people, and if it wasn't for them, you know.

[19:47] Rochelle Rack: I mean, I see I might have made it, but Yes, you sure would have. But they were the ones that told my mom, let her shine, better shine, letter. And you need and that's the inspiration that you give to these kids. And they give it to me. You know? They give it to me.

[19:59] Nikki Kimbrough: And you give it to me. You have amazing energy. Your energy is amazing. And your eyelashes are amazing.

[20:05] Rochelle Rack: Come on, beat down from head to toe. Show up for a kid, buddy. Show up on kids.

[20:10] Nikki Kimbrough: Yes, you gotta teach them how to do it. It's so nice. I'm ready to hear you sing. Are you gonna sing at the party with orphans?

[20:16] Nikki Kimbrough: I sing at the party with orphans.

[20:17] Robert Bannon: Oh, I will be there. You'll see me.

[20:19] Nikki Kimbrough: I hey. I thank you for chatting with us so nice.

[20:23] Robert Bannon: Hi T O Wix, welcome. I'm obsessed. I love this.

[20:27] Nikki Kimbrough: Oh, thanks. It is you know, this is the the pattern is it. It is?

[20:31] Robert Bannon: Yes. And it's spring in New York, and you and being here and your voice and your career. We're fans. Come on.

[20:39] Nikki Kimbrough: I love that. I wanna be able you know, you don't understand how she sings.

[20:46] Robert Bannon: How important is the next generation? Being here, Rosie's Theater Kids. These are the next people that are gonna take your job. My job.

[20:54] Nikki Kimbrough: Exactly. I know. No, it's incredibly important. And to have I was just talking about with somebody the other day. We were talking about of what how much theater, even if it's not a path that someone will pursue for their like career in life, how just a wonderful experience it is. How much it can open people up, youths up, and like and and push them their boundaries and inhibitions and find a community and all of that, and it's just it's so incredibly important.

[21:20] Nikki Kimbrough: And then you also and then you find these kids that are ridiculously talented, and it's so exciting to see the new voices and to have like get glimpses of like oh my gosh, what will the next 10 years what will these people be doing in their huge star making like turns, you know, writing, performing, who knows what? Like it's very exciting.

[21:41] Rochelle Rack: It is so exciting, and if they don't have access like to the Rose's Theater Kids and they don't have the foundation, they may never we may lose that talent.

[21:48] Nikki Kimbrough: Yes, because theater and the arts is not it's not supposed to be a lead, it's supposed to be very much for the people and for all communities. So it's whatever can be done to help like give access to open these doors to as many people and as many children as possible, just so they can get to have a sense of like, oh, this world, I could be a part of this world.

[22:08] Rochelle Rack: Yeah. That's what artists was so beautiful. It's for everyone's universal. Yeah, that's for me. Like when I was growing up, the theater that I did growing up in Sacramento, it was very basic and very just like of our little community theater stuff, and it it unlocks so many things in me.

[22:26] Nikki Kimbrough: But now look, but now look.

[22:28] Rochelle Rack: And I was a real shy kid, and I was like, oh, performing, I'm sure. That's what I love.

[22:32] Nikki Kimbrough: That's the stories that we love.

[22:33] Rochelle Rack: Yeah, we we are fans, so we we are excited to chat with you, and we're excited to see what they have tonight.

[22:38] Nikki Kimbrough: Me too. Thank you for being here.

[22:40] Rochelle Rack: You're welcome.

[22:40] Robert Bannon: Can you tell us your name?

[22:41] Katie Rose Clark: Yes.

[22:45] Robert Bannon: Come on, Katie Rose Clark. What is it like to be here tonight? What are you? How are you? Why? Why Rosie's kids? Why is this important?

[22:52] Katie Rose Clark: I love this organization. I've been supporting Rosie's Theater Kids for many years. Um, my best friend Steven Jamail is the music director for Rosie's Theatre Kids, and it's a fantastic organization. My husband and I come every year to the gala and are always every year reduced to tears and blown away by the talent of the kids and also just the incredible work that they do here.

[23:15] Robert Bannon: And he's no like you talk about a music director. They they are not playing, you know, itsy bitsy spider up there. They're ready to go.

[23:21] Katie Rose Clark: It's real, it's the real deal. And yeah, he does not he there's no simplifying anything. He he pushes those kids and they rise to the occasion.

[23:31] Robert Bannon: Well, as an artist, is there a a group of people that were inspirational teachers and pe a place that meant something to you?

[23:37] Katie Rose Clark: Oh god, yes, teachers are so so important. My very first voice teacher ever is the reason that I'm on Broadway today, and um introduced me to another woman who's a music director. So these women that are teachers and mentors for me are the reason that I am a performer.

[23:53] Robert Bannon: Yeah, absolutely. Do you know this voice, you all? You gotta you understand? Singing up and down and around again.

[24:01] Katie Rose Clark: And then you inspire the next generation because they're watching your videos, they're listening to what you're doing and coming to see what we're gonna do.

[24:05] Katie Rose Clark: Yeah, yeah. We just, you know, passing it right along to the next generation.

[24:11] Robert Bannon: That's all what it's all about.

[24:12] Katie Rose Clark: It's so nice to meet you.

[24:13] Robert Bannon: Yeah, nice. Thank you so much for being here.

[24:15] Lance Roberts: Oh, my pleasure.

[24:16] Robert Bannon: Lance Roberts, we've seen you on Broadway.

[24:19] Lance Roberts: Yeah, a few times, hopefully.

[24:21] Robert Bannon: I'm still waiting for the tricks on how you all did ghosts on stage. I want to know how did you do those tricks?

[24:27] Lance Roberts: I am sworn to secrecy still, and here it's been like what? I think it's like 10 years or so.

[24:30] Robert Bannon: Yes.

[24:33] Lance Roberts: And I've like watched the bootlegs because I want to figure out how some of those We want to know. How does it happen?

[24:41] Lance Roberts: Oh yes, yeah. So it'll be a good thing. And Sister Act and some of this great work that you've done and upcoming work too.

[24:46] Lance Roberts: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I think I think I can announce it today. They told me that it was gonna be announced today. I heard a rumor. It's I'm just gonna say it takes place in Savannah. Jason Robert Brown wrote the score. Rob Ashford is directing it. We're going to Chicago first. That's all I'm saying. It's on Broadway World. It's on Playbill.

[25:04] Robert Bannon: Oh, okay, right. It's up there. So you know what we're doing. If you're if you know, you know.

[25:10] Robert Bannon: Why are you here tonight? Why is this important?

[25:11] Lance Roberts: I am here to support, of course, the kids, because I I am like a Broadway baby, born and raised in New York. Uh but what Rosie has been doing for the last couple of decades is phenomenal. And one of the people who inspired me when I was a kid, he was also young, was Charles Randolph-Wright, and he's being honored tonight, and we've known each other for let's just say two, three thousand years.

[25:36] Robert Bannon: Well, his career is incredible.

[25:38] Lance Roberts: It so is, yeah.

[25:39] Robert Bannon: All of your careers are incredible. And then you're inspiring these children, and they're the next generation of people who get to do it. And they're inspiring us because now is the time when we have to listen to the young people, you know, to find out the new ways to tell stories. You know, we have our old ways.

[25:55] Lance Roberts: Well, I find like every time I work with young kids, like in Music Man, we had like kids from like I think our youngest one was like six or seven, you know, on up to you know my age. Um, and then it was like some of those young kids, they would get out there every single day and they would perform like they had been performing all their lives.

[26:14] Lance Roberts: And they have. And I would be inspired and learn so much from them. And so tonight I'm very excited to see what they have to show us.

[26:22] Robert Bannon: Well, we're really excited to see what they have all put together, and we're excited to see what you have up next up your sleeve. So thank you, Robert.

[26:30] Robert Bannon: Hey, hey.

[26:31] Lance Roberts: Oh, it's good.

[26:32] Robert Bannon: Hey. Very nice to meet you. Thank you so much for seeing around. So much fun. I had a blast. Thank you so much to everybody over there at Roses Theater Gala, the Press Room MYC team, and everyone who supports this show. If you want more information, like I said, make sure you go to Instagram and follow me at Robert M. Bannon or go to RobertBannon.com. Pride is on its way, and we have a show coming to 54 Below. It's called the Robert Bannon Pride playlist. It's me. All me singing Diva Hits with my band backup singers, special guests, Mauricio Martinez of Broadway's On Your Feet. It's gonna be a blast. Support art today. Support the next generation of students, the next generation of artists, and I look forward to seeing you next time right here on the Roundtable. The best is yet to come. Bye everybody.

[27:22] Alan Seales: Well, there you have it. Alan Seales, co-founder, the boss man over here at Broadway Podcast Network. Go to BroadwayPodcastNetwork.com. Listen to your favorite Broadway podcast now. And come join me at Podfest, Podcast-a-Thon, Podfest-a-Thonogram. Sunday. Oh, it's a lineup. It's a really fun lineup, and I'm really excited to be a part of it. Uh get all the information, go to BroadwayPodcastNetwork.com or and get all the scoopity scoop, or go to Instagram and find it out and come say hi. We could take a picture. Maybe you'll give me your best musical prediction, and we'll have a good old time. Everybody, thank you so much for being here. The best is yet to come. Until next time, I'm Robert Bannon saying, have a good one.