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[0:09] Robert Bannon: Welcome to the Roundtable, everybody. My name is Robert Bannon. You're listening to us on Broadway World over here on the Broadway Podcast Network, iHeartSpotify, wherever you listen to artists talk about art. I moved to Detroit two years ago after meeting my husband at Motor City Pride. And I saw PRISM at the Motor City Pride. I performed in Motor City Pride, saw PRISM perform every year. It's a tradition. It is your tradition that you see this incredible group, choir, moment, music. I don't know what you all call yourself, Gerald, but they're incredible. You need to see them. And they're coming to the Detroit Symphony for a special night of Disney music celebrating queer love. Nothing is more fun than gays and Disney and orchestras and clarinets and trombones. Gerald Ashby Jr. is here to tell us all about what PRISM does and this incredible show coming to Detroit this weekend. Welcome to the show.

[1:03] Gerald Ashby Jr: Thank you so much for having me. Yes, we are super excited. PRISM is a chorus, and we sing tenor, bass, baritone. And so we welcome any folks that identify as a member of the queer community and can sing those parts. And so we're really excited to be an environment that everyone, no matter how they identify, feels welcome and seen and heard. They get a cool opportunity to let their voice be heard in a really unique and magical way. We've been around since 2016, and like many choruses, we were kind of born out of other choruses and excited artists looking to create something new and different. We took a little stumble in 2020, like most organizations that meet in person with COVID and everything, and really kind of found ourselves starting all over again with about 30 members rehearsing in a parking lot, and now back to I think we will have 140 singers on stage this Saturday at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

It's really amazing to see how much we've accomplished in such a short period of time and how cool opportunities come to us, really because of who we've been and who we continue to be, and how much we mean and how much of an impact we get to make when we do get to sing. Just like the experience you had with us, we hope that so many people leave every experience with PRISM feeling something.

[2:49] Robert Bannon: It's beautiful, it is beautiful. You all do such a beautiful job. And if you want more information while we're talking, PRISM-Corus.org. The link will be below, so make sure you click it. And it also has information about how you can join when new member vocal auditions in August, and you can also join the party if you want to sing. I love how did you get involved? What is your title? Like what do you sing? What do you do? You're here speaking as the spokesperson for the group, so you must be involved. So tell me about what is your role within this.

[3:19] Gerald Ashby Jr: Yeah, I started with PRISM in 2018. I actually was introduced to PRISM at karaoke. I was actually at an after party for a musical theater show I was in, and I was singing. I think actually I was singing "Under the Sea," which is so funny. A member of PRISM was like, "Hey, have you ever thought about singing in a chorus?" And I was like, "No, I'm good, no thanks." But it resonated with me. I was like, "Wow, somebody wanted me to be a part of their thing. I want to go check that out." And so I joined. I sing baritone, and we're kind of in the middle of the voices and really found a home. I think within my first few months, I'm just one of those people that always kind of issue spotting, looking for something that I can help with, something I can help make better.

I saw the music committee chair needed some support. So I kind of just stepped up and started helping him. From there, just kind of having that visibility and supporting the music committee, I kind of took over that committee and then in turn was asked to sit as the interim secretary on the board probably about a year or so later. So I sat on the board as a secretary for about a year and a half, two years, and then I raised my hand to be the vice chair of the organization. I've been in that seat since that time, and it's been highly rewarding to help really run the operational side of the organization and continue to address all of the things that it means to run an arts nonprofit.

[5:04] Robert Bannon: I was just gonna say that you are an arts nonprofit, you are a full-blown, you know, donations are accepted, the work that you guys do, every it's a volunteer-based. The people join as a volunteer, they get to do incredible work. I'm sure the payoff for the people who join is community and making art and friendships and relationships and families are formed when people get personally. The baritone part is like the hardest part to say.

[5:30] Gerald Ashby Jr: No.

[5:35] Robert Bannon: I mean, the tenor ones would tell you they have the hardest part.

[5:39] Gerald Ashby Jr: Why?

[5:39] Robert Bannon: Because they're high, you know, the baritones. There's no melody, there's no melody. It's all this crunchy, funky, weird sounds in there. They're holding together the beautifulness, is what he's holding together the beautiful crunch that you hear when they all sing together.

[5:55] Gerald Ashby Jr: Uh-huh.

[5:55] Robert Bannon: So when you get together, what is the commitment you guys make when you join this group? Like, do you have weekly rehearsals? Do you do a lot of the work at home? Is there a lot of in-person to get ready for a big show like this week? What is it like to lead up to it?

[6:09] Gerald Ashby Jr: Yeah, we actually started rehearsals for this show in January. We meet every Tuesday from seven to nine. Every section also has some sectionals, and so that might happen once or twice a month, kind of earlier on in the season, and then they kind of trickle out toward the back end of the season. I think it's twofold to your point. We definitely do a lot of the group learning and the sound in person, but there is a lot of responsibility and onus on every member to practice at home. If you were in my car for the last week and then the rest of this week, you are hearing this show on repeat. You don't get to hear anything else. Because we want it to be, we want to put on the very best experience that we can.

I think, like you spoke to, so many people, the byproduct, the beauty of this is the community that you get. But I think so much else is kind of fruit of that community, like feeling included, getting to feel creative and be creative, and to know that you're part of something excellent because we really have established a really high standard. That doesn't mean that every level of singer can't participate, but knowing that joining PRISM means that you're in a space that wherever you are today, when you sing with us in your first concert, you're going to be that much better of a singer.

[7:41] Gerald Ashby Jr: It's so beautiful. It's beautiful. So while people, there's a few, no, there are not a lot of tickets. There are not a lot of tickets left for this week's show. It's June 27th at Orchestra Hall, right? I'm Woodward. It is so gorgeous to see a show there. It's Disney Pride in concert. It is Disney Symphony, it's the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with Disney Pride in concert together with Prism and so you get the orchestra, you get the choir, and everybody's gonna be singing music that you know.

[8:06] Robert Bannon: What can we expect to hear when we go buy a ticket and see the show?

[8:11] Gerald Ashby Jr: Yeah, it's really all of your favorites. I think for the parents in the audience, it's gonna be all the nostalgic stuff that you know we grew up listening to. Um, and for the kids, it's gonna be some newer pieces from the movies that they've seen really recently. So I know we've got some stuff from Zootopia, um, Aladdin, The Lion King. Um, I think some of the what is the newest thing that we're singing? I feel like Zootopia might be above news arrangements, frozen, yes, um, got some Hercules in there. So, so really a little bit of everything for everyone.

[8:48] Robert Bannon: It says Coco. I can't hear the song. I can't hear, I'll cry, Gerald. I can't do it. I can't do that.

[8:57] Gerald Ashby Jr: Okay, we all got emotional in rehearsal. We heard Remember Me, and everyone was a little choked up. You'll be okay, you'll make it. Because then you'll just hit me with something fun and upbeat afterwards.

[9:08] Robert Bannon: So I'll just roller coaster with you. I'll take the ride with you this weekend. So, people, if you want to support the tickets, are they affordable ticket price points for families? They want you to come see the show. They're not trying to make you mortgage your house to come see the show. So make sure you get a ticket in. There's only a few tickets left. So when you're listening to us, go, go, go, go, go get a ticket.

[9:28] Gerald Ashby Jr: And then you guys are on tour. Like you're all over the state and all over the place as time goes on. I know that your guys have just finished doing Pride Night with the Tigers and have worked with Ruth Ellison and their charitable and Royal Loge Pride and Motor City Pride. And then you guys end up with your incredible tour this year at downtown Royal Look for Royal Loge Pride. What was it like this season?

[9:49] Gerald Ashby Jr: We're in a crazy time, the world's on fire. People are coming for this community or trans family or the LGBT queer community all across this country. What's it mean to be out here representing what you all do and representing our community this year in particular?

[10:04] Gerald Ashby Jr: Yeah, I think that you said it best. I think we always have to remind ourselves that Pride is a protest. One of the songs that we got to sing during Pride season, because we only got to do a little taste of this show, is Keep Marching from the Broadway musical SUFs, and it's one of those songs that is so impactful because it truly is a reminder that history continues to repeat itself and that we are constantly fighting for our rights and visibility, and I think for our organization, more than anything, it is around being seen.

[10:42] Gerald Ashby Jr: Um, and I think the beauty of being a large organization is that people feel like there's power in numbers. It would be a lot scarier to be putting yourself out there in a group of you know, five or six people, but to be surrounded by you know 140 other people that are living their lives out loud. Um, you have such a great opportunity to feel protected, but also get to be bold and live your truth on stage and off.

[11:10] Gerald Ashby Jr: And it's so powerful. I'm in a prism tee right now, and we uh we tie-dyed these, and I think that activity in and of itself was just so fun because we took this black and white shirt and brought it to life, brought it to color, and we get to do that in every environment that we're in. Um, that we just kind of shake up a space and bring our color and our light and our experience.

[11:12] Gerald Ashby Jr: And I think that that's made this fairy tale tour, is what we've coined it, so exciting and definitely excited to end the season at Royal Oak Pride with a bang.

[11:47] Robert Bannon: With a bang. You know, it's moving here from New York. Uh everybody was like, Where are you going? What's gonna what community will you find? Is there art? Are there the gays out here? And what's funny is that Michigan as a whole and especially the Metro Detroit area has been uh is incredible art scene with the most incredible music and theater and all of the arts, as well as a very inclusive community from Royal Low to Ferndale to Detroit to the surrounding areas for the queer community, and it's not a bad place to be um and feel seen and supported for sure.

[12:22] Gerald Ashby Jr: Have you been? Are you a born and bred Michigander?

[12:26] Robert Bannon: I'm not, I'm a transplant just like you.

[12:28] Gerald Ashby Jr: Um, yeah, I actually moved here in 2009 for law school, and I fell in love with Michigan. I think, you know, I never it was never on my bucket list, like go visit Detroit. Um, but I'm so happy that I did because it's changed my life and it gave me an opportunity to thrive in my career, but also really make a life.

[12:52] Gerald Ashby Jr: Um, you know, there's not a lot of places in the country um to your point that you can find community and buy a house and afford to live in a neighborhood and support the thriving environment that you're in. And so it's exciting to be able to do all of those things and feel safe.

[13:11] Gerald Ashby Jr: Um, I think that you know, our current governor has done a great job at supporting us and being a voice for us. Um, and I hope that we continue to feel supported in our larger Michigan community, but also in our smaller communities. And um, yeah, I'm happy to say that Michigan's my home.

[13:31] Robert Bannon: Same. Amen to that. So go vote, people, go support Pride, no matter if you're an ally or a part of the community with in as in a different capacity, because allies are a part of our community. But when I mean, if you're you you get what I'm saying, go go go to Royal Lobe Pride, go see the show with Prism and the DSO.

[13:49] Gerald Ashby Jr: I love the DSO. I love going there. They're incredible, the space is incredible. You go right to Woodward, eat some food, have a drink, go see the show. I think it's the perfect night way to celebrate a kickoff to the summer here in Detroit.

[14:03] Robert Bannon: Well, Gerald, you better go rest your voice and blah la la and go listen to some Disney music and get ready for a big old show. Do you have an outfit? Are you wearing tuxedos? Is it a surprise?

[14:14] Gerald Ashby Jr: That's uh yes, we are gonna be in tuxedos. Um, you might see me in another little number. Um, and so I will be debuting as the fairy godmother. So uh that will be exciting. Um, but yes, uh, you will see us in our black tie couture on the stage with the DSO. We're so excited.

[14:33] Robert Bannon: I love it. Prism dash chorus.org if you want information to join our other events and get your tickets while they last at dso.org. We will see you on Saturday, June 27th at eight o'clock. Thank you so much for being here. Congratulations for everything you do and for giving so much joy, music, and pride out here in Detroit.

[14:45] Gerald Ashby Jr: Thank you so much.