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[0:00] Greta Gertler Gold: Welcome to The Roundtable with Robert Bannon.

[0:30] Erin Davie: We're excited to be here to talk about Picnic at Hanging Rock.

[0:40] Greta Gertler Gold: It's such a fascinating project, and the music really captures the essence of the story.

[1:10] Erin Davie: Absolutely! The characters are so rich and complex, and I think the score really brings them to life.

[1:20] Greta Gertler Gold: Adapting Joan Lindsay's novel was a unique challenge, but it was also incredibly rewarding.

[1:50] Erin Davie: And the themes of mystery and loss resonate deeply with audiences today.

[2:00] Greta Gertler Gold: The process of creating the cast album was a beautiful experience, allowing us to share our vision with a wider audience.

[2:10] Erin Davie: Recording it was such a special moment for all of us involved.

[2:20] Greta Gertler Gold: I think listeners will find something new every time they hear the music.

[2:30] Erin Davie: It's a haunting score that stays with you long after the last note.

[2:40] Greta Gertler Gold: We really aimed to honor the original story while also making it feel fresh and contemporary.

[2:50] Erin Davie: And I believe we succeeded in creating something that speaks to both new audiences and fans of the book.

[3:00] Greta Gertler Gold: The collaboration with Hilary Bell on the book and lyrics was a dream come true.

[3:10] Erin Davie: I love how our creative energies blended to bring this story to life.

[3:20] Greta Gertler Gold: It's all about the journey of these characters and the emotional depth they experience.

[3:30] Erin Davie: And I think that emotional connection is what makes the musical so compelling.

[3:40] Greta Gertler Gold: We can't wait for everyone to hear the cast album and experience the magic of Picnic at Hanging Rock.

[3:50] Erin Davie: It's truly a labor of love, and we hope it resonates with everyone who listens.

[4:00] Greta Gertler Gold: Thank you for joining us today to discuss this incredible project.

[4:10] Erin Davie: We appreciate your support and enthusiasm for new musical theatre.

[4:20] Greta Gertler Gold: Let's dive deeper into the creative process and what makes this musical so special.

[4:30] Erin Davie: Yes, let's explore the characters and the story further!

[4:40] Greta Gertler Gold: I think the mystery at the heart of the story is what draws people in.

[4:50] Erin Davie: And the way we portray that mystery through music is really unique.

[5:00] Greta Gertler Gold: It's all about creating an atmosphere that captivates the audience.

[5:10] Erin Davie: The score enhances the storytelling in such a profound way.

[5:20] Greta Gertler Gold: We hope listeners will feel the same sense of wonder and intrigue that we felt while creating it.

[5:30] Erin Davie: It's a journey worth taking, and we can't wait for everyone to join us on it.

[5:40] Greta Gertler Gold: Thank you for being part of this conversation about Picnic at Hanging Rock.

[5:50] Erin Davie: We look forward to sharing more about our experiences and insights.

[6:00] Greta Gertler Gold: Let's keep the discussion going and explore the themes that resonate throughout the musical.

[6:10] Erin Davie: Yes, there's so much to unpack, and I think our audience will find it fascinating.

[6:20] Greta Gertler Gold: The emotional depth of the characters really drives the narrative forward.

[6:30] Erin Davie: And I think that connection is what makes the musical relatable to so many people.

[6:40] Greta Gertler Gold: It's a timeless story that continues to speak to audiences across generations.

[6:50] Erin Davie: And we're thrilled to be part of bringing it to life on stage and through the cast album.

[7:00] Greta Gertler Gold: Thank you for joining us on this journey, and we hope you enjoy the music as much as we enjoyed creating it.

[7:10] Erin Davie: We can't wait to hear your thoughts and experiences with Picnic at Hanging Rock.

[7:20] Greta Gertler Gold: Let's celebrate the magic of musical theatre together!

[7:30] Erin Davie: Yes, and thank you for your support of new works in the theatre community.

[7:40] Greta Gertler Gold: We appreciate every listener and every fan of our work.

[7:50] Erin Davie: It's all about sharing stories and connecting through the power of music.

[8:00] Greta Gertler Gold: And we hope to inspire others to explore their own creative journeys.

[8:10] Erin Davie: Thank you for being part of this conversation, and we look forward to sharing more with you soon.

[8:20] Greta Gertler Gold: Until next time, keep celebrating the arts!

[8:30] Erin Davie: Yes, and keep listening to the music that moves you.

[8:40] Greta Gertler Gold: Thank you for joining us today!

[8:50] Erin Davie: We can't wait to see you at the theatre!

[9:00] Greta Gertler Gold: Bye for now!

[9:10] Erin Davie: Bye!

[9:20] Greta Gertler Gold: Raising all the money to do the production. Doing a cast album seemed like nothing, but we did still rely on crowdfunding. We did a GoFundMe and lots of people came forward and were generous. We also needed to get the union's approval, like SAG and Actors' Equity, and they had to be in dialogue and there were all these rules. Bradley Lewis actually helped as a producer, navigating all of that for us. Also, because I've recorded albums for 20 years or so in a scrappy, independent singer-songwriter kind of way, I had some shortcuts and some ins with some people that basically made it. I have to give credit to my husband, Adam, who also co-orchestrated the show and did tons of editing and prep for the mixing for the recording.

People just have gone above and beyond to make it possible. And then Van Dien also, at Center Stage Records, had come to the show and was very interested, and I'm really grateful that they released it. There's going to be some other exciting news soon that I can't say yet, but it's helped the project immensely to have this recording.

[12:43] J.B. Bell: Okay, stay tuned. There's more to come. So, Erin, for people who didn't get a chance to see the production and buy a ticket, listening to this from the beginning to the end, we're going to be able to follow this story and hear some incredible vocals and some incredible music. There is an audience that wants to listen to cast albums, and there's some that might be like, I don't know what the show is about. What am I going to listen? Why should we listen, Erin?

[13:04] Erin Davie: Oh my god. You know, as an actor, I am asked to do a lot of new works and developmental things, and so often we come across music that has potential and it's not quite there yet. And honestly, this music was so captivating from the get-go. There was no way I was a no. And so, I feel like I love spreading the word about this album and the score because it is so good, and it is so beautiful, and the performers are so good. Those singers, those young singers on this album are gorgeous. And I feel like if people just listen to it, it speaks for itself.

[13:48] J.B. Bell: It speaks for itself. Greta, what's it been like that people have given you feedback now that they've seen the production or they've listened to the album?

[14:00] Greta Gertler Gold: It's really thrilling. I mean, I receive notes from people in Switzerland, and I'm seeing on Spotify the countries that it's going to and people listening to it. It's just so thrilling. But I also have some, we hope to do more in New York because it's sort of, I think the story being Australian is also interesting because there aren't that many Australian stories that have been turned into musicals, apart from maybe Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Boy From Oz. I can't think of, I mean, if you can think of others, I'm not sure. But it's very, very Australian, and it's an incredible feeling to just be hearing from people around the world who are processing this mystery that's so female-driven as well. And yeah, I feel like I'm blabbing on so much right now.

[15:07] J.B. Bell: No, please, Erin. Unmute. I'm sorry, Erin. You've just got to unmute yourself, and then we're going to have to manage it.

[15:16] Erin Davie: I'm going to say every young musical theatre singer, especially female, I feel like needs to know the score. I think they will fall in love with it, and they will want to sing the songs from it. Especially if I was younger, and looking for new material, oh my gosh, it's a goldmine.

[15:39] J.B. Bell: Look, look at your young people. Look at your book. No casting director wants to hear On My Own anymore in the audition room. You want something new to sing that is going to get their attention. You have this album, listen to this album, and then get some sheet music and get on it. Listen to Erin's track. Go to number nine and do your best Erin Davie impression. That's what you're going to do. Booked. Broadway star. Their career is over. You made it.

[16:06] Erin Davie: There's so many, and honestly, there's so many songs in this show to choose from.

[16:10] J.B. Bell: Greta, do you stay in New York now? Do you go back home? Do you still go back?

[16:13] Greta Gertler Gold: No, I'm a New Yorker. You couldn't tell by my accent?

[16:19] J.B. Bell: I heard dog and coffee. I heard all of it.

[16:23] Greta Gertler Gold: I was born in Boston.

[16:25] J.B. Bell: See, there you go.

[16:26] Greta Gertler Gold: I actually spent, yeah, from the age of one to 28 in Australia, but mainly I've been in New York since then. So yeah, I'm a New Yorker, but I actually would love to bring the show to Australia at some point soon. Yeah.

[16:45] J.B. Bell: Incredible. Well, I want people to stream it. I want people to listen to it. I want it's available right now. Listen to it, stream it, and then follow the information, the IG posts for everybody. Everybody on social media's Instagram and all that stuff will be below. Click it, follow, because there's going to be a lot more work. There's more work. Greta and the show are going to keep going. And Erin is a superstar, Broadway star. So she's going to be on these boards and working and singing for a long time to come, Erin.

[17:12] Erin Davie: I was honoured Erin was part of the cast, and it was almost like an Appleyard College for musical theatre legends. And that's the name of the college in the show, if people don't know that. So yeah, it was really moving to see everybody and how people bonded in the cast. And I think that that's something it will hopefully bring to cast in the future. This, I don't know, collegiate, collegial vibe.

[17:51] J.B. Bell: Yes, a superstar.

[17:53] Erin Davie: I still had this many young girls in it. It's such a great opportunity for many groups.

[17:59] J.B. Bell: So everybody, take a listen. It's the next thing you need to know. Greta, congratulations on this incredible feat and this incredible album and this beautiful work. And Erin, thank you for the many shows, the many songs, the many joyful nights that people have spent with you in the theatre and for many more to come. And my show's your show. I hope you come on back with more news and more things to talk about. Both of you, congratulations. Thanks so much for being here.

[18:21] Erin Davie: Thanks so much, Robert.