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[0:00] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? It's The Roundtable, with me, Robert Bannon.

[0:08] Robert Bannon: You're going to be famous. You write books, so you're already famous.

[0:12] Robert Bannon: We will, I promise.

[0:13] Robert Bannon: But you're already famous, so get me there with you.

[0:16] Robert Bannon: Alright, hold on. Welcome to The Roundtable, everybody. My name is Robert Bannon. You're listening to us on Broadway World, the Broadway Podcast Network, iHeart, Spotify, wherever artists are talking about art. And one of my favorite shows of all time is coming. It's so perfect. It's the best night of theater. It is fun. It is joy. It is pop. It is music. It is history. Toby and Lucy wrote this show. They were here. They told us all about it. I was such a hater because they were like five years old and wrote a massive hit. And now these incredible actors and actresses get to come across the country and enjoy and entertain the masses right here at the Legendary Fisher at Broadway in Detroit. Melina Savannah Cruz makes her tour debut. She graduated college like yesterday and has already booked an MV. Congratulations. Welcome to the show.

[0:58] Melina Savannah Cruz: Thank you so much. That was amazing.

[1:02] Robert Bannon: So you really did graduate. You just graduated NYU Tisch.

[1:07] Melina Savannah Cruz: Yeah, I was in callbacks while I was still in school. Yeah.

[1:12] Robert Bannon: So where did you grow up?

[1:14] Melina Savannah Cruz: I grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[1:17] Robert Bannon: Philly in the house. Cheesesteaks for everybody.

[1:20] Melina Savannah Cruz: Cheesesteaks for everybody. Pat's, Geno's, Pete's Steak. Like everyone gets whatever they need. Yes.

[1:26] Robert Bannon: When did you discover you love music? You're a theater star now. You're a musical theater girl here in these streets. So when did you discover that you love theater and Broadway?

[1:35] Melina Savannah Cruz: So I'm a twin and my brother and I were both premature. And when it came to talking and learning some processing things, my brother was able to form sentences, but I couldn't do that. So my mother, of course, the master's in English was like, we need to get, she said that we need to get a speech therapist. So we did. And the speech therapist just told my mother to keep the TV on. And she was like, what? That must be bad for my child. And she was like, well, just keep Little Mermaid, High School Musical, all the singing TV shows and movies on, because I was singing along to the TV, creating full sentences. And then my first solo was at church singing "Before the Rocks Cry Out." So that's where I learned how to sing. And that's where I get it from. And that's how I learned how to talk was through singing.

[2:38] Robert Bannon: What was the moment you realized you wanted to make it a career? Because a lot of people, some people are negative about it. They'll say you'll be a waiter for the rest of your life. You'll never make a living. How are you going to do this? You're in Philly. You're going to go to Big Scary New York, go to NYU. What happens if you don't book the gig? How did you handle any of the insecurities and doubts that you may have had about going into it?

[2:57] Melina Savannah Cruz: I just trusted my family. My family is very honest and strong. And it was my 13th birthday because I've always wanted to be a pop singer, pop singer, a jazz singer, gospel singer, just a singer. And then my 13th birthday, my parents took me to go see Wicked, the touring company over in Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center. And Jessica Bosk was playing Elphaba. And I just remember sitting in that theater and Fiyero was making the announcement of put your phones away and da-da-da-da, and then now enjoy the show of Wicked. Like the orchestra starts and I immediately start crying. My mother's attacking me going, are you okay? Like, what's wrong with you? I said, check back in with me in an hour. I don't know what's wrong, but I could not stop crying.

And then "Defying Gravity" happened. And I said, okay, so paint me green. This is what I want to do with the rest of my life. Because I realized that it's actually not about me. It's about what am I doing to make other people feel something? And just as an actor, like if I'm not feeling it, the audience isn't feeling it either. So I'm also just a really emotional human being and I have a lot of big feelings. So to be able to have a stage where I can feel all those big feelings and feel them big and heavy and cry and scream and throw up all at the same time, like it's just my favorite thing to do. So when you decided to go to NYU and you graduate, you start the hustle. Did you graduate?

[4:26] Melina Savannah Cruz: I graduated. Yes.

[4:26] Robert Bannon: Right. You graduated. You didn't book SIX before you graduated?

[4:31] Melina Savannah Cruz: No, I was in callbacks for SIX before I graduated.

[4:36] Robert Bannon: You were in callbacks already. So did you get representation? Were you going to open calls? How did it work? How did the show come to you? What was the journey?

[4:42] Melina Savannah Cruz: So I got my representation in late March and then SIX started, SIX was my second self-tape that I sent in. And I had a discussion with my manager because I know what my career, I know what I wanted it to look like. I know I wanted to do big things because I know that I can do that. Like I just had this sense in me and I know that what I wanted to achieve will happen, especially if I put my mind to it. And SIX is my second self-tape. It was my first big in-person Broadway callback. And then it was another work session and then it was a final callback and now I'm here. But I had a big discussion with my manager and I told him that this is what I want it to look like. These are the things I want. And I know that you can help me do that. And I know what I want to be successful and I want to be happy. And I think the idea of making it in the world is being mentally, physically, spiritually healthy. And as long as I am those three, then I am satisfied.

[5:48] Robert Bannon: Well, you talk about, I'm going to talk about Jane Seymour in a minute, but you talk about in your bio, you have a conversation about the thanking of family, friends, God, and you talk about wanting to be a gospel singer. There has to be a religious spiritual element to what you do. Do you feel like the universe, God, the journey, you're on this journey, you're doing what you're meant to do? How do you live in showbiz and have a spiritual, healthy life?

[6:14] Melina Savannah Cruz: I think I do that because I know that my walk and my religion and my relationship with God is my own. And that does not have to be anybody else's but mine. And I don't know, I just, I'm called to be a light in this world. And that's all I want to be and do. And it's not my place to judge anyone or anything. So that's just that, that is not my place. My place is just to spread kindness, spread love and to be a light. And that's all I want to do. And I always say that even if you don't believe in anything, or if you don't have a religion, like when you listen to a gospel song, you feel something. You get a little chills, you feel something, like you feel something in the room and whatever that is to you, for me, it's the Holy Spirit, for someone else, it could be something else. But I'm just here to be a light.

[7:07] Robert Bannon: I love that. I was listening to "Chachakadob" this morning.

[7:09] Melina Savannah Cruz: That's right.

[7:11] Robert Bannon: I was, fill me up till I overflow. I was jamming in the car.

[7:14] Melina Savannah Cruz: And every day it's just like that music is good. Like you feel something.

[7:18] Robert Bannon: And they're singing and I feel inspired. And I'm like, okay, I could get through this day. I got this. We got this. You also can get through this day when you buy a ticket to go see SIX. So before we talk about the show and why it's eternally lasting and so incredible, it is from the 3rd to the 8th, right here at the Fisher Theater in Detroit. The show opens Tuesday at 7:30. You've got tickets available. It comes every year and sells out every year. Detroit falls in love with the ladies of SIX. And you are playing Jane Seymour, which means Melina has a gigantic voice because she has to sing "Heart of Stone." So tell me about that beast and that monster. What's it like for you to sing it every single night? And how do you take care of your voice to do it?

[7:54] Melina Savannah Cruz: Yeah. So it was a little difficult for me during the rehearsal process because I'm just such an emotional human being. And I wear my heart on my sleeve. Like I was crying a lot during the songwriting process.

[8:06] Melina Savannah Cruz: And a lot of it was useful and a lot of it wasn't. A lot of it was like, cause when I would cry too much, like obviously when you cry and sing at the same time, it just doesn't work. So I had to learn how to have all these emotions, but also stay focused on the point of she needs to say what she needs to say and she's dying. She's dying. She needs to let her son know that she's going to be with him, even though she won't be there. So I had to rewire my way of thinking with Jane's song and like not internalize it so much because this is something I wanted to share. I had to think about it that way. Jane wanted to share these things. She needed to say these things. And in order to do that, I have to invite.

I have to welcome. So it's okay to feel all those feelings, but you also have to understand that I have to finish the song. I have to finish what I'm saying. And I keep myself healthy with a humidifier, a nebulizer, a steamer. I use the throat coat. I don't like tea, which is crazy because as a singer, tea should be your gold, but I don't like tea. So I like the throat coat lozenges that are the ginger, lemon, delicious, because they don't dry you out. Because we're in Baltimore right now and Baltimore is, I feel like most theaters are just dry in general. And then of course, if you see Six, we have so much fog and haze happening. So it's just like in your mouth, it's in your nose, it's in your passages.

So also like massive bottles of water. Like you have to stay hydrated. You can't sleep. Oh, I'm 50 years old. I go to sleep at like 9:30. I wake up at eight. Like I genuinely sleep, skincare, makeup, like anything self-care is like Melina Savannah Cruz coated. And I love my sleep. I prioritize it. Like I will sit out on a night if all the girls are going out and it's late and I have to wake up early. Sorry, I'll see you guys later. I have to go to sleep. That's it. And the great thing is everybody, the show is 80 minutes. So you get in, like I can't do, I'm old. I can't do two and a half hours, three hours. And my knees hurt, I'm tired, I start to fall asleep. 80 minutes, she can get to bed on time and then you all can have a good old moment in the show.

The ladies that, my husband, last year when Six was here, my husband went and saw with his cousin because we were fostering a baby. So I couldn't get to the theater. So I was with the baby. He was at the theater. He came home and he's not from New York. I'm from New York. I moved here two years ago. So I saw Six on Broadway and we love it and adore it. He had never seen it. He is obsessed, obsessed with this show. He's in your song. He'll be in the car. Yeah, he's singing and he's melting and melting. And five, four, three, two, one more minute. Like we are in it in our house. Oh, it's amazing. For you, what's it like now when you go to the stage door, when you see people, they know the song, they've listened to the soundtrack, they've been listening to it, they've seen it on tour before and they meet you.

And these characters have taken on, the songs have been important and your performance inspires these young people, especially young girls to see themselves on stage. It's gotta be incredible for you.

[11:10] Melina Savannah Cruz: It's just, like I said, like it has nothing to do with me. It's like, if I was able to make you feel that way, then I'm happy. And yesterday the stage door, I mean, was a line of people just around the block, all these little girls like just dressed up and just so excited. And like a lot of them are in Six in their high school and they're just, it's just, it is so, it brings tears to my eyes. It's just so inspiring and beautiful that I get to do this. And this is my life now. Like, why am I crying? Like, this is my life and it's just, it's amazing. And gosh, I'm crying.

[11:48] Robert Bannon: I feel for you. I'm ready, I'm ready to give you a hug on Wednesday night when I'm at the show. Wait, I'm crying. Oh, this is so funny. What was the, wait, yes. And it's just like, we can see everyone in the audience and like, I can see people singing along and I'm like, wait, you have to finish the song. Like, don't cry yet. But, oh my gosh, see, I told you. So when's your birthday?

[12:13] Melina Savannah Cruz: July 28th.

[12:15] Robert Bannon: July 28th, are you a Leo?

[12:17] Melina Savannah Cruz: I'm a Leo, but I'm a cancer rising.

[12:17] Robert Bannon: I'm a cancer rising. Apparently that means I'm really sensitive.

[12:24] Melina Savannah Cruz: I'm a Scorpio, so I'm a water sign. So I don't want to cry with you.

[12:27] Robert Bannon: I'll cry with you. I'm going to be at the show on Wednesday, everybody. I cry like every day. It's so cathartic. It's so fun to do. And like, again, I love my life. I love what I do. And like, that's the thing, you have to love it. I love it so much, I cry. Like, that's how much love I feel in my heart for it. I cry.

[12:45] Robert Bannon: Well, the Detroit fam here, the kids watching, the people here are saying like, they're inspired. My buddy here says he's inspired to keep up the good work. And kids can see this show. There's no one's head is getting chopped off. No one's head is getting chopped off. It's a fun time. There's confetti. Yes, there's bops. Like, it is like pop music greats. Like, if you love pop music, hip hop, ballads, dancing, costumes, it's like American Idol meets, you know, King Henry and all of the fun. If you're into any style of music, and even people who don't like, they think Broadway is corny and cheesy in theaters, oh, I'm gonna fall asleep. Not this baby, not this baby on this stage. You can't, you can't fall asleep here. There's a little dialogue and then boom, boom, there's music, boom, stand up, clap. And you all are dancing and singing. There's no auto-tune, there's no tracks. They're up here singing, gah, gah, gah, gah. They are, yes.

[13:40] Melina Savannah Cruz: How are the other girls? Tell us about the other ladies and the swings that are joining you on the tour.

[13:45] Melina Savannah Cruz: Like, we keep talking about it and the creatives keep talking about it too, of just like the representation of just like kindness that's being spread. Like, there's 10 of us, but there's no separation between us and like our understudies or alternates. Like, they are just as much queens as we are, onstage queens, and they're just amazing. Like, we all are so eternally grateful for each other and we lift each other up and there's no jealousy, none of that. Like, we're all just so like friends. Like, we literally are just all friends and we're having the best time. And the onstage queens are a new company. Like, we're all like new. And then there's three returning alternates and then one new alternate.

And we're just like lifting her up so much because she's doing such amazing work, especially like coming into the alternate world new because like the other three already know the show. So like, they're being so helpful. Everyone is just so kind. And just to be a part of a team that is all women is one thing. Like, there's just no, it's so refreshing to not be around men. It really is. It really is. It's like a breath of fresh air. It's like, wow, I can think and I can cry and not have anyone being like, why are you crying? I get it.

[15:05] Robert Bannon: And Dale, I agreed. Look, ladies, this is the perfect date night late or girls night out or bachelorette party or just get your, have brunch and go see a matinee. It's the perfect thing to do. Go to atgtickets.com, go to ATG Detroit, get your information. I will be there on Wednesday night. My husband will sing it. I'll have to tell him to be quiet. It's not appropriate to sing in the theater. We know that. We can hear people singing. That's the thing. People are singing, we can hear you. They're gonna be singing. It's gonna be a party. Detroit's gonna be a party. Go see, she's one of those people I hate that books like big jobs right from college. Okay, fine, good for you. Great, that's nice. Must be nice. And we're so excited and grateful to see you here. Thank you for making time for us. Congratulations.

[15:51] Melina Savannah Cruz: Of course, thank you for making me cry. I need that.

[15:53] Robert Bannon: You can come cry with us anytime.

[15:57] Melina Savannah Cruz: I needed that. I needed to cry. Get it out. Then you can do your show tonight. You cried it out already.

[16:01] Robert Bannon: We ugly cried it out.

[16:04] Melina Savannah Cruz: No, you could never ugly cry. You're beautiful and your voice is incredible and we're ready. We're cheering for you. Let's go. Thank you guys.