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[0:00] Robert Bannon: Welcome to The Roundtable! I'm your host, Robert Bannon, and today we have an incredible lineup of guests joining us for a special press day of THE BALUSTERS.

[0:30] Robert Bannon: We have an all-star cast here, and I can't wait to dive into this exciting production.

[0:45] Robert Bannon: Let's start by introducing our amazing guests. We have Marylouise Burke, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Margaret Colin, Kayli Carter, Ricardo Chavira, Michael Esper, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Richard Thomas, and Jeena Yi.

[1:00] Robert Bannon: And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, we have a special announcement: Anika Noni Rose has officially joined the cast!

[1:20] Robert Bannon: So, let's talk about stepping into a production of this magnitude. What does it feel like to be part of such a stacked ensemble?

[1:35] Marylouise Burke: It's exhilarating! The energy in the room is palpable, and knowing that we are all here to create something special together is just incredible.

[1:55] Carl Clemons-Hopkins: Absolutely! The responsibility that comes with an ensemble like this is significant, but it also pushes us to elevate our performances.

[2:15] Margaret Colin: I think we all feel that sense of camaraderie. We're not just colleagues; we're a family working towards a common goal.

[2:35] Kayli Carter: And the script by David Lindsay-Abaire is just brilliant. It gives us so much to work with and explore.

[2:55] Ricardo Chavira: I agree! The layers in the storytelling are rich, and I think audiences are going to be blown away by what we bring to the stage.

[3:15] Michael Esper: Plus, with Kenny Leon at the helm, we know we're in good hands. His vision for this production is inspiring.

[3:35] Maria-Christina Oliveras: It's a dream come true to work with such talented individuals. I can't wait for everyone to see what we've been working on.

[3:55] Richard Thomas: The buzz in the room is just the beginning. I think opening night is going to be electric!

[4:15] Jeena Yi: And with Anika joining us, it adds another layer of excitement. Her talent is unmatched.

[4:35] Robert Bannon: It really is a dream team. What can audiences expect from this production?

[4:55] Marylouise Burke: They can expect bold performances and a story that resonates on many levels.

[5:15] Carl Clemons-Hopkins: It's a journey that will take them through a range of emotions, and I think they'll leave the theater feeling inspired.

[5:35] Margaret Colin: And we want them to feel connected to the characters and the story. That's what makes theater so powerful.

[5:55] Kayli Carter: Exactly! It's about creating an experience that lingers long after the curtain falls.

[6:15] Ricardo Chavira: We're all in this together, and I think that unity will shine through in our performances.

[6:35] Michael Esper: I can't wait for everyone to witness the magic that happens when we come together as a cast.

[6:55] Maria-Christina Oliveras: It's going to be a celebration of talent and storytelling, and I hope everyone feels that energy.

[7:15] Richard Thomas: We're ready to bring our best to the stage, and I think audiences will feel that commitment.

[7:25] Jeena Yi: It's an honor to be part of this production, and I know we will make it unforgettable.

[7:35] Robert Bannon: Thank you all for sharing your thoughts! This is going to be an incredible show, and I can't wait for everyone to see it.

[7:55] Robert Bannon: Make sure to follow us for more updates on THE BALUSTERS, and stay tuned for our next episode!

[8:15] Robert Bannon: As always, the best is yet to come!

[8:35] Robert Bannon: Thank you for joining us today on The Roundtable.

[8:55] Robert Bannon: Until next time!

[9:15] Robert Bannon: Bye for now!

[9:35] Robert Bannon: See you soon!

[10:00] Margaret Colin: And it's not, you know, if you've got a message, send a telegram, but if you can write a great play where people can relate, see themselves, see others on stage, but also be really surprised at what's coming out of David's mind, because it's not, I've never been in a room where this has happened. Yeah, yeah, it's kind of like, it's very fresh.

[10:21] Marylouise Burke: Yes, yes. And just, I just want to chat about it, because I was going through everyone's bios and I was like, you've worked with Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt, and your Hallmark movies, which I love, which we did talk about. Oh, of course, my, oh my goodness. Those guys. They are the best. My Hallmark clubs. Yes. How did I get that lucky? Oh my gosh, they are absolutely wonderful. And then Jeff Goldblum in Independent. I mean, come on. That's true. You have a plethora of accolades here, my dear.

[10:47] Margaret Colin: I do. A lot of very lovely leading men. And you know, my husband, Justin Dees, was the best leading man. So, Tom Selleck. Yeah, a lot of them. They're a pleasure to work with, a lot of fun, a lot of chemistry, a lot of respect.

[11:05] Marylouise Burke: Yeah. Not, you know, backstabbing or undermining, really kind of great. Well, that kind of makes you feel good.

[11:09] Margaret Colin: Yeah, and eye candy.

[11:10] Marylouise Burke: Yeah, yeah, a little bit of that. Just gorgeous. But between TV, movies, theater, you do everything. It's wonderful. I can't wait to come and see you. God is good all the time.

[11:17] Margaret Colin: Thank you for saying that. Buy your tickets April 21st. Come see this lovely lady and these wonderful cast of characters. You will not be disappointed.

[11:22] Marylouise Burke: Thank you. Yes, thank you so much. Always a pleasure to see you. Hi. Hi. Friend of the roundtable, Michael Esper, Robert Bannon says to say hello.

[11:31] Margaret Colin: Oh my gosh, hello. Yes. He is now living in Detroit with his new husband, with Darius. What? Really? Yes, he got married in May.

[11:36] Marylouise Burke: Oh my God, congratulations. So, I was behind the camera, now I'm in front of the camera.

[11:40] Margaret Colin: Well, it's good to see you here. Thank you. It's so good to see you. He's interviewed you a few times, so I was like, now it's my turn to interview Michael.

[11:44] Michael Esper: True, let's go. I love your earrings.

[11:48] Margaret Colin: Oh, thank you. So cute. I tried to find Princess Tiana, but I didn't have any. So, I made do with Tinkerbell.

[11:52] Michael Esper: So cute. So, Michael Esper, your career, I mean, can I just say, like the plethora of accolades that you have, it's just amazing. And now this sounds really amazing, by the way.

[12:04] Michael Esper: That's very sweet of you. Thank you. Yeah, I feel very lucky to be here. It's such an incredible place, such an incredible group of people to be a part of and to get to start working with. I haven't really worked with many of these people before, but just admired their talent from afar or whatever, from the audience. So, it's very cool to be here.

[12:23] Margaret Colin: So, can you tell me about your character's name and a little bit about your character?

[12:27] Michael Esper: Yes, my character's name is Alan. Does that make you think of Barbie, like Alan?

[12:35] Margaret Colin: Oh my God, I didn't think of that, but now it will haunt me.

[12:40] Michael Esper: Oh no, I'm sorry. It will haunt me now. That's okay. You'll see it in the performance eventually, I'm sure. Okay. And I'll credit you. He's a really sweet guy. He's very well-meaning, a very well-intentioned guy. He wants to be a good person. It's very important to him. He's a caretaker. He cares about his community. He cares about the people around him. He wants to show up for them and he wants to be liked. And that doesn't always work out. He wants to be heard. And I think he's very frustrated when those things aren't always received the way he feels like maybe they should be. And anyway, despite his best intentions, things go awry, as they sometimes do in dramedies.

[13:28] Margaret Colin: Yes. That's what's so interesting about this. And I think it's very relatable and I think it's very inclusive. There's a lot of different voices to be heard within the characters. And I think that's so important.

[13:36] Michael Esper: Yeah, well, I think it plays so much about community and different types of community. And I think whether that's a world community or more locally, or the people in your family, the people around you, and about the things we have to give up in order to work together, the things we have to, the things that we shouldn't give up. All those negotiations that come with trying to understand how to be a person working with other people.

[14:06] Margaret Colin: Yeah, the play really catches that. And working with other people is always hard. It's never easy. No matter the context.

[14:10] Michael Esper: Well, I think, you know, there are times honestly, where it can be. There are times where working with other people can be just like a dream. It's like a totally easy, you don't have to think about it. But I think something you're unconsciously having to give things over all the time. That it just means that that negotiation maybe suits you better with those people than it does with others, or maybe a little less is being asked of you in some way. But yeah, it's exciting. I'm so excited for you. We can't wait to see this April 21. Get your tickets now. This is going to be so, so fantastic.

[14:45] Margaret Colin: Get them up. Yes, Michael, thank you so much. Always a pleasure. Thank you. Nice talking to you.

[14:47] Michael Esper: Thank you. Nice talking to you too. I'm not going to lie. I'm a little starstruck right now.

[14:53] Richard Thomas: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. You look wonderful, by the way.

[14:57] Margaret Colin: Well, thank you very much. If you don't mind, could you introduce yourself to the roundtable?

[15:02] Richard Thomas: My name is Richard Thomas.

[15:06] Margaret Colin: And what character do you play? And can you fill us in a little bit on your character?

[15:11] Richard Thomas: Of course, I play Elliot Emerson, who is the president of the Vernon Point Neighborhood Association. A lovely man, a kind man, a man with a good sense of humor, but a man who wants to keep the neighborhood exactly as it was when he was four years old.

[15:23] Margaret Colin: This play sounds so amazing.

[15:24] Richard Thomas: It's great. It's great. I mean, he is a master playwright whose every single play is different. You know, David never repeats himself. And this is a beautiful ensemble piece, which is always the best kind of thing to see in the theater. And it's a true social satire, a real comedy of manners. But as is always the case with David's plays, it has a great deal of heart, you know. So it's never dry, even though it's got a lot of bite to it. So it's very funny and quite touching, I think.

[16:05] Margaret Colin: Yeah, no, I'm excited. And Michael has said it's kind of like a dramedy, like a little comedy and some drama, which is always good.

[16:10] Richard Thomas: Yeah, I mean, it's rich in light and shadow. You know, it has both. Every character has their light and their shadow, and nobody is spared. Nobody is kicked under the bus.

[16:25] Margaret Colin: Oh, I like that. That's great.

[16:26] Richard Thomas: Yeah, it's really good. My sister, actually, she is dean of students down in Florida.

[16:30] Margaret Colin: Oh, really?

[16:31] Richard Thomas: And then she decided to become president of her HOA. I said, really?

[16:34] Margaret Colin: Yeah, that's my sister. I said, of course, you're the youngest and the overachiever, always.

[16:38] Richard Thomas: Well, we'll see how that goes for her. I'm sure you'll have stories to tell.

[16:41] Margaret Colin: Oh, it's so exciting. I was like, oh my goodness. And she's like, I think I need a glass of wine.

[16:46] Richard Thomas: Well, and in New York, you know, with the co-op world and board world and all that, I think it'll have a lot to say to a lot of people.

[16:55] Margaret Colin: Thank you so much.

[16:56] Richard Thomas: My pleasure. Thank you. It's great to talk to you.

[16:58] Margaret Colin: April 21st, go get your tickets. Come see this gentleman in this play. It's going to be amazing. You'll have fun.

[17:05] Ricardo Chavira: Thank you so much. Such a pleasure. If you could please introduce yourself to the roundtablers.

[17:10] Ricardo Chavira: Hi, Ricardo Chavira and character.

[17:12] Margaret Colin: Yeah.

[17:12] Ricardo Chavira: I play Isaac Rosario in The Balusters.

[17:15] Margaret Colin: So when I told my dad that I was coming here and I said, you're never going to guess who I'm going to get to interview because he is a huge fan besides Desperate Housewives. It was like every Sunday he would be there with either some Italian food or some Chinese food and we'd watch it. It was so, so great. How excited are you to be a part of this?

[17:31] Ricardo Chavira: I'm excited because this is my Broadway debut at 54 years of age. So it can be done. Yeah. This is everything that I trained for. You know, I mean, I've loved my television and streaming and film career over the past 20, 25 years. But I've also done a lot of theater and my background is theater. So to finally say that I'm making a Broadway debut is quite special and especially to be doing it with this kind of play, a world premiere of a new American play. It's not an opportunity you get that often.

[18:08] Margaret Colin: Right.

[18:09] Ricardo Chavira: And it's kind of unequivocal, you know, so very excited. It's a wonderful, wonderful group of people. I mean, it's David Lindsay Beir, it's Camille Leon. It's all the things.

[18:20] Margaret Colin: So now what about your character? What can you tell us a little bit?

[18:23] Ricardo Chavira: So Isaac is, I'd say he's the only Latino, but that's not true because we also have the loose character, which is Filipina. So there's a Latin, obviously a Latin aspect to that character. But he is, let's see, he's described as a guy who comes from nothing, which he's very proud of, and now has a lot, which he's also very proud of. I would say that he probably has some very conservative leanings and doesn't put up with a lot of people's bullshit.

[18:53] Margaret Colin: Oh, I like that. I like that. But I think something like this where it's new and different, because we always love a revival, but it's nice to see new work coming.

[19:02] Ricardo Chavira: Well, I think that this is something that's very needed right now, this story, given where our world is. So to see all of these people coming together that are part of a neighborhood, but that don't necessarily know that much about each other, and they have to deal with the intricacies of living next to each other, and security, and whose grass is greener kind of thing. It sparks for a lot of, there's a lot of drama. Well, there's conversation, there's drama, there's humor, and there's, yeah, I think people will be pleasantly surprised.

[19:40] Margaret Colin: And very relatable. I think it's really great. I mean, look, I've had a property in Texas with my family for over 20 years, and we've got an HOA. So we've had to deal with that. My sister literally just, she's a teacher down in Florida. She is now, I said, you're taking on more? She's head of her HOA for her condominium. I said, really? You're dean of students?

[20:00] Anika Noni Rose: Coming in, but we all live together, near each other, we're neighbors, you know, and I think that that's something that within this country we've lost, you know what I mean, the idea of being a good neighbor, and what does that mean?

[20:44] Marylouise Burke: Right, it's true, we need to bring that back, hopefully, thank you so much, such a pleasure to meet you.

[20:51] Marylouise Burke: Likewise, likewise.

[20:52] Marylouise Burke: Thank you, thank you.

[20:53] Marylouise Burke: I'm Mary Louise Burke.

[20:55] Anika Noni Rose: And who do you play?

[20:56] Marylouise Burke: I play Penny Buell.

[21:00] Anika Noni Rose: And what can you tell us about this character, it's got to be a good one.

[21:03] Marylouise Burke: Well, Penny is one of the neighbors, she's probably the oldest of the neighbors on the neighborhood board, and so she's agreeable, but she also has her own rules and ideas.

[21:25] Anika Noni Rose: What was it like when you got the call to be a part of this, I mean, what a cast, what I mean, the playwright and Kenny, it's just amazing.

[21:32] Marylouise Burke: Oh, I know, I'm still pinching myself, you know, and this is just day two, so I'll either love him or hate him in a month, but this is, it's just a wonderful group of people.

[21:51] Marylouise Burke: We had our first read-through yesterday, and it was just such a joy to be a part of, you know, because everyone is into it, and everyone is happy with David's wavelength, and you know, his kind of humor, and Penny is wonderful, and I'm just happy to be here.

[22:16] Anika Noni Rose: Isn't it nice to have like something new, where revivals are great, but sometimes when it's new and fresh, it's so great to bring to the masses.

[22:23] Marylouise Burke: Oh, I know, yeah.

[22:25] Marylouise Burke: It's, you know, I've done other plays by David, but we've always had another experience with him first, you know, at the O'Neill or something, and so this one is really, we're the first people coming at it, you know, except for maybe a read-through, but yeah, yeah.

[22:53] Anika Noni Rose: Well, congratulations.

[22:54] Anika Noni Rose: Good luck.

[22:55] Anika Noni Rose: We can't wait to see it.

[22:56] Anika Noni Rose: April 21st.

[22:57] Anika Noni Rose: Go get your tickets.

[22:58] Marylouise Burke: Thank you so much.

[22:59] Marylouise Burke: Please.

[23:00] Marylouise Burke: Yeah.

[23:01] Marylouise Burke: Please come see them.

[23:02] Marylouise Burke: Thank you so much.

[23:03] Marylouise Burke: So nice to meet you.

[23:04] Anika Noni Rose: Nice to meet you.

[23:05] Maria-Christina Oliveras: Hi, I'm Maria Christina Olivares.

[23:06] Anika Noni Rose: How excited are you to be a part of this amazing, I mean, I look at this, and I'm like, this is going to be so good.

[23:11] Maria-Christina Oliveras: Oh, it's thrilling.

[23:12] Maria-Christina Oliveras: It's always so thrilling to be a part of a new work, where we're discovering what is this beautiful, beautiful play.

[23:18] Maria-Christina Oliveras: David Lindsay-Abaire is one of our finest, I've been a huge fan of his since Rabbit Hole, and Kimberly Akimbo, and we're just, we're at that point of discovery, and new work, we're literally discovering it in the moment as we go, so it's really, really exciting to be a part of.

[23:34] Anika Noni Rose: And you just started, like, yesterday.

[23:35] Maria-Christina Oliveras: Yesterday.

[23:36] Maria-Christina Oliveras: Yesterday, indeed.

[23:37] Maria-Christina Oliveras: So it's been a beautiful adventure.

[23:39] Maria-Christina Oliveras: The room is incredible.

[23:41] Maria-Christina Oliveras: Kenny Leon just fosters this amazing collaborative environment of discovery and process and dedication to really just exploring with curiosity and boldness and passion, and this cast is, everybody's just so willing to throw down and get messy up in it, so.

[23:59] Anika Noni Rose: What can you tell me about your character?

[24:00] Maria-Christina Oliveras: Okay, yes, I play Luz Bacay, who has worked in this community for decades, and her power lies in understanding what the dynamics of the community are, observation, deep listening, and knowing what to say, what not to say, and when to say it.

[24:20] Anika Noni Rose: Yes, indeed.

[24:21] Maria-Christina Oliveras: So, you'll have to come, you'll have to come to see what exactly that means.

[24:26] Maria-Christina Oliveras: Yes, previews start end of March and then April.

[24:28] Maria-Christina Oliveras: March 31st, opening night, April 21st.

[24:31] Anika Noni Rose: Thank you so much.

[24:33] Anika Noni Rose: Thank you.

[24:34] Anika Noni Rose: Congratulations.

[24:35] Anika Noni Rose: Good luck.

[24:36] Anika Noni Rose: Thank you so much.

[24:37] Jeena Yi: Hi, my name is Gina Yee.

[24:38] Jeena Yi: I play Melissa Hahn in The Balusters.

[24:39] Anika Noni Rose: So what can you tell us about your character?

[24:40] Jeena Yi: Melissa Hahn is the Vice President of the Neighborhood Association, and she's a bit of a potster.

[24:45] Jeena Yi: She's not afraid to express her opinions or say things that she knows people in the room may not like it.

[24:52] Anika Noni Rose: That's so fun.

[24:53] Jeena Yi: Yes, it's very fun.

[24:54] Jeena Yi: That's such a great character to play.

[24:55] Jeena Yi: Yeah, that's really fun.

[24:56] Anika Noni Rose: And I mean, what a plethora of actors, of personalities.

[25:01] Jeena Yi: It's an embarrassment of riches here.

[25:04] Jeena Yi: How excited are you to be a part of this?

[25:07] Jeena Yi: Oh, I'm so excited, beyond excited.

[25:10] Jeena Yi: I mean, to be a part of a world premiere in general is amazing, but then to be a part of the only American world premiere play on Broadway this season, that's also just like, wow.

[25:19] Jeena Yi: It is kind of mind boggling.

[25:20] Jeena Yi: It is.

[25:21] Jeena Yi: It is.

[25:22] Jeena Yi: But to work with Kenny and David and this amazing cast and MTCU, which is a theater I've admired for many years, and so it's just, all of it's a dream come true.

[25:30] Anika Noni Rose: It's great, the inclusivity of everyone seeing different faces, because I think that's so important in today's climate.

[25:34] Jeena Yi: 100%.

[25:37] Jeena Yi: And even the play also deals with that, about just, even with this diverse group of people, they do have this one thing in common, and it's really wonderful, it's really wonderful.

[25:49] Jeena Yi: And community, and that's, I mean, even where we live, it's kind of like, oh my gosh, when David was talking about it, I said, oh, that sounds so familiar.

[25:55] Anika Noni Rose: Yes.

[25:56] Jeena Yi: I was like, oh, it's so very interesting.

[25:57] Jeena Yi: I think a lot of people relate to this show.

[25:59] Anika Noni Rose: Yes.

[26:00] Jeena Yi: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[26:01] Anika Noni Rose: So April 21st, go buy your tickets, come see this lovely lady here in this play.

[26:04] Jeena Yi: So nice to meet you.

[26:05] Anika Noni Rose: Congratulations.

[26:06] Jeena Yi: Congratulations.

[26:07] Jeena Yi: I love your hair.

[26:08] Anika Noni Rose: Oh, thank you.

[26:09] Kayli Carter: Hi, my name is Kaylee Carter.

[26:10] Anika Noni Rose: And who do you play?

[26:11] Kayli Carter: I play Willow Gibbons.

[26:13] Kayli Carter: She is a very concerned, lifelong citizen of the Vernon Point neighborhood, and she sees herself as an ally to all of those in her room, whether they've asked her to be or not.

[26:24] Anika Noni Rose: Oh, that kind of sounds like me a little bit.

[26:27] Kayli Carter: I love that.

[26:28] Kayli Carter: First of all, I love your character name.

[26:29] Anika Noni Rose: As soon as I saw it, I was like, that's such a great name.

[26:30] Kayli Carter: It's a really great name.

[26:32] Kayli Carter: It's a really great name.

[26:33] Kayli Carter: David's very good at character names.

[26:35] Kayli Carter: I was reading through it, and I was like, they're really strong names.

[26:37] Kayli Carter: Really strong.

[26:38] Kayli Carter: But they don't sound fake.

[26:39] Anika Noni Rose: No.

[26:40] Kayli Carter: They don't sound made up.

[26:41] Anika Noni Rose: Right.

[26:42] Kayli Carter: That's what I was saying to everyone else.

[26:43] Kayli Carter: It's a very relatable play, like in today's climate.

[26:47] Kayli Carter: I feel like everyone will feel represented on the stage, whether that's a good or a bad thing.

[26:52] Anika Noni Rose: Gotcha.

[26:54] Kayli Carter: Because sometimes when we hold a mirror up to ourselves, it's not the best thing, but we learn more through the unflattering portraits painted of us, I think, than the flattering ones.

[27:06] Anika Noni Rose: That is true.

[27:07] Kayli Carter: And maybe there is growth, and maybe there isn't growth.

[27:10] Anika Noni Rose: Yes.

[27:11] Kayli Carter: But in order for there to be growth, there has to be self-awareness.

[27:13] Anika Noni Rose: Very, very, very true.

[27:17] Anika Noni Rose: And what is it like working with all of these lovely people?

[27:21] Kayli Carter: This cast is just outstanding.

[27:23] Kayli Carter: I love an ensemble.

[27:24] Kayli Carter: My favorite place to be is in a room where I feel like I'm surrounded with people who are better than me because they force me to raise my game, to be challenged, to get surprised by new and interesting things that they do.

[27:41] Kayli Carter: And the great thing about The Balusters is that we're all on stage with each other pretty much the entire show.

[27:46] Anika Noni Rose: Oh, wow.

[27:47] Kayli Carter: Okay.

[27:48] Kayli Carter: So I get to be an audience member every night and respond in real time and hear new things every day, which I'm really looking forward to.

[27:57] Anika Noni Rose: That's really fantastic.

[27:58] Anika Noni Rose: And you know, we have a lot that watch our podcast.

[28:00] Anika Noni Rose: We have a lot of young, aspiring actors and actresses.

[28:04] Anika Noni Rose: And do you have any advice for them?

[28:06] Kayli Carter: I would say that just because somebody hasn't given you a script doesn't mean that you're not an actor.

[28:11] Kayli Carter: You can be working on yourself as an actor, whether someone's given you a job or not.

[28:17] Kayli Carter: And take that word aspiring out of there.

[28:20] Kayli Carter: Call yourself an actor.

[28:21] Kayli Carter: Show up to every audition as if you have the role.

[28:25] Kayli Carter: And instead of thinking about what they want, bring a piece of yourself to it.

[28:32] Kayli Carter: And just go full bore with how you see that character.

[28:36] Kayli Carter: And if you're not what they need at that specific time, it has nothing to do with you.

[28:43] Anika Noni Rose: That is phenomenal advice.

[28:45] Anika Noni Rose: Thank you so much.

[28:46] Kayli Carter: Of course.

[28:47] Anika Noni Rose: Really, really fantastic.

[28:48] Anika Noni Rose: I wish you the best of luck.

[28:50] Anika Noni Rose: Make sure you get your tickets.

[28:51] Anika Noni Rose: This is going to sell out and be amazing.

[28:54] Anika Noni Rose: So thank you so much.

[28:55] Anika Noni Rose: So nice to meet you.

[28:56] Jeena Yi: Thank you.

[28:57] Robert Bannon: Well, Roundtablers, what a press day for The Balusters.

[29:03] Robert Bannon: What an amazing cast.

[29:05] Robert Bannon: Amazing playwright and David Lindsay-Abaire, I mean, quintessential director.

[29:09] Robert Bannon: And you could just feel the energy from this cast.

[29:13] Robert Bannon: They are ready.

[29:14] Robert Bannon: They literally just started rehearsals yesterday.

[29:15] Robert Bannon: They did their read-through.

[29:17] Robert Bannon: And now, April 21st, this opens on Broadway.

[29:22] Robert Bannon: Manhattan Theatre Club, you need to come and see this because let me tell you, this is going to sell out.

[29:25] Robert Bannon: I mean, you've got John Boy from The Waltons.

[29:30] Robert Bannon: You've got Princess Tiana, Anika Noni Rose.

[29:33] Robert Bannon: This cast is outstanding.

[29:35] Robert Bannon: Margaret Colin, come on.

[29:37] Robert Bannon: You go buy your tickets.

[29:38] Robert Bannon: Come out.

[29:39] Robert Bannon: See this.

[29:40] Robert Bannon: It'll be amazing.

[29:41] Robert Bannon: The snow will be gone.

[29:42] Robert Bannon: You can come to New York and see it.

[29:43] Robert Bannon: So save me a seat at the Roundtable.

[29:47] Robert Bannon: Thank you.

[29:48] Robert Bannon: Thank you.