This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Robert Bannon: Welcome to The Roundtable with Robert Bannon. Today, we have a very special guest, Tony Award nominee Tim Jackson, who is here to talk about his work on the new musical, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York).

[0:30] Tim Jackson: Thank you for having me, Robert! I'm excited to be here and share more about this incredible project.

[0:50] Robert Bannon: So, Tim, let's dive right in. What drew you to direct Two Strangers?

[1:10] Tim Jackson: The story is just so charming and relatable. It blends humor and heart in a way that resonates with audiences. The journey of the characters and their unexpected friendship really captivated me.

[1:30] Robert Bannon: That sounds wonderful! Can you tell us a bit about the creative process behind bringing this musical to life?

[1:50] Tim Jackson: Absolutely! It started with a fantastic script and score. Collaborating with the talented cast and creative team has been a dream. We worked hard to shape the material, ensuring that every moment on stage felt authentic and engaging.

[2:10] Robert Bannon: I can imagine! What were some of the challenges you faced while directing a new musical?

[2:30] Tim Jackson: One of the biggest challenges was finding the right balance between the humor and the emotional depth of the story. We wanted to make sure that the audience felt connected to the characters while also enjoying the lighter moments.

[2:50] Robert Bannon: That’s a delicate balance to strike. How has the audience responded to the show so far?

[3:10] Tim Jackson: The response has been overwhelmingly positive! People have really connected with the characters and their journey. It’s been heartwarming to see how the story resonates with so many.

[3:30] Robert Bannon: That’s fantastic to hear! Can you share a bit about the journey of the show from its earlier productions to Broadway?

[3:50] Tim Jackson: Sure! The show had some acclaimed productions abroad, which helped us refine it before bringing it to Broadway. We learned so much from those experiences, and it’s exciting to see how it has evolved.

[4:10] Robert Bannon: It must be rewarding to see it come to life on such a big stage. What do you think makes this story connect so deeply with audiences?

[4:30] Tim Jackson: I believe it’s the universal themes of friendship and connection. Everyone can relate to the idea of meeting someone unexpectedly and how those encounters can change our lives.

[4:50] Robert Bannon: Absolutely! And what has it been like working with the cast?

[5:00] Tim Jackson: The cast is incredibly talented and brings so much energy to the show. Their dedication and passion for the material really shine through in every performance.

[5:20] Robert Bannon: That’s great to hear! Have there been any standout moments during rehearsals or performances that you’d like to share?

[5:40] Tim Jackson: There have been so many! One moment that stands out is when we first staged a key scene that encapsulates the heart of the show. The energy in the room was electric, and it felt like magic.

[5:50] Robert Bannon: I can only imagine! As a director, what do you hope audiences take away from Two Strangers?

[6:10] Tim Jackson: I hope they leave feeling uplifted and inspired. It’s a reminder of the beauty of human connection and the unexpected friendships that can blossom in our lives.

[6:30] Robert Bannon: That’s a beautiful message. With the show receiving Tony Award recognition, how has that impacted the production?

[6:50] Tim Jackson: It’s been incredible! The recognition has brought more attention to the show, and we’re grateful for the support. It motivates us to continue delivering the best experience for our audience.

[7:18] Robert Bannon: Congratulations on that! What’s next for you after this production?

[7:28] Tim Jackson: I’m looking forward to exploring new projects and continuing to tell meaningful stories through theater. There’s always something exciting on the horizon!

[7:48] Robert Bannon: That’s exciting! Thank you so much for joining me today, Tim. It’s been a pleasure talking about Two Strangers and your journey as a director.

[8:08] Tim Jackson: Thank you, Robert! I appreciate the opportunity to share our work with your audience.

[8:28] Robert Bannon: And to our listeners, make sure to check out Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) on Broadway. You won’t want to miss it!

[8:56] Tim Jackson: Yes, come see us! We can’t wait to share this story with you.

[9:06] Robert Bannon: Until next time, this is The Roundtable with Robert Bannon.

[9:26] Tim Jackson: Thanks for having me!

[9:46] Robert Bannon: Take care, everyone!

[10:14] Tim Jackson: Bye!

[10:24] Robert Bannon: See you soon!

[10:44] Tim Jackson: Bye!

[11:04] Robert Bannon: Bye!

[12:22] Tim Jackson: You've watched a show about two people, but I think you step out feeling like you've connected with like a whole room of people, because we all know what it's like to feel alone in the city, or feel a little bit lost, or feel like we are sort of searching for something. And this shows that if you just allow those channels to open up, you can have a transformational weekend, or day or whatever that might be. And so I think that that's why people get so excited about the show is it's just, it could happen to anyone in that auditorium. It is, it is. Come see it in New York City, everybody. And we're or wait a year or and go see it around the country, as a tour is already announced with a whole bunch of Tony nominations. And shout out to Christiani and Sam.

[13:09] Robert Bannon: So what was it like? See, what I'm always amazed is I'm very not Tim, I'm afraid of confrontation. So to be a director, not that you're supposed to be confrontational, but I would have so much stress to tell someone to do something differently, or to have a different vision or conversation. What was it like to work with them? How did you have a simonious whatever's the fancy word symbol? I don't know the fancy word relationship together.

[13:35] Tim Jackson: I guess it's because I don't, I don't feel like my job is there to like, tell them to do anything. I think my job is there to ask questions and try and sort of excavate something within them that they can then own and play on a repeated basis. So I guess my, my job is to sort of go fishing for ideas and playful ways to tell the story. And then sometimes you throw back some fishes and other times you keep the fishes that you really feel like are going to communicate the best story to an audience. And when you are working with people like Sam and Christiani, their toolbox and their palette of colours that they can use is so rich that there's, there's so much to investigate and there's so much to play with.

And they're, they're really open to, they were very open to making this a super crafted, super detailed, super layered show. It's, it's a gift for an actor to be on stage with only one other actor, because you have so much time in rehearsals to really dig in and make your part as rich as possible. And so my relationship with them and my job with them was to put in all that detail and spend all that time harnessing their immense star quality, which they, they both have in the wildest abundance, and then try and make it feel like it didn't exist at all. And that we'd had none of those conversations and it was just seeming to fall out of them. And the, the way they do that is so masterful. Like, they, it's no accident that the audience will collectively gasp at one point, or we hear people's sniffling at another, or, or we, or the huge laugh goes up like a rocket, because it's being really carefully thought out.

But it requires such skill and such nuance to be able to hit that repeatedly, night after night. And they have a million jokes to land and a million emotional beats to hit. And, and they just, they ski down this hill and with such ease and such flair and such charm, it's really special. And they're the nicest, nicest people, and they love each other. And there's just a room, there's a feeling in the room of like this family that all care about the show. We care about the writers. We want, everyone has this collective will for this show to be the best it possibly can be. So there's no one, like, shied away from working really hard and putting in so much effort. I mean, they, it's a big lift, eight shows a week.

They're, they're holding a lot between the two of them. And they make, and they give every audience 110%. It's really dazzling. And they, they both are doing these tour de force performances, because you see them be so funny, and so truthful. And they dance, and they sing like wizards. It's, it's, it's really, I feel so excited that I even get to be part of it. That's, it's his fault that they're out there working so hard, because he's got them dancing, and singing, and telling this story. And they are so brilliant. We saw them at an award show not too long ago on the red carpet. They came off the stage, they glammed themselves up, they threw themselves on the red carpet. And they were like, it's a whirlwind.

We are living this incredible, it's an incredible time to go see this show, because it is, they are giving performances truly of a lifetime that you will never probably see ever again at twostrangersmusical.com.

[16:57] Robert Bannon: Speaking of nominations, and all of that fun stuff, you are a Tony nominee. You're now thrust into this gauntlet as we march into June. Your show, eight nominations, and you personally, what's it feel like for somebody who's worked so long on so many new works, to take a show that started this big, that grew into something this big, that has now taken over the theatre world in New York and globally, and you get to be, you know, such a big part of this process?

[17:26] Tim Jackson: I feel obviously really proud, and chuffed, and surprised, and all of those feelings all bottled into one thing. I also just feel so pleased that because we got eight nominations, there are so many people who are experiencing this all together. And it's, we're just trying to have fun with it, I think. I think there's, it's wild, and there's lots of meetings and events around a Tony season that I think we, as Brits, were not necessarily aware of. But because we're doing it with friends, it just is really fun to lean into it and be like, what is happening? It's, it just feels so exciting. And I mean, to have Sutra Gilmore, our set designer, recognised as well for what is a genuinely extraordinary set, and also Lux Pyramid for the orchestrations.

It just feels, I'm so happy for everyone that people have noticed that even though people think of this as an intimate, some people think of it as a small show, it actually has a great amount of scale to it. And so for the set, and for the orchestrations to be recognised, I think is a testament to that. Because when you come to see Strangers, you're not just, it's not just two people on stage hanging out, there's so much more to it that's been sort of really thought out. So I mean, it's so exciting. And for us to be experiencing it together, it's, I guess, invalidating as well. But more than anything, we're just chuffed, I think. I think it's valid, what moves, this is not shady to anybody else, but what moves this is that there's, you're seeing, it's a story.

You don't need a movie star, you don't need a movie, you don't need, you know, you don't need to spend $850 a ticket to go see a Broadway piece of art that will move you, have a conversation, and that theatres around the world are going to clamour to be able to tell the story because it's universal and important for everybody to check out.

[19:22] Robert Bannon: Thank you. I agree. Yeah. And I think original musicals are such a gift as an audience member, because you can go into that space. And I'm deliberately not saying what the plot of the show is, because you go into that space, and you are an open vessel. And then the performers just put this story into your life, and you don't know what to expect. So I do revivals, and I do adaptations, and I find them really exciting, too. But there's something that feels like a real gift when it's a brand new original piece that you can, that you know that the person stepping into the room has no idea what twists and turns are going to be ahead. And actually, Two Strangers does have a fair few twists and turns.

And I find that so exciting. And I love going to the intermission and hearing people talk about like, Oh my gosh, what's going to happen in Act Two, or even at the end of the show, actually, people start deciding what's going to happen next for Dougal and Robin in the future. And I'm like, Yes, yeah, you make up those stories. I'd be I'm very happy to hear any of them.

[20:21] Tim Jackson: Love that. So well, look, Merrily is a big giant Olivier Tony winner. So just hold on to your hat, everybody, because this show is marching into this award season. Tim is back in the ring. He's back. So we're so excited for you to be here. I have a husband who is obsessed with UK culture. Like if I'm coming to London, I'm making Tim Jackson take me to a pub. I need the full experience, Tim.

[20:46] Tim Jackson: Yeah, you'd be more than welcome.

[20:48] Robert Bannon: You know, we go to sleep, I go to sleep watching, you know, the Duke of Sandwiches house being remodeled and the lineage of old English history. I, we were very, I'm trashy, New Jersey, and he is very civilized. He wants to be he wants to be a Londoner so bad.

[21:08] Tim Jackson: Yeah, well, I feel the same. I love being in America. My husband is American. So I get to be in America quite a lot. And being in New York is, is like having a shot in the arm, you know, it just gives me so much life, especially like the passion towards theatre and the enthusiasm for musicals and the respect musicals. It's a privilege to get to work in New York. And it's been so lovely, like Broadway, sort of accepting us and sort of welcoming us with open arms. I don't, I was worried we might feel like outsiders. And actually, it feels really nice. So Brits, America's Loving Brits is is very much reciprocated from my point of view, because I absolutely love coming to New York. And I hope that more more of my shows will come over because I feel like, I don't know, I just feel like a connection with US audiences. And I feel like we we have fun together when I make work in America.

[22:03] Robert Bannon: Yeah, it doesn't hurt that you're also so incredibly talented. So we're lucky to have you twostrangersmusical.com is the website, everybody go get yourself a ticket. And Tim, your husband, my husband, lunch, lunch on me. I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful to be able to spend time with you. Congratulations. Have an incredible run. Enjoy every single second. And thank you for the work.

[22:24] Tim Jackson: Oh, thank you. Thanks. It's been so nice to talk.

[22:27] Robert Bannon: Back at you.