Hello. Hello. Hello. What's up? It's me, Salish, and this is the Salisha Show. I always have a guest for you. But today, I wanted to sit down, just you and me, and say hello and check-in. Because I feel like so much has changed since I started this show back in, what, 2020? October 2020? I started Black Hair in the Big Leagues in October 2020, and then I started the Solisha show, I think, sometime in 2021. And, uh, recently, I've just combined the RSS feeds, and so you'll be able to know which episode is which by the episode card. So it'll either say This Alicia Show or it'll say Black Hair in the Big Leagues. If you want something more BIPOC centered or hair focused, it'll be Black Hair in the Big Leagues. And if you want it to be more career based or inspiration and other things, then it will be the Selicia Show. Um, but they're they're kind of intertwined now. I okay. So I'm recording this on what? What is this? Wednesday? The Tonys are on Sunday. It's also Father's Day on Sunday. And I have a lot of feelings, you guys, um, all over the place, like, positive and not positive, and and everything in between. And so I just wanted to say a few things. So Tony's 2024. This is something that has come out of my mouth for years. I have prayed about the Tony's 2024 since before we entered a pandemic. Well, actually actually, I take that back. Once we entered the pandemic, because I started rehearsals for Once Upon A One More Time beef like, in 2020, and we were supposed to be on Broadway in the fall of 2020. And then once things things started to get pushed back more and more. But I wanted to be on the Tonys so, so bad. And that has been a dream of mine. That's been the reason that has attracted me to theater since I was a, like, young, uh, little girl and specifically, like, when I was 13, and I realized that Broadway is a thing. Like, I always wanted to be on the Tonys, and so I've been praying. I'm like, okay. I'm finally in an original Broadway cast, OBC, and I'm praying that they let the swings perform at the Tony's. Well, okay. Spoiler alert. Once Upon a One More Time closed very early. We were open for 3 months. I was on stage for more than half of those performances as a swing. Some 8 show weeks, I was on stage every day for 8 shows except in, like, 3 different roles. It was a roller coaster. It was not sustainable. At the same time, it was a dream come true. Like, it was such a roller coaster of emotions of, like, I did not even know that I could do this. Like, nowhere in my mind would I think that I was capable of going on stage without rehearsal many times in a role I've never done in front of a paying Broadway audience To find the confidence and the groundedness to be able to get through a performance under those circumstances is something I'd never dreamt of. And doing it, I learned a lot about the industry. I learned a lot about myself. And I also realized that I am capable of doing more than I ever thought was possible. And quite frankly, I would have never stretched myself to those limits, except that it was kind of thrust upon me. So I didn't really feel like I had a choice, so I, you know, I did it. But, um, um, we're not performing at the Tonys because we did not get nominated for anything. My heart is broken. But at the same time, I do want to celebrate the shows that are a part of this Tony season and also recognize that there are plenty of shows that also got snubbed. Like, what the heck? I saw The Great Gatsby a little while ago, and I loved it. They got one nomination. The set was magnificent. The costumes, the dancing, the music, Jason Howland freaking did that. Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada's chemistry together is just so I loved it. Like, that show, I loved it so much. And for them to get one nomination is just it's baffling to me. I am excited though for Suffs. I think they got 6 nominations. I saw Suffs. I love okay. Nikki m James. I'm really trying to get her on this show, but guess what? She's a little busy right now because she's Tony nominated, and I hope she freaking wins. Her performance in Suss is incredible, but the whole show is just so, like, empowering. I just wanna wear a white suit every day of my life. And my favorite line is when Nikki goes she's like, okay. So it's like, you have the women abolitionists, but they're like, okay. Well, we need to prioritize. We can't fight for women's rights and black rights. And so they're like, just wait your turn. It'll be your turn next. And Nikki m James, who was OBC for, um, Book of Mormon, she's a black woman. She played Nabaloonki in Book of Mormon, and she's Ida b Wells in stuffs. She she says to them she says, don't you dare tell me to wait my turn. That's my favorite part in the whole show. I'm like, you go. And she, like, barely moves. She, like, she just, like it's just so internal, and it's so palpable. It's incredible. But the whole show overall, it's it has so much heart, and it's funny, and it's meaningful. It feels really good. And Hell's Kitchen okay. So I have some thoughts about Hell's Kitchen. I'm like, how freely can I speak? So Camille a Brown is a goddess. She choreographed this, I believe. If I'm wrong, y'all gonna correct me, I am sure. But she is a queen. And I finally met her in person. She's so beautiful and petite and gorgeous and kind. I think that the dancing is the star of Hell's Kitchen, and Alicia Keys' music is Chef's Kiss. I cried. The cast performed as though Alicia was in the audience, which she probably was. I don't know. I did not see her, but I really, really loved it. 13 nominations? I don't know about that. Like, I'm not I'm not, I mean, is it their is are they in their Hamilton era? I mean, that's a lot. It's just crazy to me. Like, when I think about the this is so candid. I've never really been this candid before, and I don't even know if you care. But here we are. The Gatsby, I thought, was so The Great Gatsby, it was so good. And 1 nomination versus 13, like, 13 nominations is just wild, the difference to me when I personally loved them both equally. And then there was Lempicka, which was so you know, it meant a lot to me because Eden Espinosa starred in Lempicka, and she is the reason why I wanted to do Broadway. She is like Elphaba in Wicked, the first Broadway show I ever saw when I first came to New York when I was 13 years old in the 8th grade from California. And so it was her performance in Wicked that changed my life. So seeing Eden act her face off in Limpica was just I mean, I wept, but it feels personal. You know? And, um, it is an unexpected atmosphere and, um, storyline for today's climate, but I really enjoyed it. And, like, don't get me started on Amber Amon. I mean, she's freaking a goddess. She's gorgeous. Her voice is butter. You can't take your eyes off of her. Every move was intentional. It just it really felt like a moment. And so I am excited for her nomination and, like, crossing my fingers for her. Also, not to mention, not for nothing, I will say Shoshanna Bean's performance in Hell's Kitchen, incredible. When she came out on stage, I did not even know it was her. It wasn't until I heard her riff and she was, like, in the back somewhere. I was like, is Shoshanna on the stage? Oh my god. And her chemistry with Brandon Victor Dixon, missus Hell's Kitchen, is just, like, my hand is on my heart. Like, I can't get enough. I can't get enough. I finally got to talk to her on the red carpet for the Off Broadway Awards, um, the Lucille Lortel Awards. And I was like, you and Brandon? She's like I was like, uh, are you guys like their chemistry is just, uh, it's so good. Long story short, I'm saying all of this to say there is a lot to be celebrated in this season, and I'm excited for them. Of course, I'm like, um, my heart goes out to heart of rock and roll that completely got looked over. I'm like, oh gosh. I feel so bad for the other things that got looked. I haven't seen Water For Elephants yet. I did the red carpet for the outsiders. Like, I covered it as, like, I interviewed people on the carpet, and Angelina Jolie was there. Yes. I did ask her what her name was. I did not get to see the show, but I I did have a good time on that carpet. And I I have heard great things about that show as well. Uh, let's see. Do is JawJas in this season? Because I loved JawJas' African hair braiding. Like, it really felt like I felt like I was at home. That's how I felt in that theater. Oh, and I haven't seen the Kit Kat Club, cabaret. Oh, why am I overlooking this? The notebook. I also feel like this one got looked over. I think they got 3 nominations. Are you kidding me? The direction was incredible. Joy Woods, incredible. I will say the 2 leads, um, the older Noah and the older Ali who got nominations, completely deserved. They when I tell you I wept, like, I boo hooed in the theater, I boo hooed. It is so well done, so beautiful, and so, like, it's it's just really out of this world. I wish there was a space that we could celebrate, really, everything that needs to be celebrated in the theater. And we have the Tony Awards, but there are so many things that are looked over. And not for nothing. Obviously, I'm biased because I was a swing. But, like, why don't swings why aren't they celebrated at the Tonys? Why aren't ensembles celebrated at the Tonys? I feel like if ensembles of Broadway shows and swings or understudies were celebrated, it would bring the audiences kind of, like, in on it, so that when they open up their playbill and a paper falls out, instead of them groaning and being like, oh, man. Daniel Ratcliffe isn't here while I go see Merilee. We roll along. They'll be like, hallelujah. Kobe gets a like, it like, this is amazing. I cannot wait to see this fresh performance, like, to celebrate the energy that's happening on stage and what the cast might be like banning together to to do together. So I do wish that there was a a plaque, a space to celebrate these these things that are not celebrated. And, of course, the shows that get the awards, they get the accolades. But what about the blood, the sweat, the tears? I'm talking literal blood, sweat, and tears that go into making a a new Broadway show even if it lasted 3 weeks. Like, shouldn't we celebrate them as well? So that's just my, um, hot take on that. I also wanted to touch on, So my hair. So this is also a hair podcast, and I've been wearing my hair natural now for 6 over 6 and a half years without straightening it. And, you guys, it has been such a journey. And I just wanna say thank you for going on this journey with me and, like, listening in on all these conversations of me asking performers about what they're doing to care for their locks, their their tresses, and and where their confidence comes from because I'm like, what do I do? And if you see me on the streets of New York City, I mean, I'll have on all sorts of different hairstyles. Like but I mostly love to have my hair as big as humanly possible. And I don't know if that's, like, me being the baby in my family. And by that, I mean, like, a little rebellious. Because when I go home, it's kind of like to California. They're like, you gonna straighten your hair or what? Still, love them, but, like, the bigger my hair is, the more nervous I make my family. So when I'm in New York, I'm like, yes. It is big. Yes. It is frizzy. But my favorite thing is that it's unapologetic. I think I've apologized for my big, frizzy hair for most of my life, and I'm kinda done. Like, I'm done with that. This is what I look like. And I know, like, I have plenty of friends who love a day 1 wash day curl. I and I love that for them. I love a defined curl. But I love, personally, volume, and it's hard to it is it's not impossible, but it is hard to achieve volume and definition. And so when I have to choose, I choose volume. Like, I the bigger, the better for me. And but even yesterday, like, was it yesterday? 2 days ago, I went to the Black Women on Broadway, um, Awards at luncheon, and it was amazing. And I wore a wig, and I had so much fun. I had fun with those faux those butterfly locks down my back, baby. I was swinging that hair all over the place, almost fell off when I went on the water. But it was so fun, and shout out to my husband for, like, being ahead for me to put the wig on as I trimmed it and styled it and stuff. So, um, if you're wondering, these days, I've been using a lot of Innersense and a lot of Zotos. If you go into my bathroom cabinet, my it looks like a store. And it I'm like, y'all keep sending me products because I will use them. It looks like a store. And right now, Innersense and Zotos is winning the the counter space. Um, but, yes, my philosophy is the bigger, the better. But you know what? I think it whatever makes you feel good is what that is what it that's what it is. Like, between you and me, I have been so tempted to straighten my hair. And I don't think straightening it your hair is a bad thing. I'm gonna just be honest. I don't. I will say similar to, like, alcoholics in Alcoholics Anonymous, I kinda feel like that for my hair. Like, if I straighten it once Would you ever see my curls again? I don't know. I'm nervous. I'm that's why I've been waiting so long, because I'm like, I don't know if I can hold myself back. It is like crack. I've never done crack, but from what I've heard, what I've heard is you wanna you wanna do it again, but it gives you a high. Like, that's how I feel about the hot comb. Do you hear me, ladies and gentlemen, and everything in between? Like, I might pop up one day. Y'all might look up on the Instagram. Are you following me, by the way? I changed my name to at the salishashow. You might pop up on the gram and see me with straight hair. If you do, listen. Just know a lot of thought went into it, but I'm not there yet. But I might be. I'm always tempted, especially when one of my good friends gets a fresh blowout. I'm like, I met a girl 2 days ago, and we became instant friends. I said, I love your hair. She just got, like, a fresh blowout. It might have been a weave, actually. I don't even know what it was. And she said, I told my hairdresser, make me look like a housewife. I said, no. You didn't. She said, yes, ma'am, I did. I said, mission accomplished. You look like a Stepford wife. Come through now and step aside as I go to the next dry bar to get my hair blown out. Like, it looked so good. It was just like cascading down her back. I'm like, you better work, girlfriend. Uh, but okay. So I think that's pretty much it. I think I wanna leave you with this. So I've been reading a couple books lately. I just finished up, um, I finished up We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers, I believe. And shout out to Tia De Shazor, who is quoted at the end of the book, and she has been a guest on Black Hero, The Big Leagues. We love Tia. Okay? Tia, we love you. And it was so cool to hear a quote. And then it was like a like a why should we be a millionaire? And then, like, it had all these different reasons and ladies saying, like, the reasons. And her quote was, like, so that we can support the theater. Something around the the idea of, like, supporting theater. And it was quoted by Tia, who was in the theater. So I really appreciated that. And I loved that book written by a black woman for other black women, but it's really written for women, um, in general. So but I it felt so empowering and and fun to listen to. I I listened to that on audiobook, but I loved it so much that I bought the paper the paperback. And currently, I'm listening to Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, which is very boring. It is so boring. Uh, it's so boring. I want to not listen to it, but then I keep coming back to it and keep listening to it. I just listen to it on, like, one and a half times the speed. I love the idea of you can work and work and put that work in and just keep working in silent as if no one is watching, as if nobody can see you. But really all it takes is that one thing, whatever that is. Maybe it's a person vouching for you. Maybe it's a role. Maybe it's something as simple or internal as, like, doing the inner work and starting meditations that you can be more connected to your inner voice. Maybe it's something as simple as making the bed each morning, which puts you in the mindset of whatever you need to be in. I don't know what it is, but whatever that thing is, that tipping point for you, if you have been putting in the hours, your 10000 hours, your work, it's only gonna take that one little thing to tip you over, to go into the next phase of your life, the next phase of your career, the next level, the the what it for my example, I'd be CELICIA 2.0, so, uh, like, the CELICIA show 3.0, whatever that is to tip you into the next thing. Your job is to keep doing the work. So I just wanna encourage you today. If you are working really hard and it doesn't look like anybody is recognizing you or that anybody sees you, Just keep on going. Everybody's journey is different. The second I compare my journey to anybody else's, I'm the biggest failure on the planet. That is a a a lose lose for me. And so I I've learned and I'm learning. We can't that's not the game. That's not the game to play. Comparison is the thief of joy. Just stay in your lane with blinders on, head down, and you keep grinding it out and you keep working hard. You keep on with those voice lessons. You keep writing those chapters or you keep writing that blog. You keep pushing publish if even if nobody's listening. You just keep on. You doing whatever it is that sparks joy for you. And I have not gotten to the end of the book of the tipping point. So I can't really wrap that up in a beautiful little bow because I don't know exactly all the things that it's gonna like, the message that it's gonna evolve into, but that's my takeaway so far. And whatever that is for you, I'm just excited for you. I'm excited for you, and I hope that you continue to believe in yourself and that you don't give up on yourself. Because if you give up on yourself well, I guess that's the end of the book. And this is a cliche, but the people who are who keep failing failing failing failing, no one cares that they keep failing when they keep going because the only way to really fail is to give up. Every successful person has a trail of failures behind them. And so I feel like that is that's the secret is to just keep going and to not give up before you have gotten to your goal. And so with that, I will say, with the Tonys 2024, I might not be going with my Tony nominated Broadway show for this season, but I am going. I have been invited to the Tonys this this year, this weekend as the media. I'll be going as the press, and I will be covering the Tonys under the umbrella of the Salisha show. Not under any other brand name, just my name, which is a huge step for me. Something that I would have never imagined when I kept praying for 2024 Tony's 2024. So God works in mysterious waves. And with that, I will leave you with this. Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. That song means something different to me now than it did when I was in preschool. That's for sure. And, also, not for nothing, I forgot to mention Merrily. We we roll along. It is incredible. Have a good have a good day, you guys, and, um, be blessed. And thank you for listening to this episode of the Salisha show. If you haven't already, click subscribe, leave me a review. I would love for you to rate this and tell a friend. That would mean the world to me. I'll be having, um, some new things coming out really soon, and I can't wait to share with you all. Alright. Bye, you guys. Bye, friends.