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[0:30] Jason A. Coombs: The Bookshelf is sagging with all of her awards. Her and Alan Menken have way too many awards.

[1:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: We have our guest co-host for our intro today, Alan J. Seales.

[1:05] Alan Seales: I don't know why. What's your middle initial?

[1:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: D. D for daddy.

[1:11] Jason A. Coombs: D for our podcast daddy.

[1:14] Alan Seales: That's not how I sound, but thank you so much.

[1:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: Alan is the host of the Theatre Podcast, and he is our podcast dad, and we're here in the studio.

[1:23] Jason A. Coombs: We asked him to join us because we're going to do some really fun Tony predictions for this intro.

[1:28] Alan Seales: Yes, but Alan, I just want to talk really first. We were talking last week about how I love horror.

[1:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: My friend Carson McCormick is in a new horror film called Clown in a Cornfield.

[1:44] Jason A. Coombs: I saw your post about that.

[1:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Clown in a Cornfield.

[1:47] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, he's so good in it. It's so super scary. I hate clowns.

[1:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: I hate horror films.

[1:53] Jason A. Coombs: You hate horror films.

[1:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: I don't hate them. I just get scared, but I'm happy for your friend.

[1:56] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, I want to shout out Carson and say good job, Carson.

[1:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Good job, Carson.

[1:59] Jason A. Coombs: Maybe you'll be on the show.

[2:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, I'll be on the show.

[2:01] Alan Seales: Well, we're going to do a special screening of Final Destination right now.

[2:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, okay.

[2:05] Jason A. Coombs: No, because.

[2:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Right on that screen right there, right behind the white can.

[2:08] Alan Seales: Alan is saying that to make fun of me because I won't watch Final Destination if you listened last week, okay?

[2:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Because I'd get scared that something bad will happen.

[2:16] Jason A. Coombs: But you'll watch Handmaid's Tale.

[2:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: But you know this stuff isn't real, right?

[2:19] Alan Seales: Okay, obviously.

[2:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: And Handmaid's Tale is real, basically.

[2:23] Jason A. Coombs: I like watching the – anyway, when people are like, I hate horror, I hate scary stuff.

[2:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm like, but you know, it's just not real.

[2:31] Alan Seales: It's not about knowing that it's not real.

[2:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Obviously, you know it's not real, but it's about what you think about after.

[2:36] Jason A. Coombs: I'll tell a really quick story. I watched The People vs. O.J. years ago, and then I was so obsessed with O.J. that I watched all these documentaries.

[2:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: O.J. at the time was still alive, but he was locked up in Las Vegas jail.

[2:49] Jason A. Coombs: But I locked my bedroom door because I was scared that O.J. would – I know O.J.'s not going to come get me, but the mind does crazy things, okay?

[2:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: I lock my door every night.

[2:58] Jason A. Coombs: Feelings are feelings.

[2:59] Alan Seales: So don't make fun of me.

[3:01] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wait, you lock your bedroom door or your front door?

[3:03] Jason A. Coombs: Because I lock my front door.

[3:04] Alan Seales: I lock my bedroom door every night.

[3:05] Jason A. Coombs: So do I.

[3:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: What?

[3:07] Jason A. Coombs: So do I.

[3:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: One of my biggest fears, as you can probably see on camera, is home invasion.

[3:11] Jason A. Coombs: Me too.

[3:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I have to lock the door.

[3:13] Alan Seales: And I live alone in New York City. I don't need – I need every lock I can.

[3:18] Jason A. Coombs: If I lock my bedroom door, I would be awoken at 4 a.m. to my child.

[3:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: Daddy!

[3:27] Jason A. Coombs: That's horrifying.

[3:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's the horror film.

[3:29] Alan Seales: Just kidding. I love your kids.

[3:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: I don't know them, but I love them.

[3:32] Jason A. Coombs: Good.

[3:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: You should.

[3:34] Alan Seales: They're our siblings.

[3:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: So you guys, it's June.

[3:36] Jason A. Coombs: It's June.

[3:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: And that means the Tonys are – today is June Thursday before the Tonys, whatever that is.

[3:42] Jason A. Coombs: June Thursday.

[3:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: Today is June Thursday.

[3:45] Alan Seales: The Tonys are on Sunday.

[3:48] Jason A. Coombs: And so since all three of us have been pretty involved –

[3:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: What are you doing with those earrings over there?

[3:52] Alan Seales: They're hurting me, and I'm taking them off.

[3:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[3:54] Jason A. Coombs: I have these earrings on, guys, that are so cute. For those who can't see the video.

[3:57] Alan Seales: But these headphones are killing me.

[3:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I just – at least I could take that one off.

[4:00] Jason A. Coombs: Do you have any in-ears?

[4:01] Alan Seales: We can put –

[4:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: No.

[4:03] Alan Seales: Okay.

[4:04] Jason A. Coombs: Next time, bring in-ears.

[4:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay.

[4:06] Alan Seales: Next time, I will bring in-ears.

[4:07] Jason A. Coombs: So the Tonys are on Sunday.

[4:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: And since all three of us have been very involved in digesting this whole season, let's do some predictions.

[4:13] Alan Seales: All right. So we start with what?

[4:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: Best musical?

[4:16] Jason A. Coombs: Yep.

[4:17] Alan Seales: Go ahead, Jason.

[4:18] Jason A. Coombs: Read the noms.

[4:19] Alan Seales: I'll read the noms.

[4:20] Jason A. Coombs: So Buena Vista Social Club, Dead Outlaw, Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending.

[4:24] Alan Seales: Or Operation Mincemeat, a new musical.

[4:28] Jason A. Coombs: Predictions? Thoughts?

[4:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: Maybe Happy Ending.

[4:31] Jason A. Coombs: Is this a good lineup?

[4:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's a good lineup.

[4:33] Jason A. Coombs: It is a good lineup.

[4:35] Samantha Tuozzolo: First of all, what do you think about – I'm having a brain freeze.

[4:41] Jason A. Coombs: Hello?

[4:42] Samantha Tuozzolo: You're never invited back.

[4:44] Jason A. Coombs: Cut the silence.

[4:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Cricket, cricket.

[4:49] Jason A. Coombs: No, Buena Vista.

[4:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: What got snubbed?

[4:53] Jason A. Coombs: Real Women Have Curves?

[4:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[4:55] Jason A. Coombs: First of all, how do you think about Real Women Have Curves not being included?

[5:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: I think it's a tough year.

[5:05] Jason A. Coombs: I mean, I don't know how I feel about that.

[5:08] Samantha Tuozzolo: Here's how I'll phrase it. I feel like the shows that got up deserved to get up.

[5:12] Jason A. Coombs: Okay.

[5:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, I'll give you that.

[5:14] Jason A. Coombs: I feel like the shows that got up all deserved to be up, every single one.

[5:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: Maybe Happy Ending is the underdog.

[5:20] Jason A. Coombs: They're the dark horse here.

[5:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: But they've come so far.

[5:23] Jason A. Coombs: They have.

[5:24] Samantha Tuozzolo: You don't think they're going to win?

[5:25] Jason A. Coombs: I do.

[5:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: I do.

[5:27] Jason A. Coombs: I do.

[5:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, I want them to.

[5:29] Jason A. Coombs: I want them to.

[5:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: What's the upset?

[5:31] Jason A. Coombs: Dead Outlaw.

[5:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Dead Outlaw, yeah.

[5:33] Jason A. Coombs: I think Dead Outlaw would be the upset.

[5:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: Or Buena Vista.

[5:37] Jason A. Coombs: Yes.

[5:39] Samantha Tuozzolo: The music behind Buena Vista was incredible.

[5:43] Jason A. Coombs: I think the book was not as good.

[5:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[5:46] Jason A. Coombs: If I'm being for reals.

[5:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, be for reals.

[5:49] Jason A. Coombs: It could be for reals.

[5:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: I would like to just talk about maybe Happy Ending for one clock tick.

[5:53] Jason A. Coombs: That play.

[5:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, Ariana.

[5:56] Jason A. Coombs: That musical is the reason I think I fell in love with theater for a show like that.

[6:03] Samantha Tuozzolo: For something to make me feel so passionate about life and love and feelings.

[6:10] Jason A. Coombs: Because ultimately, maybe Happy Ending is pretty – nothing really wild happens.

[6:16] Samantha Tuozzolo: Nothing really crazy happens.

[6:18] Jason A. Coombs: It is just about feelings.

[6:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: And it's so pure and beautiful.

[6:25] Jason A. Coombs: And we don't get enough of that on Broadway.

[6:27] Samantha Tuozzolo: We don't get enough of the feelings to your core without something crazy happening.

[6:34] Jason A. Coombs: Or some big blockbuster or some big costume.

[6:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: Or jukebox musical or whatever.

[6:40] Jason A. Coombs: Right.

[6:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: And I will personally be so upset if maybe Happy Ending doesn't win.

[6:45] Jason A. Coombs: Similarly to last year when The Notebook didn't get nominated, I felt personally attacked.

[6:49] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, it was all your fault.

[6:51] Jason A. Coombs: Right, probably.

[6:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: I know.

[6:54] Jason A. Coombs: Very disappointed.

[6:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: What do you think, Trey?

[6:56] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, no.

[6:57] Samantha Tuozzolo: I mean, I agree.

[6:58] Jason A. Coombs: I think – I remember when we got to talk to Darren Criss on the purple carpet.

[7:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: Oh, it's the three of us on the carpet.

[7:04] Jason A. Coombs: Here we are again.

[7:05] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[7:06] Jason A. Coombs: And he said, look down.

[7:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: And he said, when you look down the street, it's all those shows where former IPs.

[7:11] Jason A. Coombs: And this little show, Happy Ending, is something that was brand new that you won't know.

[7:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: When you come into the theater, you're not going to know the music.

[7:17] Jason A. Coombs: You're not going to know the story.

[7:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: And I think that's just so special that we had something like that.

[7:20] Jason A. Coombs: That was so intimate, so beautiful.

[7:22] Samantha Tuozzolo: Full of heart.

[7:23] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[7:24] Samantha Tuozzolo: A human connection, even if everyone's not human.

[7:27] Jason A. Coombs: Spoilers, they're robots.

[7:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[7:29] Jason A. Coombs: And they're up as a plant.

[7:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: That's also a character.

[7:31] Jason A. Coombs: Wah-boon.

[7:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wah-boon.

[7:33] Jason A. Coombs: I want my own wah-boon.

[7:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: We love a wah.

[7:35] Jason A. Coombs: We love a wah-wah.

[7:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: I agree.

[7:37] Jason A. Coombs: That's why we love theater.

[7:38] Samantha Tuozzolo: Wah-boon.

[7:39] Jason A. Coombs: For that kind of beautiful connection and storytelling.

[7:40] Samantha Tuozzolo: I agree.

[7:41] Alan Seales: All right. Where are we going next?

[7:43] Jason A. Coombs: Onward.

[7:44] Samantha Tuozzolo: Onward.

[7:45] Alan Seales: Play.

[7:46] Jason A. Coombs: Read the noms, please.

[7:47] Samantha Tuozzolo: Read the noms.

[7:48] Alan Seales: English.

[7:49] Jason A. Coombs: The hills of California.

[7:50] Samantha Tuozzolo: John Proctor is the villain.

[7:51] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, Mary.

[7:52] Samantha Tuozzolo: And purpose.

[7:53] Jason A. Coombs: Oh.

[7:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's tough.

[7:55] Jason A. Coombs: I said this in our interview last week with Marjan that the season this year is the season of plays.

[8:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: The plays are so good this year.

[8:03] Jason A. Coombs: So I'm going to answer this with my heart and not with what I actually think.

[8:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love the hills of California and I wish it would win.

[8:11] Jason A. Coombs: I don't think it will.

[8:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: I think Oh, Mary will.

[8:14] Jason A. Coombs: Or purpose.

[8:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: I think you're right.

[8:16] Jason A. Coombs: I agree with that.

[8:18] Samantha Tuozzolo: I agree with that.

[8:19] Jason A. Coombs: Hills, by far, has been one of my most favorite, favorite plays for many reasons.

[8:25] Samantha Tuozzolo: English again, same reason.

[8:27] Jason A. Coombs: See?

[8:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's tough.

[8:29] Jason A. Coombs: I didn't even mention English.

[8:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Right.

[8:31] Jason A. Coombs: English is so good.

[8:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Right.

[8:33] Jason A. Coombs: It's another human connection.

[8:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: But I don't know.

[8:37] Jason A. Coombs: Are we allowed to put comedies and heartfelt dramas and tragedies in the same category?

[8:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: I mean, obviously, they do.

[8:45] Jason A. Coombs: Right.

[8:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: But, you know, TV film is lucky because they have the globes where they separate it.

[8:52] Jason A. Coombs: We are not so lucky in theater because we don't have any money.

[8:55] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, we also don't have a best Tony for wigs yet.

[8:58] Jason A. Coombs: So hashtag justice for wig designers.

[9:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[9:01] Jason A. Coombs: What do you think?

[9:02] Jason A. Coombs: I'm going to go. I haven't I've only seen English, to be honest.

[9:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: So I don't think I can have a vote.

[9:09] Jason A. Coombs: Okay.

[9:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: I will vote for English.

[9:11] Jason A. Coombs: Well, yeah.

[9:12] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, by the way, English is in cred.

[9:14] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[9:15] Samantha Tuozzolo: In credit.

[9:16] Jason A. Coombs: It's not.

[9:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's in credit.

[9:18] Jason A. Coombs: In credit.

[9:19] Samantha Tuozzolo: In credit bell.

[9:20] Jason A. Coombs: In credit bell.

[9:21] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay. Should we do a revival?

[9:25] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, please read.

[9:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: Are you happy being the reader?

[9:27] Jason A. Coombs: I can switch.

[9:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, I don't mind.

[9:29] Jason A. Coombs: Very great.

[9:30] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah.

[9:31] Jason A. Coombs: Best revival.

[9:32] Samantha Tuozzolo: Revival.

[9:33] Jason A. Coombs: Best revival.

[9:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: Revival.

[9:35] Jason A. Coombs: A best revival of a play.

[9:36] Samantha Tuozzolo: Eureka Day, Jonathan Spector, Romeo and Juliet, Thornton Wilder's Our Town, Yellow Face, David Henry Hwang.

[9:41] Jason A. Coombs: I didn't know Yellow Face was a revival until it got nominated for revival.

[9:46] Samantha Tuozzolo: Right.

[9:48] Jason A. Coombs: I think it's a race between Yellow Face and Eureka Day.

[9:54] Samantha Tuozzolo: Read them again.

[9:55] Jason A. Coombs: Eureka Day.

[9:56] Samantha Tuozzolo: Uh-huh.

[9:57] Jason A. Coombs: Romeo and Juliet.

[9:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Uh-huh.

[9:59] Jason A. Coombs: Our Town.

[10:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Uh-huh.

[10:01] Jason A. Coombs: And Yellow Face.

[10:02] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes.

[10:03] Jason A. Coombs: I agree with Sam again.

[10:04] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yellow Face.

[10:05] Jason A. Coombs: A race between Eureka Day and Yellow Face.

[10:06] Samantha Tuozzolo: Alan, did I see Our Town with you?

[10:07] Alan Seales: Oh, no, I didn't.

[10:08] Jason A. Coombs: No.

[10:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: No.

[10:10] Alan Seales: I saw it with our friend, Sarah Goodman. Shout out.

[10:12] Jason A. Coombs: Sarah.

[10:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: And we were front row and like, is that bacon?

[10:15] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, my God.

[10:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: The whole theater did smell like bacon.

[10:19] Jason A. Coombs: I thought I was a little stoned, just letting everyone know, and I thought I was having a stroke, but it was.

[10:26] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yeah, we talked about this.

[10:28] Jason A. Coombs: The theater did smell like bacon.

[10:29] Samantha Tuozzolo: I thought I was having a heart attack.

[10:30] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah, yeah.

[10:31] Samantha Tuozzolo: Okay, next.

[10:32] Jason A. Coombs: I'm dead.

[10:33] Samantha Tuozzolo: Revival of a musical.

[10:35] Jason A. Coombs: Lloyd Collins, Gypsy, Pirates of Penn Dance, and Sunset Boulevard.

[10:41] Samantha Tuozzolo: Jason, what do you think?

[10:43] Jason A. Coombs: I'm going to go with Sunset Boulevard.

[10:45] Samantha Tuozzolo: I mean, for me, it's got to be Sunset, because what's the point of a revival, right?

[10:50] Jason A. Coombs: Let's think about that.

[10:51] Samantha Tuozzolo: Coming back and reimagining something to be completely different, and that's what Jamie Lloyd did with Sunset.

[10:56] Jason A. Coombs: That camera work, incredible.

[10:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: I mean, that's my vote.

[10:59] Jason A. Coombs: Yeah.

[11:00] Samantha Tuozzolo: Well, I wonder if he's going to take Best Director instead of the show taking Best Revival.

[11:05] Jason A. Coombs: What show do you think we'll take?

[11:07] Samantha Tuozzolo: Gypsy?

[11:08] Jason A. Coombs: Maybe.

[11:09] Samantha Tuozzolo: Just in Time, though, is also getting so much buzz.

[11:12] Jason A. Coombs: Oh, yeah.

[11:13] Samantha Tuozzolo: I love Just in Time.

[11:15] Jason A. Coombs: I love Just in Time.

[11:17] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm not typically a fan of jukebox musicals, but this-

[11:21] Jason A. Coombs: Sorry to interrupt you. The lead producer, Tom Carady, I don't know if I just said his name right, yelled at me on the opening night carpet because I called it a jukebox musical.

[11:28] Samantha Tuozzolo: It's not a-

[11:32] Jason A. Coombs: It is a jukebox musical.

[11:34] Samantha Tuozzolo: By definition, it is a jukebox musical.

[11:36] Jason A. Coombs: He wants people to phrase it as, this is a story told through Bobby Darin's music.

[11:43] Samantha Tuozzolo: Which is what a jukebox musical is.

[11:48] Jason A. Coombs: Welcome back to Survival Jobs, a Podcast Network.

[12:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Let's dive into the nominees for the 2025 Tony Awards. We have Laura Donnelly for "Hills of California," Mia Farrow for "The Roommate," LaTanya Richardson for "Jackson," Sadie Sink for "John Proctor," and Sarah Snook for "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

[12:40] Jason A. Coombs: And we can't forget about Sarah Snook in "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

[13:10] Samantha Tuozzolo: Other notable names include George Clooney for "Good Night and Good Luck," Cole Escola for "O'Mary," John Michael Hill for "Purpose," Daniel Dae Kim for "Yellow Face," Harry Lennox for "Purpose," and Louis McCartney for "Stranger Things" and "The First Shadow."

[13:40] Jason A. Coombs: That's right, George Clooney and Cole Escola are definitely in the mix.

[13:53] Samantha Tuozzolo: And we also have Ben Platt for "Snot Level" and "Dear Evan Hansen."

[14:23] Jason A. Coombs: Megan Hilty is nominated for "Deaf Becomes Her," and we have the incredible Audra McDonald for "Gypsy." Jasmine Amy Rogers is in "BOOP! The Musical," Nicole Scherzinger for "Sunset Boulevard," and Jennifer Simard for "Deaf Becomes Her."

[14:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Simard are both strong contenders in their categories.

[15:07] Jason A. Coombs: Absolutely, and they both bring such unique performances to the stage.

[15:37] Samantha Tuozzolo: Then we have Darren Criss for "Maybe Happy Ending," Andrew Durand for "Dead Outlaw," Tom Francis for "Sunset Boulevard," Jonathan Groff for "Just In Time," and James Monroe Iglehart for "A Wonderful World."

[16:28] Jason A. Coombs: Don't forget about Tom Francis in "Floyd Collins."

[16:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: And we have Talia Ash for "English," Jessica Hecht for "Eureka Day," and Marjan Nishat for "English."

[17:28] Jason A. Coombs: Marjan Nishat is definitely making waves with her performance in "English."

[17:58] Samantha Tuozzolo: Yes, she has been consistently impressive throughout the season.

[18:28] Jason A. Coombs: It's exciting to see how these performances will be recognized at the Tonys.

[18:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Absolutely, and the anticipation is building as we get closer to the awards.

[19:18] Jason A. Coombs: Each nominee brings something special to the table, making this year particularly competitive.

[19:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: I agree, and it's going to be fascinating to see who takes home the awards.

[20:18] Jason A. Coombs: The talent this year is truly remarkable.

[20:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: It really is, and I can't wait to see the performances on Tony night.

[21:18] Jason A. Coombs: It's going to be a night to remember for sure.

[21:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: Let's keep the conversation going about our favorites and predictions!

[22:18] Jason A. Coombs: Yes, let's dive deeper into our picks for the evening.

[22:48] Samantha Tuozzolo: I'm excited to hear what everyone thinks!