This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Alan Seales: Welcome to The Theatre Podcast, intimate personal conversations with the industry's biggest names. I'm your host, Alan Seales, and the guest today is Antonio Cipriano. He was a 2017 Jimmy Award finalist who recently made his Broadway debut in Jagged Little Pill. He's one of the leads in this amazing new studio cast album called In The Light, A Faustian Tale, which is the brainchild of composer, lyricist Michael Mott. Antonio Tones, Tony, whatever you want to call him, we got into lots of names. Super down to earth guy, just so much fun dealing with his own version of imposter syndrome now because he's still a young guy who's now on Broadway, working with these legends that have inspired him when he was younger, and now he's paying it forward, trying to figure out how to continue and inspire people that are looking up to him and younger than him, asking how he did it, where he came from.

Just an incredibly, incredibly nice guy and very shy. I love it when these big Broadway names are just totally shy and reserved people because they come out of their shell a little bit in these intimate interviews. So, Antonio, thank you so much for being who you are. Before we get into the interview, find me online on Instagram and Twitter at theater underscore podcast, or on Facebook at slash official theater podcast. Show your support for the podcast at ttp.fm slash Patreon, P-A-T-R-E-O-N. Please leave a rating and a review wherever you're listening now. And everybody, please now enjoy this episode with Antonio Cipriano.

[1:49] Alan Seales: My guest today is a 2017 Jimmy Award finalist who recently made his Broadway debut in Jagged Little Pill. He is one of the leads in the amazing new studio cast album called In the Light, A Faustian Tale, which is the brainchild of Michael Mott, a longtime friend of mine. I'm so happy to see him reaching the success that he so well deserves. And now, Antonio Cipriano, welcome to the theater podcast.

[2:25] Antonio Cipriano: Thank you so much for having me, man. I appreciate it. I'm so excited to talk a little bit.

[2:30] Alan Seales: No problem. No problem. I actually, I love that, you know, researching for this episode and looking you up. And of course, I saw you in Jagged Little Pill. Loved, loved, loved that show. Cannot wait for it to come back. But you were Jimmy Award finalist 2017. And then, and then just like jump into Jagged Little Pill. And you're, I'm sure you're thinking like, awesome, this is great. My career is about to take off. Everything's going exactly how I want it. And then COVID. And shut down.

[3:06] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah, it was, it was a very, very interesting situation that happened. I, and I mean, I got so, so extremely lucky. And I was blessed to have something right out of school, you know, that's not like a thing that happens a lot. So it was very, it was like a really great opportunity. And I was actually with the show for, I'd say, about three years before we even shot. So like, I was with the show for a while since I was 17 years old. And four months into our run, everything just came to a screeching halt, like really fast. And you know, it's been an interesting year and a half, but it has been, you know, I, there are a ton of silver linings throughout the entire year that I've had to kind of look inside myself and be like, okay, you grew from this, this was good for you.

You know what I'm saying? Like, it's not all bad. But it definitely was a learning curve. There were some things that were not all peaches and green, you know, it was, it was a little bit of a difficult year.

[4:19] Alan Seales: Well, you, you, I guess have, you found early success, which a lot of people, like you said, out of college, out of school, it's very, very, not out of college, sorry, out of high school, out of high school is, out of college is rare, out of high school is even, oh my God, you know, even that more rare. So obviously it sounds like you don't take that for granted. And I want to get into your past and how hard you are. We'll get into that stuff. But, but did you have any moment during the shutdown where you're like, maybe, maybe this is, maybe I'll do something else. This is just really weird. I don't know if this is coming back. This is ridiculous.

[4:56] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. Yeah. So in the beginning I was like, okay, we're going to, you know, we'll be back and everything's going to be fine. Like, oh, it'll be a month. I'm actually kind of grateful that we get this month to kind of relax and like take a breather because we had just gone through previews. We had just opened, like we were working all the time. So it was kind of nice to have that breather. Um, but it was actually like, I would say probably two months ago, I was thinking, I was like, okay, do I just want to like be a professional golfer or something? Like, let me just like, because like during COVID I had so much time and like the only thing that was open for a while was golf courses. So I would always, I played golf my whole life just for fun with my family.

And we started going all the time and I just fell in love with it. And I was like, do I want to do that instead? I mean, I'm definitely not like that good, but you know, it was just something that I love. And it was the thing that I could do during COVID and there wasn't a lot of performance opportunities. So I was just like, it wasn't like 100% serious. It was more of just like a, huh, why don't I just do this? Because nothing is happening right now. But, um, luckily, you know, things are starting to come back. The world is starting to feel normal a little bit again, which is amazing. I didn't even think that was like a possible thing at certain points. I was like, are we ever going to get back to normality? You know, it didn't feel like that was even a possibility. So it's cool to see some life at the end of the tunnel for sure.

[6:36] Alan Seales: Yeah. Yeah. I agree. It's, it's, it was such an adjustment to not be going out and seeing shows and not be hanging out with friends and not be doing this. And then now that we're able to, again, I'm like, I'm looking around and, and just kind of a little bit scared and like, I want to hug everyone, but I can't, or don't. Obviously you don't know what everybody's comfortability level is with all of the, you know, everything going on, but it's kind of, it's kind of a little bit nuts, but I'm going to bring this to, to in the light because, uh, the, the album was just released as we record this a week or two ago in full length. Right. And, and what, I guess, when were you involved with, uh, with the recording and I guess there was readings beforehand, and this is a bit unusual in that a full studio album, a full cast album was made before the show's ever been really put on its legs in front of an audience.

[7:41] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. Yeah. So I'm trying to remember like the exact time that I was, I started working with Michael. Um, cause it was before I did like some sort of, okay. I started out doing in the light, like April of 2019, I believe. Um, and I did the, I did one of the first workshops that they did on the show. I think they did a few before, like, I mean, this has been Michael's thing since college, right? This has been an idea for so long. Um, but I did the first workshop or one of the first workshops. And then we did like a recording of a few songs a few months after that in the summer of 2019. And then Michael started, you know, like over the past year before COVID and then during COVID he's been raising money to get like a huge studio album and like had a freaking orchestra in Vienna.

Like what? Like it's incredible, um, how it all came together, but, uh, I recorded all of my stuff remotely. Uh, I was living in LA at the time and, uh, he had a friend out there and I went over to his house and we were all COVID safe. Um, but, uh, he had an in-home studio and we just recorded all of my stuff there. And it was, and believe it or not, this is the second time that I recorded an album remotely during COVID. So it's, it's like, I guess just the new norm. I can't wait till I can be in a studio with people again. It'd be great. I would love that. But, um, yeah, it's, it's really cool how it all came together and like how many people, um, where everyone filmed and recorded and stuff like that is really, really awesome. Like all around the world.

[9:35] Alan Seales: I was going to ask about the timing, the timing of that, because I saw in, you know, on the Instagram account for the show, uh, it's showing a lot of behind the scenes and getting into the studio and it looked like that it was during COVID that people sort of got together, uh, recently, right when everybody was starting to get vaccinated and everything. So, but so the music itself, like everything was remote. I didn't even, it didn't even occur to me that that was, uh, that that was, I guess, available. Um, I guess the only option at the time.

[10:06] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. Yeah. So the, but the album though, um, I guess you said what, April 2019. Yeah. I know Michael's been working on it for, for a pretty long time. I remember, uh, seeing posts about it from his years and years and years ago, but how did he, how did you get involved in the first place? Was it just an open call or did you know Michael through some other means?

[10:29] Antonio Cipriano: So I, I believe the first time Michael and I talked was on Instagram DM. I'm pretty sure he, he direct messaged me and I can't remember what he said. I think like the first time was like, Hey, I have this thing, would love for you to be a part of it. And I was like, Oh, amazing. This is awesome. It was like Jeremy Jordan's day. I was like, Oh my God. I look up to that guy. Holy crap. This is crazy. Um, and just went from there. I don't like the timeline is so screwed up in my head right now. Like, I don't remember anything because like we lost a whole year. So it's kind of weird to recall, like that happened like two years ago at this point. And I can't even like wrap my head around that.

[11:20] Alan Seales: Yeah. Jeremy Jordan's here, Renee, like all these folks, I was going to ask you about that too. Cause these, these are people that have been established in the industry that I feel like, uh, that I've, I've heard from people in similar situations of yours of, of, as younger children or even, you know, even at your age now, they're looking up to their people and now you're performing alongside them. Have you actually met any of them in person yet? Have you been able to?

[11:46] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. So, um, I did the workshop with Jeremy. Uh, that was really cool. And I'm not going to do any spoilers, but they're like, we have a very intense moment in the show together. And it was very, very cool to do that with him because like, I, if he listens to this, he's going to be like, Oh, such a weird kid. But like, I remember like he was one of the first Broadway people that I ever like discovered, like ever knew about Broadway, like him and like Aaron Tveit were like the guys that I was like, Holy crap. Uh, but yeah, it was really, really, really great to work with him. I had not met, I had not met Sierra, but I worked with Salaya as well. We worked together on a, on a, um, little workshop together in summer of 2019. And she is the best. I love her. She's so much fun.

[12:36] Alan Seales: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's just, it's an amazing cast and the, the music, the music is incredible. I was, um, looking at the comments in the music video for, um, uh, today begins to, uh, tomorrow begins today is music video that just came out and the comments. I mean, I love, I love it when people are discovering music that speaks to them for the first time, you know, and now social media and YouTube is allowing people to capture these reactions and capture these comments and just seeing like the amount of joy and the amount of excitement that are coming out of these things. Do you, do you ever look at this? I mean, you're still, you're still very young, right? Compared to me anyway. And, and looking at where you are now, even having a year missing from your career because of COVID, um, do you look and, and look and see where you are and you're like, I see, I can see myself in these other kids and these kids that are, that are looking up and like a stage door interactions and the comments and jog a little pill.

And I mean, you've got a big social media following, so I'm sure there's a lot of people that reach out for various reasons. And how do you, how do you internalize some of that? Um, and, and give back to these people who are following, you know, who are looking up to you.

[13:54] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. Um, it's, it's been a whole surreal thing and I, I, it started sort of when I went to Boston, that was like my first stage door experience. And like, that was crazy. Cause I, I was, that was like something that I always look forward to because I, my first show I saw Les Mis and I, I saw Ramin come out and I'd been looking up to him for a long time. And I was just like, oh my gosh, this is like life changing. I freaked out. Um, so being able to like have that experience with fans and stuff was amazing. And I look forward to it every single night. Um, and, and it has been really, really tough with COVID just like not being able to have really

[14:39] Antonio Cipriano: Like any interaction with the fans. You know, I got Cameo because I was like, I want to like have some sort of connection, but also like, I know that all the younger people that were on Broadway, like me, Renee, and like Andrew and Celia, like we all kind of had a group together and we all love to talk with our like people on Twitter and stuff. Like we'll always just hang, you know, it's fun. Like we were trying to do it digitally so that we can still have that connection with people because, you know, I grew up admiring these people and now it's like really weird to like, you know, be doing the same for some other people. So it's weird. I'm still getting used to that. And I'm still major fans of like all these people.

So it's just like a weird in-between moment right now. But I still appreciate it. And I love, love anyone who will, who will love the music that I sing and stuff like that. It's great. It's really awesome. And I still appreciate it. Do you, do you go through any sort of imposter syndrome? I feel like at your age, it would have been insane for me. I would have, I would have either said, I guess, well, I'll back up a second. I think I would have either gotten one of two ways. One is just like freaking out anxiety. I don't deserve to be here or the complete opposite and like spiraled out of control in an egotistical, a self-serving way where I'm like, of course I'm the best ever. Like, I can't, I don't know how I would have gone, but I'm glad I didn't go either of those ways.

But yeah, do you, do you, did you, do you have people to check you and you're like, look, Antonio, Tony, Tones, Tones, Tones, you're still, you're still that little shit from down the block that I grew up with. Right.

[16:36] Antonio Cipriano: A thousand percent, a thousand percent. And you know, it's, it's definitely more than me. The first thing, the imposter syndrome, I'm like, what, why? I'm like, I don't deserve to be here. Are you kidding me? And like, if I'm ever asked to do like a, like a workshop or like a Q and A with somebody, I'm like, guys, if you ask me for advice, I'm like a few years older than you. Like, I don't have anything on you. Like literally I got lucky and I, you know, whatever, it's fine. But like, don't listen to me because basically I'm just like, I don't know. And I, I feel weird telling you these things because I don't, I feel like I don't deserve, I don't have the right to be like, Oh, you should do this.

It's major that all the time. Um, but there is also, you know, I'm definitely my dad, the number one thing he taught me was always to have humility and be humble because like, if you aren't that, like you are literally nothing, like you can't, you, you want to be someone who people want to work with, like, don't ever let that go to your head. Be the best, hardest working person in the room. Like that was drilled into me as a young kid and growing up. And like, that's something I will always live by. Like I, if I ever got like a big head, I would, I would personally punch myself in the face. You know what I'm saying? Like, guys, like, what is the point of that? You know what I'm saying? It's, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

[18:13] Alan Seales: It's a little confidence. I think that you have to have to be able to be okay with that because, yeah, if, if you have a, if you, if you brag, if you're very braggadocious, I think it's, it's a lot of insecurity, right? You're covering up for that imposter syndrome, you're covering up for insecurity or you need that validation in it. And actually, I think this is a really good time to, to talk, tell me about, you know, how you got into performing and how you grew up too, because it sounds like, you know, your, your dad very smartly just instilled this value in you of like, we're, treat everybody the same, treat everybody nice, don't have a big head. And the, the advice that, that I have heard over and over again, that, that I think, yeah, I'll give you this that you can tell everybody else when they ask you for advice is be the person that everyone wants to work with the next time.

[19:03] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. And that's what it sounds like you are. And I can sit here and I'm just looking at you as we're chatting here virtually. And I get this good feeling from you that like, you're, you're genuine, you're in the moment and you're listening and you care about being here. And it's not just another, you know, you're not just doing a thing to do a thing because you have to, like, I don't know. I, I'm, I'm not describing this well, but I can tell, oh, you're welcome. I can tell the difference, I guess, between somebody who's really in the moment and, and, and listening. And I think, I mean, we hear this all the time, right? That more being a good actor is being a good listener. And if you're carrying that into your personal life and that's just who you are, if you're actively listening and actively watching what's going on in the world around you, you're just going to be a better performer.

And I, I always tell people this when I'm like in a big group or anything, this is something I always tell people because I, I have, you know, like, I just realized that I have this like crazy social anxiety that, you know, like a lot of people tend to have, you just kind of shove it to the side. But, um, recently I've been, I, you'll notice if we, if we ever hang out, uh, in a big group, I'm usually very quiet, but I, I always tell people, like, I just want to listen. I love to hear stories. I love listening to people tell great stories. Like it's my favorite thing to do. Um, so yeah, like I, I've always been like that. And as you can see, I, I speak in drafts all the time. Sometimes I just cannot get a complete thought out.

Sorry about that. If the editing for this is going to be awful for you, but, um, that's just how I am and I'm working on it. You know, we all got things we want to work on, but, um, yeah, that's, that's like the number I just love to listen. So I appreciate you saying that it's like what I do all the time and I don't talk.

[21:05] Alan Seales: You're very welcome. So, well, tell me then about, about how did you grow up at how you grew up in Michigan, I believe. Right. And then how did you get into performing?

[21:10] Antonio Cipriano: So I grew up in Michigan. I'm actually here right now. And, um, uh, about when I was five years old, there's like video of me, just shirtless dancing around the house, singing my house off, like just crazy. I was a wild child, like insane. And my parents were like, Whoa, we need to like, do something with this energy. And they submitted me for a summer camp when I was eight years old and I did high school musical. I was weak and I just didn't stop after that. Just kept going. I did community theater. I did high school theater. I did middle school theater. I did the Michigan opera theater. I did whatever I could just because it was, it was like, if I wasn't doing two or three shows at a time, like I was like, what am I doing?

Like, I need to, I need to go to school. Then I need to go to rehearsal. Then I need to go to the other rehearsal. And then I need to go like sleep for a second and then go do it all again. You know, like I just needed to be working all the time. And that's sort of a thing that I went through during COVID. I was like, what am I doing? I'm going crazy right now because I don't have anything to do. So yeah, I, I was, I was doing so many shows at the time. Probably by the time I was in, by the time I was a senior in high school, I had done like 20 shows. Like I just, I just was always, and then on top of that, like playing a bunch of sports and stuff like, like I would just, I had to be busy or else I would go crazy.

[23:00] Alan Seales: Are you, are you an only child or do you have siblings?

[23:00] Antonio Cipriano: No, I have two siblings. I have an older brother who is, I believe, turning 23 in this month and a younger sister who is 18. She's 18. Yes.

[23:20] Alan Seales: We're going to take a short break. Stay tuned for more of the episode.

[23:31] Alan Seales: Were you, were you, or I guess, are you sort of the black sheep of the family of being the only one into performing or is, I feel like if one kid is into sports heavily, then usually it's a family affair where everyone travels together and they're doing all this stuff. But were, was it a family thing to get into performing? I mean, I guess when you said you ate, you went to the camp, like you could have gone to a soccer camp. Your parents could have put you in an instrument camp or, or some, you know, band camp. Like, where did the impetus for, for theater come in?

[24:10] Antonio Cipriano: So I, I very much was like the only one, like in the videos when we were kids, like we all loved music. Like it was like, we had our band and everything, you know how it goes. Um, but, uh, I was the only one who really did theater religiously. Uh, my brother's senior year of high school. And I was a sophomore. Uh, you know, when you're a senior, you kind of like, I'm going to try this new thing. So, you know, he, he, he bought a ukulele and started learning the ukulele and he, he did, um, we did Greece together. I was Danny and he was Kinnicky and it was the best thing ever. Uh, and my sister danced, uh, her whole life until like eighth grade. Um, so yeah, we, we were a performing family, but like, I was the one who was like doing it all the time.

Um, yes. And, and also I got very lucky, you know, I, I also did like travel baseball and like all this stuff. Cause my brother also did all that stuff. And my sister played volleyball, softball. Like we, we, we had, we were very well-rounded children brought up nice, you know? Um, so yeah, I was very lucky to be able to do a bunch of different things growing up.

[25:36] Alan Seales: I don't know how you got any schoolwork done because you know what? That's a very good question. Um, I didn't, I was, I was not a good student. That was one thing that was, that was one thing. And you know what? I feel like if I, if I really tried in school, I would have been okay. But like, I, I had no urge to want to go to school. Like it was not my thing at all. Um, but everyone's different, you know, it just wasn't for me and that's okay. I did theater in, in, in chorus in like middle school, high school and even in the, into college too. I didn't go to college for, for theater, but I still did it. And I, and then, but I also did travel. I did some travel baseball in middle school and travel soccer when I was in high school. And there's no, there's absolutely no way I could have done both theater and travel any sport at the same time and maintain my sanity. So my hat goes off to you, sir.

[26:43] Antonio Cipriano: Thank you. Yeah, it was crazy. It was crazy, but I just loved it because I loved baseball and I loved theater like equally. So like they were two huge things in my life and I wanted to do it all. So it actually helped me because it took up all my time and that was amazing because that's what I needed to stay sane.

[27:04] Alan Seales: Do you think that has any reflection on what you said a second ago about, you know, this newly discovered social anxiety that staying home, not being busy allowed your mind to go inside itself and staying busy kept you distracted?

[27:18] Antonio Cipriano: Oh yeah. Oh my gosh. The things I have discovered about myself this year is insane. I'm a completely different person than a year and a half ago. Really? Completely. Oh yeah. I'm honestly a different person than I was a month ago. I changed all the time at this point. Like I'm just like constantly looking inside myself and like, so I lived in California. I lived in LA for about 10 months. I still live out there, but earlier this month, earlier in June, I went back to New York for like the first time in a very long time and I didn't realize how much I missed it, but I like fell in love again with New York. Like I love it, but I stayed with my friend in Weehawken, New Jersey, which is right across the river.

And the view of the city from there, I'm telling you, if I ever go back, I'm going to Weehawken. Like done deal. The most beautiful view of the city anyone could ever have. And you know, there's like, there's like a walk across the river that you can do. And I, I just started like, you know, really internalized and like looking inside myself and everything. And I'm just like, ah, you know, everything in life is, is a construct. And it's like, what was I chasing that made me so sad during this year? Because I wasn't doing anything, you know, like everything. The reason I was so like at such a low was because I was chasing this idea of like, oh, you know, my career isn't where I want it to be right now.

Like, like, calm down for a second and look at what you have done. And like, appreciate the things that come your way. You know, like there were there were times when I was working and like, I would, I would not appreciate.

[29:20] Antonio Cipriano: I would very much appreciate it this part like a smaller thing, whatever, you know, you just it made me look at things differently and I am so much happier and appreciative of everything in life. Now, I'm trying to just look at things differently because if you don't at this point, it's just too much. You know what I'm saying? Like, do you feel that at all? Like, if I made any sense there, if I didn't, just let me know and you can cut all of that spiel out, whatever.

[29:55] Alan Seales: Please, we are keeping that in. You made lots and lots of sense. And I want to, I guess I want to let you know that you have permission to dive further into that thought process. Because you are already light years beyond people who will never get to the level of introspection and self-actualization that you have. But once you sort of, and speaking from experience too, that once you sort of start peeling back layers, when you're willing to be vulnerable and be honest with yourself, that you're just, the farther you go and the more that you accept your differences and the lows with the highs, the more you're going to be happy in general. Because you need to have that perspective. You don't know you've been hot unless you've been cold. You don't know you're in unless you've been out. You don't know you're successful unless you haven't been. So you've got to have both sides of that equation so that you can know when things are really going well.

[31:03] Antonio Cipriano: Exactly. Exactly. You have to have the yin and yang to appreciate anything in life. So, and I talked to, I can't remember exactly like what he said, but my buddy Simon Longnight, he is, honestly, he's like my, I hope he listens to this. He's my like unpaid life coach, basically, and therapist and everything. And he just, he always says the most wise things. And I'm like, God, you're so amazing. And you're like helping me so much. He was talking about yin and yang and like how you can't have one thing without the other. You can't appreciate one thing without the other, literally just what you said. Like it's so true. And I had to realize like, as we were talking about, I had a lot of success early on.

There wasn't a lot of like trouble that I went through. And I have to look at this year as, you know, I have to appreciate that time that I did not have anything. And it made me grow from that experience. And I have a whole new way of looking at life. And I'm very grateful for this time. And I told myself during COVID when I was like really at a low, I was like, I'm going to be grateful for this time. I'm going to be like, happy that this happened. It was hard, but I, you know, we're still in it. But I am able to look on the other side of it now and just be like, okay, glad this happened. Now let's move on and change my view on life. And it's great.

[32:46] Alan Seales: I want to go back to the Jimmy Awards because I just realized I have no idea how people are found and nominated.

[32:57] Antonio Cipriano: I can tell you the whole process. So basically, high schools around the country do their show. And then there are regional programs. So like there was one in Michigan, there was, there's one in most states. I don't know, like, I don't think every state is a part of it yet, but they will at some point. Cause it's just keeps growing every year. And there's adjudicators that come to your show. They pick the best actor and best actress. And they, they can make it to the, mine was the Sutton Foster Ovation Awards in Michigan. There's like wherever around in the country that you're at and you get nominated, you go, it's like a week, a weekend competition thing. And you, it's basically the juniors on a smaller scale. And then the winners of that best actor and best actress go on to the Jimmy Awards.

[33:49] Alan Seales: Oh, so it's, so it's not like they're pulling, it's not like they're there. I guess I was going to say, they're not like they're, they're judging you within the show because now, as soon as I said that, I realized why, because all different high schools have different budgets, have different casts, have different everything. So you can't, it's not, it's not apples to apples, like two shows on Broadway. One, one high school in the middle of nowhere is not going to be able to compete with the production value of a high school in the middle of, you know, a major, more affluent neighborhood. Right? It very much takes you out of the show and it's your individual self, which is cool.

[34:25] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah, that is really cool. And do the people, the people that you have met through that process, I mean, you've mentioned Renee and Andrew Barth Feldman and the people, the people that you have met, I feel like that's sort of a, that's a bond. It's because it casts his family. I say this all the time in the podcast, that, you know, your, your Broadway cast, even your show cast, whatever show you're in, you're going through the rehearsal process, you're going through the ups and the highs and the lows of putting a show on its feet. And you're going through this and it's your chosen family. And then the Jimmy Awards, everybody that's come through there, it seems like everyone I've talked to that's been a Jimmy Award finalist has just been one of the nicest, most down to earth, amazing people I've ever had the pleasure of talking with. I've never gotten, I've never gotten the big head vibe off of somebody who's gone through the Jimmy Awards process. Like, what is it about this whole process for you?

[35:26] Antonio Cipriano: As a Jimmy, it's like pretty much everyone's first experience in something like that, because we're all in high school. Like we don't, we don't have that experience yet. So we all experienced like walking out onto a Broadway stage for the first time and like that whole experience and performing on Broadway. Like it's a whole crazy experience and all of these newcomers are going through this. Like there is no, like any person who's like jaded from the business already, you know what I'm saying? Like we're all fresh, you know? And it's, you really have a very deep bond with everyone that you go through that experience with. Like my entire, like my medley group, we're bros. It's great. We have a good time, you know?

And I can't wait for like a reunion at some point because I haven't seen most of them in four years, which is insane. Oh my God, that just blew my mind. Um, but yeah, like we all, we all go through a pretty, pretty incredible experience in like the span of one week. Like it's, it's, it's very short, but intense and amazing. And it's such an incredible experience. I love the Jimmy's and it changed my life really quick.

[36:45] Alan Seales: We just came up with a great idea for my next live event. I just did my 150th episode live with the cast of The Prom to celebrate Pride. And so now I think the next live event should be like a, the Jim, the Jim Union, the Jim Union live event where we get, we get you and all the Andrew Barth Feldman and Renee and a bunch of others together for the first time in years and have this great live event, but it's got to be in person though. That's, that's the catch.

[37:11] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. We'll, uh, we'll get tickets there. We'll, we'll get a venue tickets and it'll be the whole thing. Okay. That's our, that's our plan. We'll do that. That'll be our side project. Um, wonderful. I want to wrap up with the three standard closing questions that I ask everybody. And the very first one, very simply is just what motivates you.

[37:32] Antonio Cipriano: What motivates me? A great question. Wow. I think, you know, we, we kind of talked about all of them throughout this interview, this, this conversation, not an interview. We're just hanging out. Um, but, uh, obviously like, obviously unspoken, like the, the fans of shows and like the people who support you, like that is, that is so motivating. And like, I want to, you know, inspire people. I want to, to let people know that like, I love them and show appreciation for them for showing appreciation for me. Um, so that totally motivates me. Another thing is, you know, I haven't thought about this till now, but like, like going through what I just went through in the year and a half, like what most people did go through. I think a motivation of like, I guess, like not, not wanting that feeling again, I guess. Um, but also now that I think about it, that's probably not right because I so appreciated having that experience at this point.

[38:39] Alan Seales: Yeah. Yeah. That's, that's the yin and the yang again.

[38:44] Antonio Cipriano: It is. It very much is. And, and you know, I scratched that. That's not true. Um, you know, like you have to have those, those moments, like it happened. All right. So the next question then, this is what you said earlier that you actually don't like to answer. So you can actually use something that we've already talked about, but what advice would you give to your younger self and younger people starting out down a similar path?

[39:08] Alan Seales: This is a standard question I ask everyone. So I have to ask it.

[39:11] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. Um, it's, it's a question that I always am like, all right, let me take this advice myself because I still, I still need to take advice from people. Like it's, it's very much just an ever learning process. I think, I think in my last month, I like the realization that like, it's not that deep. Nothing is that deep. Like don't take life too seriously. Seize every opportunity big or small and just, and just have, have a deeper appreciation for, for, for, for the little things, you know, after going through a year that we've all had. Just realizing that it's going to be okay. And try to look on the brighter side of, of, of every situation, because if you, if you always constantly focus on the negative, that's just how life is going to be. And you don't want that. It's so much easier to go through life with a lighter heart.

[40:16] Alan Seales: Yes. All right. So the last question. Oh, absolutely. Last question. This one's super hard. If you can only see one show for the rest of your life, but you can see it as many times as you want, what would you see?

[40:27] Antonio Cipriano: Les Mis.

[40:28] Alan Seales: Oh, that was easy.

[40:29] Antonio Cipriano: A thousand percent. A thousand percent. With Ramin. And I would like to be in the show as well. Because I love the show.

[40:38] Alan Seales: Such a great guy.

[40:40] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. I, Les Mis was my first Broadway show. My favorite show I ever did. I did it at a community theater when I was like 12. Just a masterpiece. And I could, I could listen, I could sing the entire score. I do it in the shower all the time. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's just.

[40:59] Alan Seales: That's a long shower.

[41:00] Antonio Cipriano: It is a long shower. And it usually gets cold by the end.

[41:04] Alan Seales: A three hour shower every day.

[41:07] Antonio Cipriano: Yeah. Yeah. Great. Great. Really clean yourself.

[41:13] Alan Seales: Where can we find you on social media?

[41:16] Antonio Cipriano: You can find me. Oh my God. I got to memorize my username. My Instagram is Antonio Cipriano underscore. And my Twitter is Antonio Cip underscore. And my TikTok, because I'm figuring that out as well, is also Antonio Cipriano underscore.

[41:38] Alan Seales: Oh, you made me feel better that you're still figuring it out. Because I'm still figuring it out.

[41:42] Antonio Cipriano: Honestly, I don't know what I'm doing on that app. Some people are so good at it. And it's so intimidating. Like, how do you do that? It's like, it's very hard. Like, it's not an easy thing.

[41:56] Alan Seales: It's finding the time. Because I realized that I can go through and I know where the filters are. And I know like, you have to think ahead about this. You have to know enough about how you can do things to then go out and film them and then come back and edit them. And I edit with traditional, you know, Final Cut and After Effects and all the normal things that people edit on computers on. But to have all this crap in your pocket now, I'm just like, ah, to only be able to use two thumbs to do all this instead of a full keyboard, it drives me insane. But that's just me sounding like an old man. Get off my lawn.

[42:30] Antonio Cipriano: Honestly, you're further than me because I don't know. I can't find any of the effects. I don't know where I'm going. Like, I don't know how these people do all this stuff. It's incredible. Honestly, kind of embarrassing that I don't know what I'm doing.

[42:51] Alan Seales: You know what? Yin and Yang. How many people who are great at TikTok look at you and say, I don't know how he is that good at singing and I don't know how he can perform eight nights a week and be as perfect as he is.

[43:05] Antonio Cipriano: Oh, thank you. Thank you.

[43:35] Alan Seales: Thank you so much. This has been such a great conversation.

[43:38] Antonio Cipriano: Thank you, man. I appreciate it. This is awesome.

[43:41] Alan Seales: Yeah. Anytime, anytime. And it's not if we hang out. It's when we hang out.

[43:44] Antonio Cipriano: A thousand percent. I cannot wait.