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[0:11] Alan Seales: Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the Theatre Podcast. I'm your host, Alan Seales, and our guests today are the Queens from SIX, currently in Chicago, kicking off the first national tour. They're going to be there until July 3rd, so go get your tickets. Go see them. This episode just reinforces to me how much all of the people who get cast in SIX, whether principals, alternates, standbys, whoever you are in every cast all over the world, everyone I have talked to from this cast is of a certain ilk that they're supportive, they create a sisterhood on stage, they genuinely have love for each other, and they get into this in part of the interview, and we've talked about this before when I've talked to the Aussie cast and to the Broadway cast, too, that the audition process, you are performing and auditioning with your peers and with people you're ultimately competing with to get these roles, which is kind of very meta in the fact that that's kind of what the show ends up being.

Spoiler alert, right? So I just cannot stress enough how much of a wonderful time I had talking to these ladies, to these wonderful Queens. They are changing lives. My cheeks still hurt from all the smiling that we did. I just cannot stress enough. Oh, they are so amazing. So make sure you follow all of them, all their social medias. Some of them are on TikTok and YouTube, and Gabriela does a lot of video blogging on YouTube. She's documenting a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff from the show, so if you like that kind of thing, please go follow her in that respect, and follow me on TikTok at The Theatre Podcast, Instagram, and Twitter at Theatre Underscore Podcast. And now, everybody, please enjoy this episode with Six Queens.

[2:13] Alan Seales: All right, everyone, welcome to the show, to the Podcaster Remix. Today, I am so excited to welcome not one, not two, not three, not four, but five of the Six Queens from the first national tour of Six, a.k.a. the Aragon Tour, currently running at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago. I think I said that right. Is it CIBC? CIBC? Let's just dive right into this and have each queen introduce themselves so you can recognize their voices, starting with my top left on my screen. Let's go with Jasmine.

[2:38] Jasmine Forsberg: Hi, everyone. My name is Jasmine Forsberg, and I'm currently playing Jane Seymour, the only one we truly love.

[2:48] Khaila Wilcoxon: Rude.

[2:52] Khaila Wilcoxon: Hey, guys. My name is Khaila Wilcoxon, and I play Catherine of Aragon, the first divorced wife.

[3:01] Olivia Donaldson: I'm Olivia Donaldson, and I'm Anna of Cleves, the second divorced wife.

[3:09] Storm Lever: Hey, I'm Storm Lever. I'm that Boleyn girl. I'm playing Anne Boleyn.

[3:14] Gabriela Carrillo: That Boleyn girl. Hey, Gabriela.

[3:17] Gabriela Carrillo: Hi, I'm Gabriela Carrillo. I play Catherine Parr, the survivor. And I just want to give a quick shout out to Didi Romero, who was originally scheduled to be with us today, but she called in sick because that's just the times we live in these days, which I think is just unfortunately all too uncommon, which I believe is actually a great place to start diving into the conversation, too. I also want to give a big shout out to your alternates, Erin Ramirez, Cassie Silva, Kelsey Swigard, I think I said that right, and Kelly Denise Taylor. And obviously one of the four of them is probably going on tonight for Didi, for Catherine Howard.

[3:51] Khaila Wilcoxon: For the first time as Howard. We've never had Didi out, so this is going to be a first for us.

[3:58] Alan Seales: Oh, that's so exciting. So how does that happen? Do all four alternates know all four tracks?

[4:03] Khaila Wilcoxon: They each know three tracks. So each one of us has two covers.

[4:10] Storm Lever: But Cassie, who I love dearly, is the dance captain. Can she go on for all six?

[4:16] Khaila Wilcoxon: Not yet, but probably soon, truly.

[4:20] Storm Lever: She can make it work. If they desperately need it, I believe Cassie could make it work.

[4:24] Alan Seales: Oh, she's amazing. So for the five of you, then, I want to talk about sort of what the experience has been so far, because you've been running in Chicago for a few weeks now, and this is actually a really long residency for a tour. It's like, what, three months, I believe. You're going through, what's the date I'm looking for? July 3rd.

[4:45] Khaila Wilcoxon: July 3rd.

[4:46] Alan Seales: Yeah, you're going all the way through July 3rd. And so for all of you, I guess let's start back at the beginning of how you got connected to the show. And I believe, Gabriela, you're a huge vlogger and TikTok influencer, and we'll get into that as well. But I was watching one of your videos where you were like, yeah, I auditioned, and then COVID hit, and there was years, right? So I guess, Gabriela, let's start with you and talk about the journey, right? So when did the auditions happen for all of you? Did you see the original show, the Out of Town for Broadway in Chicago back in 2019?

[5:19] Gabriela Carrillo: No. For me, the journey with the show started, well, somebody originally that I was working with on a show in LA, because that's where I'm usually based, even though I am from Chicago, my hometown, somebody said, there's a musical called Six. You've got to be in it. It's perfect for you. And all they said was, it's about the six wives of Henry VIII. And I didn't really know why that was perfect for me, especially because I'm not somebody who, I don't know, I don't think of myself as like the historical, you know, character actor. And then I really found out what Six was, and they forgot to mention that it's a giant pop concert with amazing costumes, pop music inspired by six pop divas. And then I was like, okay, yeah, it is perfect for me.

How do I become a part of the show? And then I got the casting notice from my agent, and we started the process from there. But it was right before COVID hit, I want to say maybe December 2019, I think is maybe when I started, or January 2020. And, you know, I got so far as to even do a Zoom chat with the team and everything. And I got excited, and I was hoping they were getting excited about me. And then, then the world exploded.

[6:33] Alan Seales: So you didn't know that you had the role until, at what point, like you said, at the beginning of COVID, you had the chat and then everything just shut down.

[6:40] Gabriela Carrillo: Yes, and everything shut down. And then they contacted me again after COVID and said, hey, we're still interested in seeing you if you're available, or things are picking up. And I'm like, yes, we have been in a pen. I am absolutely available. Yep.

[6:53] Khaila Wilcoxon: I'm too available.

[6:55] Gabriela Carrillo: I'm too available.

[6:57] Gabriela Carrillo: I am employable. Yeah, then we take things back up and did, you know, final callbacks in Chicago, New York. And then I waited four more weeks after my final callback to hear back. It was a marathon, emotional, stressful, obviously worth it, though.

[7:17] Alan Seales: Wow, that's kind of insane. So when did you first hear that you were going to be in the show?

[7:22] Gabriela Carrillo: Obviously worth it, though? Wow, that's kind of insane. So when Olivia, when she said that she found at the beginning of the pandemic, you kind of like raised your eyebrows a lot. Is your story completely different or the same?

[7:35] Olivia Donaldson: I mean, I just started after the pandemic. So August, I moved back to New York City from being at home for a year and a half or so. And I remembered my apartment was completely empty because I just moved in. But I did a self tape in August and I didn't have any like our doesn't matter. We didn't have lights like we have lights, but we didn't have overhead lights.

[8:06] Khaila Wilcoxon: You auditioned by candlelight. I get it.

[8:09] Olivia Donaldson: Like fighting the sun. I was like, OK, Olivia, you've got 20 more minutes before it's sunset. So you have to finish the tape now. And so, yeah, and that was in August. And then I didn't hear back for about a month. And I was like, well, that was really fun. And then I finally heard back and got to go into this crazy audition process, which I had a lot of fun doing. But it's different than any process I've ever done. We all were together in the room. So like we had group auditions, basically. And it was cool to be able to support everybody. But it was also like, there's people around, like not just the team. So it was a new experience. But ultimately, here we are.

[9:00] Alan Seales: So were all of you auditioning together then? Or like pairs of you or trios?

[9:06] Olivia Donaldson: I remember everyone, I think, from the final callback, at least. Not any initial audition. So I didn't see any of these girls in my initial audition. So that was quite interesting.

[9:10] Alan Seales: Oh, that's so cool. Yeah, I actually remember this. I talked to some of the Broadway queens, oh, God, back at the beginning of 2020. Yeah. And now that you mentioned that, they said the exact same thing. It's so much of the character and so much of what makes the show so important is the bond that all of you have on stage and the support and the love and the sisterhood that is created. So I love, I mean, kudos to the entire creative team for doing the audition in this way, because you all have the ability to have natural chemistry, like you walk into a party, right? And you connect with somebody like those two people are going to get together rather than someone who is super talented, but can't connect with anybody else. Right. So like, Jasmine, your story, is it the same? Or like, when did what was your timeline?

[10:00] Jasmine Forsberg: Timeline was a bit different. Actually, I remember hearing, just making sure I'm not muted. We're thriving. We're good. We at Penn State. I'm a recent grad from Penn State's musical theater program. I graduated back in 2021. And at 2020's Gay Prom, that happy Pride Month, everybody, that Penn State School of Theater puts on every year. One of my dear, dear professors, who's no longer at Penn State, actually, Jay Austin Iyer, he did a drag number to Get Down. Olivia, you got some competition up in here. I'll say it. I'll say it. And it was, it was iconic. He had backup dancers. It was everything. He was a true, they were a true queen. And I remember that was my first experience hearing about Six.

I was like, what is this? I need to get into it. Heard the soundtrack, was obsessed with it. But then when COVID hit, I was still fully in school. I was a junior in college at the time. And so I had to do Storms of Laughter. And so I had to finish the year. And I kind of, in all honesty, I was just focused on getting my degree. I was like, I need to make it through these crazy times that we are living in. Let me just finish what I started. And New York will come and auditions will come. And I'm not worried about that. I'm just going to try and stay present in the moment and be here and be with my friends and make, you know, try and try and wrap up college in a pretty bow as much as it could be, even though that's definitely not what happened.

But I moved to the city. I moved to New York City that summer, summer of 2021. And similarly to Olivia, I got that casting notice in August. And so I went in. I never taped for it, though. I went in to the audition room for not an open call, but in an invited call situation. And there were lights. Indeed, it was not Tudor dynasty candlelit, even though I will say that really set the mood, Miss Olivia. And it was an experience, truly, like Olivia was saying, like I've never had before. It was a the process was so interesting. But I also I always felt that love and that support from the creative team. And by the time we got to final callbacks, I specifically remember the people who are on this call right now.

And Didi, I remember them being in the audition and our alternates, I will say, and being like, damn, they're good. They are really they are something special. And so to be on stage with them night after night and just celebrate all this girl power together, that is an experience that I'm going to cherish forever. And again, just staying present in the moment, trying to be here with everybody. I'm very, very happy.

[12:46] Alan Seales: Wow. Well, I'd love that. I love that. So you were in college recent grad. When did you do Broadway Bounty Hunter then? Because I saw you in that.

[12:56] Jasmine Forsberg: That was my that was summer before junior year of college.

[13:00] Alan Seales: So you were still in school. Yeah, that was a fun one.

[13:04] Jasmine Forsberg: Crazy. Talk about badassery right there. That was a fun one. Annie Golden for the win. Annie Golden for president.

[13:09] Alan Seales: So Storm, then Storm and Khaila, were you guys post pandemic joining the cast or pre or how did all that work?

[13:21] Jasmine Forsberg: I've even been to some shows this year. I was in a pandemic. SIX circled back around, and asked if I was still available for zoom auditions. So I zoom auditioned, and then when theater came back in September and October, I auditioned again, and did the final callbacks. And made the decision ultimately, when Almost Famous decided if they were going to move forward, or if I was going to circle back and do SIX, the show that I stepped away from, and ultimately chose to go back. And couldn't be happier that I'm here.

[14:23] Alan Seales: That's so cool. Kayla, what about you?

[14:26] Khaila Wilcoxon: Yeah, I got the audition notice back in 2019 as well, but I didn't do it because I was in Hadestown at the time. So I couldn't leave that contract to go and do SIX, even if I got it. So I was like, I'm not going to audition. But I just didn't do it, and then the pandemic happened. And once we opened back up, SIX was asking me to audition again, and I was like, I guess. I mean, I just am in the middle of opening a show right now, but I guess I can try. And then I was auditioning during the day, then doing a workshop, and then going to do the show at night. And that was like that for like six weeks straight. And then that final week, I got this really bad ear infection, but then I got a call right before Hadestown started that I got Catherine.

And I was like, no, it's been the longest sick week of my life. It was crazy. It all happened so fast. I was like, okay, I just got back to Broadway, and I'm about to leave New York for tour. But I couldn't be happier. This incredible group of women, these nine badasses are just my favorite people in the world. I love the sisterhood.

[15:28] Alan Seales: You mentioned the sisterhood, and the camaraderie, and the badassery, and everything that creates all of this. God, I don't think I know of any show. I can't think of any show that has blasted onto the scene kind of as quickly, as widespread, as Six has done. Because it was, gosh, I heard like, oh yeah, Six is coming. They're doing this thing over in London. And then all of a sudden, boom, it's in Chicago. Then boom, it's in Australia. Then boom, it's on the West End. And then all of a sudden, we just opened on Broadway, and now the first national tour that you all are in has kicked off. And I cannot believe the amount of growth that this show has seen in such a small amount of time. And also, I guess I want to talk about the representation for a second.

Because my point of bringing all this up is that all these shows are being mounted simultaneously and parallel. And there's alternates, and there's more casting that we don't even know about yet. Because there's more tours that are spinning up and everything. And everyone is so not the traditional cookie cutter of what you would expect Henry VIII's wives to be.

[16:37] Storm Lever: Right?

[16:38] Khaila Wilcoxon: No. Well, within the first week of rehearsal, we had these boards posted along the rehearsal room with the pictures of the queens and sticky notes of all of their different characteristics. And all the characteristics are just beautiful, across the board, diverse, wonderful qualities in a human. But in terms of what they looked like, they all looked quite similar indeed. So it is so special with this cast in particular to be of a cast of all women of color. Wow, the power that I feel stepping on stage, especially as a mixed race Asian American person, being on stage and stepping into the downstage spotlight and getting to just have a strong point of view and be unafraid to speak my mind and actually get this power ballad from me specifically. That's an opportunity that I've never had before. So to be on one of the biggest stages in the country, just like doing that night after night. Oh, it is a feeling like no other.

[17:41] Jasmine Forsberg: One of the things that I heard too, when I was talking to some of the Broadway queens, we all saw Toby and Lucy's 54 Below show. And this was before I started rehearsals. And they were telling me the only reason they had stayed with the show this long is because of the sisterhood that was created amongst the 10 people in the Broadway company. And they really, really made sure that I knew clearly that you have your one moment to shine in the show. But every other second that you are on stage, you are actively supporting the other queens on stage and the ladies in waiting, our lovely band that we have. And so you can never make it about yourself because it's not the strongest link, the weakest link. It is all six of us together, for sure. It is an ensemble in every way.

[18:30] Alan Seales: All of you are on stage for the entire show. So it is legit a concert where you're learning a little history and you're having a lot of fun. And for the most part, you're right. I enjoy, I love going to shows and looking at the people you're not supposed to be looking at because those are some of the best character choices that I found. The people are like creating their own characters in the back with, oh, I'm a flower guy number three, right? So I love especially what you just said, that while you're not singing, the rest of you, you're there to support who is. And that makes you still part of the entire show. And some of the best moments that I have seen are the legitimate, and I won't, I don't think it's acting. It is legitimate love and support that the other ladies are giving to whoever is downstage singing at that moment.

[19:26] Khaila Wilcoxon: Yeah, I went back to the rehearsal, not excuse me, not the rehearsal, but the audition process. I'm really glad that they had us audition in the way that we did. Like they got to see everybody come into a room, watch somebody else perform the same song that you're going to be singing. And I really think that they, it was such a smart move on the team. They chose people that are going to sit there and their light is not going to be dimmed by somebody else shining bright. It was people that are able to stand in that room and like see somebody go off and be fierce. And that makes them more fierce by someone else be like owning their power. It's, we get to do that on stage. And I'm really glad that that was part of how they chose their people that are going to thrive in that kind of setting. It was, it's awesome.

[20:05] Storm Lever: The setup of the show is like we're in competition. We're supposed to be against each other. And then of course, spoiler alert at the end. Oh, gotcha. We're all, we're all in this together. And, and that, that's what I love. Like the audition process. What, like you were describing is it completely creates that in real life because you literally went through what you're putting together on stage. You're supposed to be competing against each other, but you're actually getting it because you probably gelled with more people than somebody, like I said, who didn't gel with anybody. So I just, I love that. Again, hats off to the creative team and Toby and Lucy. They have created something completely incredible and, and unique.

[20:48] Alan Seales: And Gabriela, I love your, I was watching some of your vlogs on YouTube, your videos. And aside from knowing little facts about you, like you like to heat up your sheets before you get in bed at night.

[21:01] Gabriela Carrillo: You, Storm, you're like what? I'm feeling that. That sounds nice.

[21:06] Gabriela Carrillo: That's very, very important for me.

[21:09] Storm Lever: Yeah.

[21:12] Gabriela Carrillo: Which, like, you use a heating pad, you don't put them in the microwave.

[21:16] Storm Lever: Yeah, yeah.

[21:19] Gabriela Carrillo: Yeah, yeah. But the, the documenting, documenting your life in general, I want to talk about why that's important to you, but also talk about the mental health aspect of, of what, why you do what you do and then how Six affects that. Because with the love and support that this show brings, is the show like a traditional show for you in that it's the eight show a week schedule as a stress or is it like this is what I love to do every single day?

[21:46] Gabriela Carrillo: Yeah. I mean, talking about vlogging, I think vlogging has been well, especially over the pandemic. That was my main source of income was my social media, which I never thought was going to be a thing. It was always a side thing. It was always really just fun. I started out making astrology videos. That's kind of where my channel blew up because I love astrology. And then I, I was so flattered. People were commenting that they enjoyed my personality and my sense of humor and they'd like to see that more. And some people didn't even know that I was an actor. They thought I just was an astrologer. And I'm like, no, it's not even that. So I started vlogging and funny enough, vlogging has kind of, I'm somebody who I, I always want to keep busy and I'm always up here and I'm always doing things.

And if there's maybe there's something tough that I need to feel, I'm going to do something else. And so I think that acting and vlogging give me a chance and also force me to face difficult emotions, to face difficult truths, to ask how I can grow and to check in with myself. Because when you vlog, you're really just talking to yourself. You're talking to the camera, you're talking to an audience, but you're talking to yourself. So I find myself sometimes vlogging and I'm like, why am I tearing up right now? I didn't, I didn't expect this conversation to go in this direction, but I guess I needed to talk about this today. So that's been enjoyable. And over the pandemic, connecting with people, not face to face.

I mean, I was alone in my apartment with my dog for over a year, but being able to connect with people and have them empathize with me and sympathize with me. That was pretty cool. And then as far as this show goes, mental health wise, it's been a great lesson of time management and energy management, because I think everybody's a little bit different. Introverts, extroverts. I don't think all actors are the same at all. And I am. Nobody thinks this, but I am an introvert. And although I love people, I really have to manage my energy very well. And physical energy has been a lesson for this show, too. So that's been, I think, just an important thing I can carry with me through my life is checking in with myself where my social batteries are, where my physical. Do I need to drink more water? Do I need to sleep more? And what a wonderful welcoming environment to explore that in. It's been great.

[24:11] Alan Seales: I think it's funny, the opening night video, you're like, all right, let's go to the party. I got to go to bed. Cut to I'm eating some some gnocchi. Now I'm going to bed. Oh, no. Cut to. OK, I got to keep talking. Cut to warming up my sheets. I was crying and then I just cut it out because I'm like, all right, this is maybe maybe that was just the tequila talking. We don't do it. But I was sitting on my bed eating the banana, being like, I can't believe this is my life. All right. You know, this is vlogging. You don't want to seem it can be a real moment, but you don't want to seem like it's performative. So I just cut it out. But, oh, there was a whole 20 minute crying section. What's realer than like crying, holding a banana in your bed like that? That's the realest you can get. It's a little sweaty and like the eyelashes falling off. It's wow. What a what a what a range I go through in my day.

[25:10] Gabriela Carrillo: I need to see that video.

[25:12] Jasmine Forsberg: Yeah, I was going to say, none of the rest of you have looked at it. It's one of her recent uploads on her YouTube channel.

[25:18] Alan Seales: So it's so funny because I was like, oh, well, that's real. She's she's going there. Yeah. Kayla and Olivia, you both of you have prior Broadway experience as well. So coming now to to out of town in Chicago and going on a national tour for forever and ever and ever. Is is this because the show needs to go on forever and ever and ever. So compared to your Broadway experiences, is this something? I guess how how is this for your emotional health, for your mental health specifically? Because like Haiti, Hadestown, take for example, right. That that I mean, I love the show. Deserves best, Tony. Tony for best show. That's a downer, right? Like doing that eight shows a week. I'm like, oh, God, that would be emotionally exhausting. But then six, on the other hand, I'd be like, all right, I'm doing that.

[26:07] Khaila Wilcoxon: I would say they are both equally exhausting. And I would say that in the physical sense, they were both they're both very physically exhausting. But I think that Hadestown in a way trained me for this show to learn how to use my body and in certain ways to be like, OK, you can't you can't stress here right here because you got to you got to save that for later. So little things like that. I think Hadestown taught me for this show. But the emotional toll. Let's just say I smile and I'm so happy when I go off stage and the adrenaline is still pumping because it's only 90 minutes.

[26:42] Gabriela Carrillo: But I'm so grateful because this show is just like it's a breath of fresh air for me right now in my career and in my life, especially after the pandemic.

[27:03] Storm Lever: I would say Hadestown was really hard to do after the pandemic. Wow. Yeah. Because it was just such a dark time. But like this show is just high energy nonstop. And I just I'm in love with it. I'm having the best time ever.

[27:22] Olivia Donalson: Yeah, I think I did come from a nice, sparkly Disney show. So the fun aspect is thankfully still a part of life now with SIX. Also, as mentioned, this show is 90 minutes, so we can make it. You know, we can make it. I think the biggest difference and we don't really yet fully know because we are. This is our first stop is just, you know, going from city to city and not having as much of a home base. And you really, as Gabi was saying earlier, have to manage your time and your social battery because it's like, you know, it's not I'm going to go back to my normal restaurant or my normal friends. It's like, OK, you want to do all the things you want to see the aquarium, but also like we need rest.

So I think that I'm excited that we have a great company from all of our crew, like to the band, to the cast, because when we're at work, it can be like a good time and then we can go elsewhere and recharge. But no, it's a good we've got it really great right now. We've got a really great and I'm so excited for a year more, you know, like, let's go.

[28:40] Alan Seales: The most important question, then, are you an aquarium girl?

[28:43] Olivia Donalson: What's your what's your that's oddly specific?

[28:46] Gabriela Carrillo: Well, you know what it is? It's because I haven't been to the aquarium yet this time around in Chicago. So I have plans to go maybe in a couple of weeks and see.

[28:51] Storm Lever: Are there whales there?

[28:53] Olivia Donalson: No. Are there sharks?

[28:55] Storm Lever: They do a great dolphin show.

[29:01] Gabriela Carrillo: We're going to see the dolphins. I missed the dolphin show. I went with Cassie and one of our lovely stage managers.

[29:08] Storm Lever: Where were the dolphins?

[29:10] Gabriela Carrillo: And Brookfield Zoo, too. They do a great Brookfield Zoo. I was just going to say, I'm going there.

[29:15] Storm Lever: Dolphin writer. So I know all the best dolphin shows.

[29:19] Olivia Donalson: Did you just say you were a dolphin writer?

[29:22] Storm Lever: No, it was my first dream. My first career dream was to be a dolphin writer.

[29:25] Gabriela Carrillo: Oh, right. Right. I'm sure you can see it.

[29:29] Storm Lever: I can. Use the hair for it. Just hair flowing.

[29:33] Alan Seales: But give me your best dolphin imitation.

[29:36] Storm Lever: Well, actually, I'm going to pass that one to Storm.

[29:38] Gabriela Carrillo: Uh-oh. Uh-oh.

[29:40] Storm Lever: Why me?

[29:41] Gabriela Carrillo: Because I make strange noises.

[29:43] Storm Lever: You did that noise in Didi's TikTok.

[29:46] Gabriela Carrillo: Oh, it was supposed to be a riff, but it did turn out sounding dolphin-y.

[29:49] Storm Lever: It was more of a dolphin-y riff.

[29:51] Gabriela Carrillo: My riff, too, sometimes sounds like dolphins. That's accurate.

[29:54] Storm Lever: Well, then there you go. You brought it all full circle, Gabriela. Now you're working with singers who sound like dolphins.

[29:59] Gabriela Carrillo: You can make dolphin sounds. There you go.

[30:02] Storm Lever: I'm living the dream, yeah. I'm not training them, but I'm hanging. I'm providing them whatever I want to do.

[30:09] Alan Seales: Wait, people don't ride dolphins?

[30:12] Gabriela Carrillo: Yes, they do. I hope not.

[30:14] Storm Lever: No, they use their little noses.

[30:16] Gabriela Carrillo: Not recreationally, but like show you in the water.

[30:19] Storm Lever: I mean, it's not like a transportation thing, but you hold on to the little fin.

[30:23] Alan Seales: That's Elon Musk's next big challenge, right?

[30:26] Gabriela Carrillo: Getting all the way from Uber.

[30:28] Storm Lever: Yeah, yeah, like it's Abber or something, right?

[30:31] Alan Seales: No? Too much?

[30:33] Storm Lever: Wow.

[30:34] Gabriela Carrillo: You guys keep messing up the laughs.

[30:37] Alan Seales: Oh, my goodness.

[30:39] Gabriela Carrillo: Okay, so on that bad note, the audience reaction, right? Talking about bad reaction to dolphin jokes.

[30:44] Storm Lever: I'll just squeak by that one.

[30:46] Alan Seales: So the audience reaction to this show has, again, phenomenal. It's taking the Tiki Talks and the Spotify's and everything by storm.

[30:53] Gabriela Carrillo: Oh, by storm lever.

[30:55] Storm Lever: And yeah, eyebrow, eyebrow.

[30:57] Alan Seales: And so the audience is coming back. You're getting all this feedback. Have any of you experienced anything that stood out in your mind from the audience that's been amazing feedback that you wouldn't have expected in a role like this?

[31:06] Gabriela Carrillo: Well, Gabi recently got proposed to, so.

[31:09] Storm Lever: Yeah, I was going to say gifts are crazy because I think every other show I've done, I haven't really received gifts or personal things. And that's been awesome, and that feels very, very special, and that's a really extra thing that's not necessary, and so it feels even more like, wow, you really took the time. And yesterday there was a young fellow who sent me a photograph.

[31:29] Gabriela Carrillo: Made a custom. Very young fellow, so don't be worried about the contents of this. This T-shirt says, marry me, Catherine Parr. And his brother was wearing a shirt and asked Deedee, and it said, marry me, Catherine. So his name is Maddox, and I am now an engaged woman.

[31:48] Alan Seales: Well, congratulations.

[31:50] Gabriela Carrillo: Thank you. Maybe you'll meet him in person one day.

[31:53] Storm Lever: Yeah, this show has brought me so many blessings, you know, including my future husband.

[31:58] Gabriela Carrillo: Future in, like, 15 years.

[32:01] Storm Lever: Yeah.

[32:02] Gabriela Carrillo: The eighth thing to do, actually, is go after someone very young. So in all honesty, obviously not, but I do love the shirt.

[32:09] Alan Seales: So are you guys, I know on Broadway they discourage the stage door experience because of COVID, but are you allowed to do that in Chicago, too, or is that still sort of the same way out there?

[32:16] Storm Lever: Technically, no, because it's still under actors' equity. We're not supposed to, but we do go out the stage door sometimes, and sometimes there are people out there, and we can't help but to just thank them for coming and giving us their energy throughout the night. So, like, it's a weird thing. It's a weird toss-up right now with stage door.

[32:34] Alan Seales: Well, do you enjoy that, or is that, like, as various introverts, levels of introverts and extroverts, I would assume some people get charged up by that, and other people are like, nope, that's going to drain my battery.

[32:43] Gabriela Carrillo: I don't know. Some days I'm like, I'll do it, but I think I have really bad anxiety, so, like, I won't. I'll be like, I can't do it today. I'm going to sneak out in front.

[32:50] Storm Lever: I think it really is a case-by-case basis for everyone, and every individual day is different because there are some days where I know that I have two shows tomorrow. So after a Friday night show, I'm like, do I have the mental capacity and the emotional capacity to, like, want to, like, interact in this way, knowing that tomorrow's a really, really long one? But it is also like there's a give and take because they do charge you up, and hearing those, hearing how people respond to the show and their excitement, it can't, you can't help it. It just makes you so happy.

[33:20] Gabriela Carrillo: That will never get old, feeling so fulfilled by how the show resonates with people, and you see audience members, like, they're so different, the variety that you get to encounter in the show and how it speaks to them, every single person. It's really, really special.

[33:34] Storm Lever: That's what I was going to say about when you were mentioning how quickly the show has spread and what a phenomenon it is. I think that's, well, not I think. I'm sure that it's because of the people that it connects with because there is a demand for the show because when there are people that love the show and the music and the characters and they want so badly to actually be able to see it because most of these people, I mean, when it was just on Broadway or, you know, whatever, people from all over the world can't, you know, come out and see that. So when there's a demand for something because it makes you so happy, I think that's why it's spreading like wildfire is because there's that demand for it and people are just so excited about it.

[34:05] Alan Seales: I think that's great. My kids love it, too. I have almost a six-year-old and a seven-and-a-half-year-old, and they love it. And they ask for the soundtrack all the time, the cast album all the time.

[34:15] Storm Lever: Do you find that the jokes, some of the jokes, they go over the head, right?

[34:18] Gabriela Carrillo: Oh, yeah.

[34:19] Storm Lever: Yeah, sometimes in the audience I look at children when we make like a joke joke, and I think it's like this. So I'm like, okay, cool. We have jokes for everybody.

[34:27] Gabriela Carrillo: Yeah, like I just thought it was funny, too. When the Broadway cast performed on Good Morning America, they had to bleep out prick up your head. They bleeped out prick, but I was like, it's prick up your head, people. Come on. Like we're all grown adults here. Just because this is 10 a.m. doesn't mean you can't have a sense of humor. Like this is a little bit much.

[34:47] Storm Lever: But, yeah, I agree. I love, love, love, love the wordplay. That's part of why I will watch Hamilton on Disney Plus with the captions on because every time I'm watching it again, I'm seeing more wordplay, and that's where, you know, Lynn and, again, Toby and Lucy, too, just wordplay geniuses the way that the lyrics are strung together. It is absolutely brilliant, which let's put this out in the universe. Toby, Lucy, and Lynn should all work on Encanto.

[35:14] Alan Seales: Let's put that out there. Assuming Encanto is going to turn into a musical.

[35:18] Storm Lever: Don't hold me to it, but it needs to happen, and I'll produce the shit out of that.

[35:23] Alan Seales: Okay. Do each of you have a favorite moment in the show that is not when you are singing your own song?

[35:30] Jasmine Forsberg: Put me on the spot right here. I, two of my favorite moments are moments that I have with Miss Kayla. When we have started, after Jane flips out on Catherine of Aragon, Jane is unhinged, and she does some intense screaming at the queen, at the first queen, and she realizes that she just went overboard, and Catherine calms me down so much. Kayla calms me down, and we have this little, like, I'm sorry, the bow moment together that we have established. I wonder if it will get cut one day. Who knows? I still think it's rooted in character, but here we are. And then the second moment in the show is when the show is completely derailed, and we don't know what to do. We are at a complete loss for words, and the show truly just comes to a screeching halt.

But prior to that moment, I approach Catherine of Aragon, and I approach Kayla saying, like, what are we supposed to do? And she said, don't follow me. I need my space. And it's a whole moment. It's a whole moment that is kept under wraps because we've already been noted on it before. So we have to, we've taken it back. But those are two of my favorite parts, and I really hope they stay forever.

[37:18] Gabriela Carrillo: Play time, play time.

[37:20] Khaila Wilcoxon: Oh, man. This is so hard because I have a moment with every single queen, and I make sure that I have a moment with every single queen. And I don't know. Some of my favorites have to be maybe with Storm because I think our dynamic, I just have so much fun bullying her on stage. I don't condone bullying. But I do. Catherine has a way of just, like, brushing Storm off all the time. And so, like, I think one of my favorite ones is maybe when she says her big speech, and I'm like, is that you? And I've started, like, feeling her temperature to see if it's okay to make sure she's not crazy. That's become one of my favorite moments. But I don't know. I also have a moment with Gabi after Olivia's song, and I kind of, like, turn my complete back to the audience.

And I have a full conversation with Gabi, and I'm like, I know you helped her put this on. You are not allowed to do e-bites anymore. She is not invited to the next function. And I'm just, like, going off on her. And Gabi's always like, what are you – it's not my fault. Like, she's always – so those have to be two of my favorite moments in the show.

[39:05] Gabriela Carrillo: Okay, well, I think I've said this in every interview I've ever done, but get down is my song! Get down is my song! So, like, oh, my God. The minute we start these snaps, I am transformed. I am on another level. So I do like when we're reclined and she says, keep it on the bone. And I get to go, what? Because I just love it.

[40:03] Jasmine Forsberg: Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson, Gabriela Carrillo, Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson.

[40:33] Jasmine Forsberg: Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson, Gabriela Carrillo, Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson.

[41:03] Jasmine Forsberg: Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson, Gabriela Carrillo, Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson.

[41:33] Jasmine Forsberg: Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson, Gabriela Carrillo, Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson.

[42:33] Jasmine Forsberg: Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson, Gabriela Carrillo, Storm Lever, Olivia Donalson.

[43:03] Olivia Donalson: I honestly really enjoy being a backup person. So like every single song is like, no way when we're dancing and we do that, hit the first dance break, like that's fire. And then in Storm's song, we're like five, six, seven, eight. And we rush to the front and we start part like that moment. And then in Jasmine's number when we stand up and we're like, unbreakable. And like, we just like, we just stand and support and all you want to do. Let me tell you for some reason, like that choreography for me is my favorite. And just like, and then Gabby, we rush to your aid and we're just like, like I just love being in the back. It's so fun to be in the back and like, just support. And like you said, we get to have a little bit of fun and you know, make some funny eyes to our friends in the audience. Like, I love it.

[44:03] Alan Seales: Oh my God. Well, that's all the time we got. All right. There we go. So we are going to wrap up here. And normally I have three standard closing questions that I ask everybody to wrap up the episodes, but since there's five of you, I'm going to sort of split them around. And some of you, unfortunately, will answer one and then we'll try to spread it around. Okay. So where are my notes? There they are. Okay. So the first closing question is what motivates you? And I'm going to give you all a second to think about it. And then I'm going to call on Storm. What motivates you?

[44:36] Storm Lever: What motivates me? My fam has worked so hard for me to get to where I get to. I think we all can say that theater is a very, it's a privilege to do theater. And what I mean to have access to doing theater, to have access to seeing shows. And so the fact that I grew up able to love this thing and to fall in love with this thing and to pursue the arts, I am no matter good day, bad day, I am always remembering my family and how hard they work to allot me the life I have. And that every moment of my life, I need to be not paying them back, but making them proud. And the actions that I do and the attitude that I have and the spirit that I carry is a representation of all of their hard work. So that's definitely what motivates me.

[45:24] Khaila Wilcoxon: Right now with the climate of the world, I would say that my family, absolutely. But more so importantly, my niece is motivating me to just continue to go and keep going and show little black girls that like there's a space for you in the world of arts and like you matter and you're important. And just be, it says it in my bio in the playbill, but the sun doesn't ask permission to shine. So neither should you. And so that is something that has really just been pushing me and motivating me nowadays.

[45:52] Alan Seales: How old is your niece?

[45:59] Khaila Wilcoxon: She is a year and a half old.

[46:06] Alan Seales: Oh my goodness. That's the best age before they start talking back to you. You get a little ma ma ma back and forth already. All right. So next question, what advice would you give to your younger self and younger people listening now starting out down a similar path, Olivia?

[46:21] Olivia Donalson: Just really tap into who you are because there is so much information and so much access to seeing how everybody else is doing everything. And while it's great to, you know, take some notes on like people that are with similar goals, just remember like to stay true to who you are because that's what's going to set you apart. There's only one you. And so if you bring that best version of yourself to everything, then you're golden.

[46:48] Gabriela Carrillo: I would say to my younger self and to other people, the only person that you need to worry about letting down is yourself. And I say that because I had a whole career in pop music and eventually walked away from it. I was I am a songwriter and a pop artist, but my dream for my life changed as I experienced the emotional effects of that side of the industry. And for a long time, I struggled with, you know, taking a break or taking the space I needed from pop music because I thought that my peers would think that I was quitting because I couldn't do it or I wasn't, you know, this or that. And now it's none of my business what anybody else thinks of me, really. I mean, I hope people think that I hope they remember I make them feel good, but it's, you know, little details. That's not my business. So the number one person I got to make proud is me.

[47:44] Alan Seales: Well, I have to say that your number one single, Dolphin Writer Love Song, still holds a very special place in my heart.

[47:53] Gabriela Carrillo: The what? What?

[47:54] Alan Seales: Your number one single, Dolphin Writer Love Song.

[47:56] Gabriela Carrillo: Oh, yes. Of course. That's my first album.

[48:00] Alan Seales: Yeah. Right. Right. Right. I wish I was a trainer.

[48:02] Gabriela Carrillo: Deedle deedle diddle dee.

[48:03] Alan Seales: You're a wonderful fan. Thank you.

[48:04] Gabriela Carrillo: Yeah. I wish I was a trainer.

[48:08] Jasmine Forsberg: I kind of want to circle back and echo some of what Olivia said. I think I would tell my younger self to continue to show up as my authentic self all the time, because there are so many people in this world who are going to try to put you in boxes. So the least you can do is free yourself of that burden and just be who you are. It's going to be so much more fulfilling when you're not trying to fill other people's shoes, because like Olivia said, there's only one you. So, like, just rock it. Own it.

[48:41] Alan Seales: I love that. All right. So the last question all of you are going to answer, because maybe it's going to be a quick one, hopefully, is 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? And then, oh, you all look like you have headaches. I'm going to start with Khaila.

[49:00] Khaila Wilcoxon: And I'm the one over here like, oh my gosh, I don't know. That's such a hard question.

[49:10] Alan Seales: Well, all right, we'll come back to you, Olivia. You got an answer?

[49:14] Olivia Donalson: Well, I have to go with the first thing that came to mind. I saw The Color Purple on Broadway 10 times, and like, I could see it again. I mean, obviously, it's really light. So, but I do think I could see that again and again.

[49:30] Alan Seales: All right, Gabby.

[49:32] Gabriela Carrillo: Oh, I can't do this. Part of me wants to say like a jukebox musical, because actually, I really like jukebox musicals and they get me going. I like pop musicals. But also In the Heights. I also am like a sucker for Cats. I also love Jersey Boys. I'm going to say, I'm going to say In the Heights, I guess. I don't know.

[49:56] Alan Seales: OK, OK, OK. Jasmine?

[49:59] Jasmine Forsberg: Kayla's going to think I'm absolutely crazy, but I think I'm going to say Hadestown. I thought it was I saw it back in January and I was so moved, like deeply moved by that production. And I don't know, it just reinvigorated my love for theater. Not that it ever went anywhere, but like I was like, oh, dang, this is why I love theater. So like, I think if I could continue to be inspired in that way, I'd be very happy.

[50:26] Alan Seales: All right, Storm.

[50:28] Storm Lever: Kayla, don't think I forgot about you. I'm coming back.

[50:30] Khaila Wilcoxon: Oh, look. You said it like it was going to be such an easy question.

[50:36] Storm Lever: This will be a quick one. This is like choosing your child. Oh, my gosh. The first one that came to mind, I love one of the first shows that I fell in love with of like understanding the power of theater and how it could really like be a mirror to society was Cabaret. But that's just a pressing choice. Do I want to live there every day? I do love the music and the message. And that's mine right now. Maybe because I'm in black, so I'm feeling my Fosse vibe. So I'm prepping for it. So Cabaret.

[51:08] Alan Seales: All right, Kayla.

[51:09] Khaila Wilcoxon: Okay, I think I have one. The 2011 cast revival of Godspell. I know it's really specific, but I really do love Godspell. And something about Joshua Henry, Lindsay Mendez. What's his name? Not Joshua Henry. What's his name? Smith? Oh, God, I'm blanking. I can't think of his first name. But yeah, the 2011 revival of Godspell. That exact cast. No other cast, please. Thank you.

[51:41] Alan Seales: Fair enough. All right. Everybody, visit sixonbroadway.com. You can go to the tour schedule there. So you can find these wonderful ladies. They're in Chicago until July 3rd. You can also follow all of them on social media. They're all amazing on social and YouTube and TikTok and all over the place. Just find them online in their bios. I'll also have their social media information in the show notes for this episode. So, of course, check it there. You can get more of me at thetheaterpodcast.com. I'm on Instagram and Twitter at theater underscore podcast. I'm trying my hand at TikTok. I don't know what the hell I'm doing at the theater podcast. And Jasmine, Kayla, Olivia, Storm, and Gabriela gave us this amazing, amazing chat. Thank you all so much. Much love to Dee Dee as well, who we wish could have been here with us. And guys, break legs. This show is amazing. You are changing lives. Thank you so much for this conversation.

[52:34] Gabriela Carrillo: Thank you for being our sixth queen today.

[52:38] Khaila Wilcoxon: Alan, make a crown.

[52:43] Jasmine Forsberg: Pinky to the forehead. Pinky to the eyebrows. Pinky, pinky.

[52:48] Khaila Wilcoxon: There you go. You got a little crown.

[52:50] Gabriela Carrillo: Yes!

[52:51] Alan Seales: Eyebrows.

[52:54] Khaila Wilcoxon: Thanks so much for having us.

[52:55] Gabriela Carrillo: Thank you.

[53:04] Storm Lever: One more minute.

[53:08] All: We're sixth queen.