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[0:00] Joel Crump: What's up everybody and welcome back to another episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel. This week I'm bringing you to the opening night red carpet of The Outsiders on Broadway. We're chatting with the cast, creative team, the VIP guests, and one of the producers, the one and only Angelina Jolie. The Outsiders is an impeccable novel and film and now it's an impeccable Broadway musical. I'm also talking about some Broadway buzz and what's coming up in the next couple of weeks on Broadway. I have great expectations, if you know you know, that this episode is gonna be awesome. So let's stay gold and get on to this week's episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel.

[0:34] Joel Crump: Broadway buzz. So there are three pieces of Broadway buzz I want to talk about this week. But I have to start with this one because it kind of caught me by surprise and I was like what's going on? Is this true? But the New York Post reported that Patti LuPone will be returning to Broadway in The Roommate opposite Mia Farrow. So if you know me, you know, I love Patti LuPone. She's one of my favorite Broadway actresses and when I saw this on Instagram, I was like no freaking way if this is true. This is the best news ever this year, right? And then I was like, wait a minute. The show didn't announce it. The New York Post announced it. So is this really true? Because we all know, we all know in 2022, Miss LuPone gave up her equity card.

So I'm wondering is she actually coming back? But what they reported is that the production will be directed by Jack O'Brien and it's set to begin previews at the Booth Theatre in August and open in September. So if this is true, come fall, you guys know where I'm gonna be. I'm gonna be right at the Booth Theatre seeing Miss LuPone in The Roommate.

[1:31] Joel Crump: Casting has been announced for American Repertory Theatre's upcoming world premiere of Gatsby. Not to be confused with The Great Gatsby that's about to open on Broadway. So the casting for this new show is, I mean, impeccable guys. You guys need to be excited. The cast is led by Isaac Powell as Jay Gatsby, Sarlick McInnes, a new Broadway actress, as Daisy, Ben Levi-Warras as Nick, Corey Giacoma as Tom, Larry Ward as Jordan, Salaya Pfeiffer as Myrtle, Matthew Amir as Wilson, and Adam Grupper as Will Shimes. That's the lead cast and there's a huge ensemble for this show. A lot of people are wondering what's going on with this Gatsby situation. So I'm gonna explain it to you guys. We have two Gatsby musicals coming up.

The Great Gatsby, which is opening at the Broadway Theatre starring Jeremy Jordan and Ivo Nopozada. And this Gatsby, just titled Gatsby, that's trying out at American Repertory Theatre. So it's interesting because, you know, The Great Gatsby is a classic story and it was released to public domain. So two teams started writing a musical and now we have two Gatsbys. This one is written by Martin Omaejok and Florence Welsh. And I think all the Gatsbys are gonna be great. I loved The Great Gatsby at Paper Mill Playhouse, and I hope to see Gatsby at American Repertory Theatre Company. But listen, the more art the better and these casts are amazing and I'm so excited for Charlotte. This is her like first big production and she's a newcomer and I love seeing newcomers on Broadway, especially in that role of Daisy. So this show will definitely be super exciting.

[3:04] Joel Crump: And lastly, Jaja's African Hair Braiding is going on tour. I'm so excited for this, you guys. Jaja's African Hair Braiding on Broadway was awesome. So the Manhattan Theatre Club production will embark on a multi-city tour beginning this fall with stops planned in Washington DC, the California Bay Area, and Chicago. And that's just what's been announced right now. There might be more tour stops. This show was so impeccable. Seeing so much culture on stage, being shared, dropping you right into a Harlem African braiding shop, was unbelievable. And so the Washington DC area, the California area, and the Chicago area better be ready for Jaja's African Hair Braiding. But now let's move on to The Outsiders.

[3:47] Joel Crump: You guys, The Outsiders opening night red carpet was unbelievable. It is definitely a carpet that I will always remember. I was like, I was there on the carpet with my sister and I was like, this is absolutely wild. This is no way, this is real. And it was so real. But Angelina Jolie, who was a producer on the show, walked the carpet and then two hours later we had Queen Latifah on the carpet. Not to mention being able to talk with the exciting, unimaginable cast. They are doing so much in the show. I mean, if you guys haven't seen it, you have to get your butts to the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre to see that rumble. It is unbelievable. And they also, the creative team, it is just such a special show and it was such a special environment to be at. That opening night red carpet was a blast. So to start off, let's start talking to some of The Outsiders, starting off with Sky Lakota-Lynch, who was playing Johnny Cade in The Outsiders.

[4:47] Sky Lakota-Lynch: Hey you guys, I'm Sky Lakota-Lynch. We're at the opening night of The Outsiders on Broadway. Tell me, how are you feeling tonight?

[4:52] Sky Lakota-Lynch: I'm feeling insane, Joel. I'm feeling surreal. It's been such a long time coming for me at the show, six years. So I'm feeling ready to go. I mean, this 345th Street, you were in Dear Evan Hansen, now you're here in The Outsiders on Jacobs. I mean, tell me, what has this career been like for you, you know, building up to all of these epic shows?

[5:04] Sky Lakota-Lynch: It's been kind of like unpredictable and I think that's a beautiful thing. You don't get to choose your job always. I think people think people choose their jobs. Yeah, we audition just like everybody else and you get placed in these shows. I just feel blessed, man. I feel blessed to keep working.

[5:21] Joel Crump: I love that. I mean, being in this show, of course, we have the film and the novel. How have you made your character your own?

[5:26] Sky Lakota-Lynch: Just being myself, you know, we're people of color. I can't be anything that I'm not and so just letting go of expectation has been like the number one thing for me. So you inspire me with being on stage, being a black actor. That inspires me because, you know, you don't get to see so much representation on stage. Tell me, what does it mean for you to be someone that people can look up to on stage?

[5:45] Sky Lakota-Lynch: Honestly, being next to you right now means the world to me. You're the person who I was looking most forward to talking to, so this is just what it's for, man. And I hope you inspire young people to keep doing their thing, too.

[5:55] Joel Crump: Yeah, OK, I have two fun questions for us. What are two bits of inspiration you would give to somebody?

[6:01] Sky Lakota-Lynch: Two bits of inspiration. If you stick around the barbershop long enough, you're bound to get a haircut. And honestly, it's so cheesy, but just never give up. I love it. Never give up. I don't know who would be in your dream gang, what celebrities or whoever would be in your dream gang?

[6:15] Sky Lakota-Lynch: Honestly, Angelina Jolie, who's in my dream gang right now. Johnny Depp and Marlon Brando. That's the best thing I've heard all night.

[6:20] Joel Crump: You guys can't tell me you wouldn't want to be in that gang. I mean, Angelina, Johnny Depp and Sky Lakota-Lynch, of course, that interview was epic. But now we're going to be talking to Ponyboy himself, Brody Grant.

[6:35] Brody Grant: Hey, you guys, I'm here with Brody Grant. You're playing Ponyboy in the show. I mean, of course, we have the novel and the film. I don't know. How have you been making Ponyboy your own?

[6:44] Brody Grant: I mean, I think just going to the book, reading the book and taking inspiration from a lot of interesting artists. I think Young River Phoenix and Stand By Me is a beautiful version of Ponyboy. I think DiCaprio and Titanic is a version of Ponyboy. I think James Dean and Rebel Without a Cause is a beautiful version of Ponyboy. I think Tommy Howells is a beautiful version of Ponyboy. And I think just taking inspiration from different things and different books. I mean, you know, just just trying to and just trying to see how I relate to it.

[7:14] Joel Crump: Yeah. And, you know, what's beautiful about this novel and this character specifically, is since 1967, people have been reading it and it's obviously a book from the first person. Right. And so when people are reading it, they're playing Ponyboy without even knowing it. You know, they're reading from the first person. They're seeing everything from his eyes.

[7:29] Brody Grant: Yeah. And so, you know, since 1967, people have been doing that and relating to him. That's what makes Ponyboy such a beautiful literary character.

[7:37] Joel Crump: And you do it so well.

[7:41] Brody Grant: Well, thank you. Did you see it?

[7:43] Joel Crump: Yeah. Oh, thank you. Beautiful. Thank you very much. Yeah. So I think also just letting that pressure. I don't want to let those people down. You know what I mean? All those people that have read it, they get him. You know, so I just want to bring as much truth to it. And I like I really believe in this show. You know, I believe that we have what it takes to last here for a long time. And I my intention is to just keep digging at it and make sure I just give it everything. Give it everything I can.

[8:06] Joel Crump: I mean, just imagine making your Broadway debut starring in a show, especially a show like The Outsiders. Such a fun interview. Such a great character. Such a great show. Next up, I'm chatting with Daryl Tofa, who's playing 2Bit in The Outsiders.

[8:22] Daryl Tofa: Hey, you guys. I'm here, Daryl Tofa. You play 2Bit in The Outsiders. Tell me how you're feeling tonight.

[8:25] Daryl Tofa: I feel incredible. I feel amazing. Yeah. You know that you know that song from The Incredibles?

[8:32] Joel Crump: Which one? Which one?

[8:33] Daryl Tofa: Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da.

[8:35] Joel Crump: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[8:36] Daryl Tofa: That is how I feel inside right now. I feel like life is amazing right now.

[8:40] Joel Crump: Yeah. I mean, this character 2Bit. Of course, you have the novel and the film. I don't know. How have you made him your own?

[8:45] Daryl Tofa: I've applied my culture to be a part of it. I'm half Filipino, half Samoan. I wear it proudly and I get to show my tattoos that my cousins and my real dad made, which represents my half Filipino, half Samoan side.

[8:57] Joel Crump: That's so special.

[8:58] Daryl Tofa: Yeah.

[8:59] Joel Crump: I mean, being in this musical, The Outsiders, of course, it's been years of journey for everybody in this show. Tell me, how has it evolved and how have you evolved while doing the show?

[9:04] Daryl Tofa: It's crazy because we play these younger characters, but I feel like I've gotten wiser and older from playing them because it takes me back to my childhood self and lessons that I wish I would have known and put me in situations that I think about now, how I could have handled them back then.

[9:27] Joel Crump: Yeah. I love it. I mean, of course, you're playing 2Bit. So I need 2Bit's advice to being more like 2Bit.

[9:33] Daryl Tofa: To be more like 2Bit?

[9:34] Joel Crump: Yeah.

[9:36] Daryl Tofa: Don't take things too seriously.

[9:37] Joel Crump: Okay.

[9:38] Daryl Tofa: Don't take things too seriously. And love when it's hard.

[9:42] Joel Crump: I love that. I feel like we can all be a little bit more like 2Bit. Just chilling and having a good time. Next up, we have Joshua Boone, who's playing Dallas Winston in The Outsiders.

[9:52] Joshua Boone: Hey, you guys. I'm here with Joshua Boone. We're here at the opening night of The Outsiders on Broadway. It's opening night. Tell me, how are you feeling tonight?

[9:58] Joshua Boone: I feel very good. Feel grounded, excited, ready to use all the energy for the show and the after party.

[10:04] Joel Crump: Yeah.

[10:04] Joshua Boone: We're going to get it in. Yeah.

[10:05] Joel Crump: Joshua, let me tell you, you inspire me. When I go see shows, I always look for the color on stage. And seeing you while watching this show, it inspired me. Tell me, what does it mean to you to be able to be an inspiration to young black people who want to be on the stage?

[10:17] Joshua Boone: Well, when you said that, I kind of chuckled on the inside, like thinking about myself. You saying that to me, like, I don't... I just want to be used, you know? So if God wills that, then great. You know, otherwise, we're more similar than anything. So you're an inspiration to me. I saw you over here with the mic and the camera set up. I was like, I got to come speak to you. That's inspiring to see you on your job like this. So thank you.

[10:38] Joel Crump: Thank you so much. I mean, of course, adapting this show from film and novel now to Broadway. Tell me, what has that been like for you? How have you been making your character your own?

[10:44] Joshua Boone: I read the book first in seventh grade before I ever saw the movie. I know Matt Dillon's in the role. He bodied it. You know, he killed it. He came through and saw the show too, which is super cool. Yeah, 100 percent. But between the book having some influence by the movie, but then Adam Rapp's script, like there are things that are different in this show that, you know, scenes that exist in this musical that don't exist in the book, even, you know, in certain junctures. So it's been fairly freeing, you know, to come, you know, step into the role in my own way.

[11:17] Joel Crump: It's always awesome to meet inspirations to me on the red carpet. And that was just such a special interview. Now we have Jason Schmidt, who's playing Soda Pop Curtis. And then we're going to talk to some of the creative team and VIP guests.

[11:29] Jason Schmidt: Hey, you guys, I'm Jason Schmidt. We're here at the opening night of The Outsiders on Broadway. It's opening night. Tell me, how are you feeling tonight?

[11:34] Jason Schmidt: I'm feeling ecstatic, proud, happy to be here.

[11:38] Joel Crump: Yeah. I mean, being in this show, The Outsiders, this has been a year long journey for so many people.

[11:42] Jason Schmidt: Yeah. I mean, what has this journey been like for you?

[11:44] Jason Schmidt: It's been nothing but highs, really. I love the people I get to do it with. I feel so passionately about the material of the show. It's been great. And it's been so cool to watch it develop.

[11:55] Joel Crump: Yeah. You know, over the year, I've been with it since La Jolla and we just kept sharpening it. And I'm just excited for people to see it now.

[12:02] Jason Schmidt: Yeah. You recently released a song. Tell me, what was it like doing that while also being in The Outsiders?

[12:07] Jason Schmidt: That's mad to me. Yeah, I recorded it in L.A. with these wonderful producers. And it's been cool. I'm so passionate about both and they fill me in different ways. I'm just happy to have the opportunity to do both.

[12:22] Joel Crump: Yeah. I mean, you're a brother in this show. Tell me, what has this show been like for you, like the brotherhood of it all and being with all these epic actors?

[12:26] Jason Schmidt: Yeah. I learn so much from all of them every day. And they are my brothers in real life as well.

[12:33] Joel Crump: So two fun questions for us.

[12:38] Jason Schmidt: Yeah. First, what are two bits of advice you would give to an aspiring performer?

[12:42] Jason Schmidt: Always. This is going to sound cliche, but always be yourself. There's so many different ways to do it. And the people who make it are the people who figure out what their energy is, how they work, the way that they can say things and then to work hard and just do things all the time. Monologues, songs, work on it every day.

[13:00] Joel Crump: Yeah. Yeah. I don't know what celebrities would be in your dream gang.

[13:04] Jason Schmidt: My dream gang. Yeah. Oh, um, Steph Curry.

[13:09] Joel Crump: Oh, yeah, for sure.

[13:10] Jason Schmidt: We're going to put in Daniel Caesar. Yeah. We're going to put in Timothy Chalamet.

[13:19] Joel Crump: That's a good group.

[13:20] Jason Schmidt: There you go. And you.

[13:21] Joel Crump: I mean, I mean, that's the best four of us going to tear it up. I hope you're enjoying this episode. Before we move on, a quick break.

[13:28] Joel Crump: Now let's get back on to this week's episode.

[13:31] Joel Crump: I think it's time to talk with some of the creative team.

[13:34] Joel Crump: So this first interview is an interview I will never forget. I'm talking to Justin Levine, who worked on the book and the score.

[13:40] Joel Crump: One of the producers, Angelina Jolie.

[13:43] Joel Crump: And her daughter Vivian, who is a volunteer on the show.

[13:46] Joel Crump: Hey you guys, we're here at the opening night of The Outsiders on Broadway. Justin, writing the score in this book, what has that been like for you?

[13:52] Justin Levine: It's been insane. I mean, it's eight years. But luckily, it was a collaboration. It was far from a solo act. Every single one of us brings our crazy brains into it, and our hearts. When you write a musical, your family just gets bigger and bigger. These are two family members. It's thrilling. One of the craziest things I think a person can do is write a musical. Or make one.

[14:22] Joel Crump: Miss Jolie, this is your Broadway debut as a producer. Tell me, what about The Outsiders was so special for you?

[14:28] Angelina Jolie: I love this story. But above all, I love the people that have made this. I think this is a very unique piece of work. And I love so much about it. But I think you have a very strong group of individuals who are bringing a lot of heart. They really want to give the audience something that connects deeply and is special. I could go on and on, but I really do love it. And I hope people see it and decide for themselves.

[14:58] Joel Crump: What was your favorite part of this show? What did you enjoy the most?

[15:02] Angelina Jolie: The music.

[15:04] Joel Crump: The last thing I want to know from all of you. What are two bits of inspiration you would give to aspiring performers?

[15:12] Angelina Jolie: Live a full life. Because I think any artist has to pull from something real. So focus on your life first, not on your content.

[15:20] Justin Levine: Yes. I was going to say, always remember that you're a human being first. Which I think is related to what you're saying. Anytime I talk to young artists, I always say. We romanticize killing ourselves for our art. And torturing ourselves. And starving ourselves. And living through a struggle. And I think actually it's important to also love yourself enough to take care of yourself. And also experience the world so that you have something to say.

[15:49] Joel Crump: That was my chat with Justin, Angelina, and Vivian. And even now I'm just thinking like, was that real? And yes, yes it was real. And there was just so much epicness on this Broadway carpet. Next up, Donya Taymor, who's making her Broadway debut as the director for The Outsiders.

[16:08] Joel Crump: Hey you guys, we're Donya Taymor. I only have one question for you. Adapting this show, what has it been like? Of course you have the novel and the film. What has it been like making this into a Broadway musical?

[16:16] Donya Taymor: It's been a dream. I got to go to Tulsa and meet Essie, Susie Hinton. And I think the biggest gift she gave to me and then to the whole cast was to make it our own. So I spent a lot of time in the book. Really getting to know the story. And then trying to think about the best way to theatricalize it. So it's been a dream.

[16:32] Joel Crump: Thank you so much Miss Taymor. So if you feel like that last name sounds familiar, it is true. Because she is the niece of Tony Award winning director Julie Taymor. Who directed one of my absolute all-time favorite shows, The Lion King.

[16:45] Joel Crump: So I want to skip forward before I move on to VIP guests and the rest of the creative team. I just want to share my chat with Julie Taymor. Which was so special to me to be able to talk to her niece, Donya. And then Julie later on in the evening.

[16:58] Joel Crump: Hey you guys, I'm here with Miss Julie Taymor. We're here at the opening night of The Outsiders. Of course supporting tonight your niece, Donya Taymor.

[17:04] Julie Taymor: My niece, definitely.

[17:05] Joel Crump: How excited are you to see her work on stage tonight?

[17:07] Julie Taymor: I am beyond thrilled. This is her first musical. She is a fabulous director and a wonderful niece I might add. But I'm so excited for her.

[17:16] Joel Crump: Talking to both of the Taymors that night was so special to me. Because it shows you how the art you're making now can inspire those to come. And this is a prime example. And both of their directions for all the shows they have done, Julie and Donya. It's so special. You guys have to see The Outsiders to see what Donya and the creative team have created.

[17:35] Joel Crump: The last members of the creative team I'm speaking to are Jamestown Revival. They're making their Broadway debut. Writing the music and the lyrics for The Outsiders. And it was such a fun interview to chat with them about their journey. And how the shows brought them together. So here's my interview with Jamestown Revival.

[17:52] Joel Crump: Hey you guys, I'm here with Jamestown Revival. We're here at the opening night of The Outsiders on Broadway. It's opening night. Tell me, how are you both feeling tonight?

[17:59] Jamestown Revival: Gosh, I can't believe the night is here. I'm excited, obviously. I'm ready to get going. When it's downbeat, let's go.

[18:07] Jamestown Revival: Let's go. It's surreal. It's such a wonderful moment. Writing this musical, obviously you guys just Broadway debut. Writing this musical, what has that been like for you both?

[18:15] Jamestown Revival: It's been a learning experience. It's been a challenge. It's been one of the most rewarding things artistically we've ever been involved in. Writing an album, we've written albums before, that takes like a year. This takes almost a decade. It's work, it's reworking, it's reworking. It's going back to the drawing board. It's a marathon. It's truly an artistic marathon.

[18:39] Jamestown Revival: Totally. Yeah, it's been an education. We've had a first class education in how to write a musical with the help of Justin Levine and the rest of this team.

[18:49] Joel Crump: Of course the show is about brotherhood. How has the creation of this show brought you two together?

[18:55] Jamestown Revival: We've been best buddies since we were 15. We grew up together. We wrote our first song together when we were 15 years old.

[19:01] Jamestown Revival: Wow. I don't know. We really have a bond musically on the stage and off the stage. He's my brother I never had and hopefully vice versa. Unless I annoy you too much.

[19:15] Jamestown Revival: Absolutely. Yeah, I think it's pretty cool to share this since we were 15 years old and just keep figuring out how to craft songs together. It's what we aspired to do when we were kids in our bedrooms, figuring out that we love music together. Now we get to be here in New York. It's kind of surreal.

[19:35] Jamestown Revival: The very first song we wrote, we went to Best Buy and bought recording studio software for 50 bucks and plugged a stage mic through an adapter, through a different adapter into the back of a Windows computer and we recorded our first song.

[19:49] Joel Crump: That's so special. It's a pretty cool journey. The last thing I want to know is what are two bits of advice you would give to aspiring songwriters?

[19:56] Jamestown Revival: I think the most effective and useful bit of information or advice, if you will, anybody ever gave me was just don't stop. It's a battle of attrition and the only way you guarantee yourself that you won't succeed is if you stop.

[20:14] Jamestown Revival: I don't know. We took that advice and here we are 30, 20 years later. It's a muscle. Exercise it. Use it. Write, write, write and write some more.

[20:26] Joel Crump: Thank you both so much. Happy opening. Such a pleasure to interview you both. So now let's talk to some VIP guests. We're going to start off with Mario Cantone, one of my favorite Broadway actors.

[20:36] Joel Crump: Pleasure to meet you. Let me tell you, your monologue in Assassins, I listen to it all the time. It's so riveting and electrifying to me. I don't know, that entire show, but that part of it especially.

[20:45] Mario Cantone: Don't make me cry. That really is something special. Let me tell you.

[20:49] Joel Crump: Yes. Hey, you guys. We're here at the opening night of The Outsiders on Broadway. He's been here for two seconds with them. I mean, this show. Tell me, how were you introduced to The Outsiders?

[20:55] Mario Cantone: Well, I read the book and I saw the movie and Ralph Macchio is a good friend of mine. I did an off-Broadway play with him years ago and I actually watched it with him at his house. I had already seen it. And then I watched the director's cut recently with the new score. I love it and I heard this is pretty great.

[21:16] Joel Crump: I mean, you've seen the movie. You've read the book. I don't know. Directed by the movie?

[21:20] Mario Cantone: Francis Ford Coppola.

[21:21] Joel Crump: Yes, of course.

[21:22] Mario Cantone: The Godfather. I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse. I mean.

[21:26] Joel Crump: Yeah. And he also did, he directed the sequel to it, The Rumble Fish.

[21:31] Mario Cantone: The Rumble Fish.

[21:32] Joel Crump: It was just Rumble Fish.

[21:33] Mario Cantone: Yeah. So what do you want to see on the Broadway stage tonight? What's something you're looking forward to seeing?

[21:36] Mario Cantone: I want to be moved. Yeah. But I don't know if I'm going to have a moment like that that I just had with you.

[21:42] Joel Crump: Thank you. And, no, it was a selfish moment because you were complimenting me. Because you're so great. It was very sweet.

[21:49] Mario Cantone: Yes. I just, I'm looking forward to see how, you know, it's a tall order. Making a musical out of something dramatic like this. You know, Kander and Ebb did that really well.

[21:59] Joel Crump: Right.

[22:00] Mario Cantone: Cabaret, Kiss of the Spider Woman is another great one, which they're making the movie now. Yeah. With Jennifer Lubbock. But I saw it with Chita Rivera, May She Rest In Peace, three times on Broadway. And I'll never forget it. Directed by the great Hal Prince. That was amazing. That was amazing.

[22:14] Mario Cantone: But Kander and Ebb never kind of shied away from odd, serious. It was always something that was going to make you think later and forever. And something that seemed to be impossible to make a musical out of.

[22:24] Joel Crump: Right.

[22:25] Mario Cantone: Right. Okay. So, of course, there's a gang in this show. I don't know. Who would be in your dream gang?

[22:28] Mario Cantone: A mixture of the Jets and the Sharks.

[22:33] Joel Crump: Ooh! I like that.

[22:34] Mario Cantone: I do, too. I want Riff. I want Bernardo. And I want us to all fight together.

[22:40] Joel Crump: Really? Just fight.

[22:41] Mario Cantone: Fight for peace in the world. How about that?

[22:43] Joel Crump: I love it. I love it. Thank you so much.

[22:46] Joel Crump: Next up, Lorraine Toussaint, who was also on the carpet. Guys, we're at the opening night of The Outsiders on Broadway. To start off, tell me, how were you introduced to The Outsiders?

[22:52] Lorraine Toussaint: Well, my producer, Deborah Martin Chase on The Equalizer, is one of the producers of this show. And so I'm very excited to be supporting her venture. I know LaChanze. I know several of the producers. LaChanze, yes.

[23:06] Joel Crump: Yes, absolutely. The icon, LaChanze.

[23:09] Lorraine Toussaint: Right. And so I'm really looking forward to the show.

[23:13] Joel Crump: Yes, of course, in The Outsiders, there's a gang. So I want to know, who would be in your dream gang? Which one of your co-stars or anybody would be in your dream gang?

[23:18] Lorraine Toussaint: Oh, Queen, for sure.

[23:22] Joel Crump: Hell, yes. Come on.

[23:24] Lorraine Toussaint: Queen Latifah.

[23:25] Joel Crump: Oh, no. Badass Queen Latifah.

[23:27] Lorraine Toussaint: She is, right. Oh, no. Whenever I'm with her, I feel like I'm an honorary gang member. In the best sense of the word.

[23:34] Joel Crump: Right.

[23:35] Lorraine Toussaint: She is just the epitome of cool.

[23:36] Joel Crump: Yeah.

[23:37] Lorraine Toussaint: So I feel, obviously, a little bit cooler when I'm around her.

[23:40] Joel Crump: Yeah, yeah. I love it. Thank you so much.

[23:42] Joel Crump: And I wanted to end off with someone who's actually on the creative team and was at the carpet. She inspires me so much, and she brings the best work to Broadway. Last year, she brought Kimberly Akimbo. This year, she is a part of the producing team for The Outsiders, as well as Jaja's African Hair Braiding. And I want to save the best for last, Miss LaChanze. You are a producer on this show, The Outsiders. Tell me, what about this story told you, I need to be a part of this?

[24:09] LaChanze: This is a story about coming together after being pulled apart. Yeah. And that means a lot when we talk about where we are today in society and what's going on with all the division in the world. This story really resonated with me about how we can be pulled apart. Yeah. And how the external forces can separate us and put us in separate classes. And The Outsiders really, for so many of us who've read the book and seen the movie, it is essentially the center of what that narrative is. Right. But also how we can come back together in spite of. So I felt like this was one I definitely wanted to be a part of producing. And every single piece of the show, every component, the book, the music, everything has been so magical.

[24:55] Joel Crump: Tell me, what is your favorite part of The Outsiders?

[24:57] LaChanze: Little brother.

[24:59] Joel Crump: The music.

[25:00] LaChanze: Oh, yes. Oh, my God. Yes. The music. It is unbelievable. I mean, we all know how good the book is. We all know how good the, you know, the actors are. Well, you don't know, but you need to come and see our cast. You need to come and see it. This cast is on fire. Unbelievable. But the music and the choreography. The rumble, I mean. The rumble. Are you kidding? I can't wait to see it tonight. It's impeccable.

[25:22] Joel Crump: And there's one more thing we have to talk about. Jaja's African Hair Braiding is going on tour.

[25:26] LaChanze: Yes, we are. Jocelyn just walked by. She just walked by. Did you get to speak to Jocelyn?

[25:30] Joel Crump: I did. I love her. Wonderful.

[25:32] LaChanze: Tell me, what can we expect from this new tour that's going to be going to D.C. and other places, too?

[25:35] LaChanze: A whole new audience group that's going to be like, oh, my God. Right. They're getting to see a show that was on Broadway. On Broadway. On Broadway. And hopefully, we'll get some recognition this spring.

[25:46] Joel Crump: Yes.

[25:47] LaChanze: We hope.

[25:48] Joel Crump: We hope.

[25:50] LaChanze: But it's a show that is about a community that never gets the attention in live theater. Right. So I'm super excited that our show has that much interest, that we can take it on the road.

[26:01] LaChanze: Take it on the road, baby. Taking it on the road. Super excited.

[26:04] Joel Crump: Yes. Thank you so much.

[26:06] LaChanze: Thank you. It's always a pleasure to see you.

[26:09] Joel Crump: That's it for this week's episode. I hope you guys enjoyed all of my chats with the Broadway actors and the creative team and everything. The Outsiders is such a special show, and you gotta see it on Broadway, you guys. It is totally electric, and this cast is killing it eight shows a week on Broadway. Next week, we have a very exciting episode. I'm going to be having a special co-host on next week with me. She is a familiar face, if you know the Broadway Time family, so she'll be joining me. And it'll be the opening nights of The Wiz and Stuff's The Musical. And the week after that, I mean, you guys aren't going to be ready. It's going to be a Broadway extravaganza with all the different shows opening up. But I will see you next week for another weekly dose of Joel.