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[0:00] Joel Crump: What's up everyone and welcome back to another episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel. It is finally award season, and today I'm taking you to the Tony Awards Meet the Nominees Press Junket. I talk to all your favorite Broadway stars and creative members about their Tony Award nominations. You're up to hear interviews with Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, Maleah Joi Moon, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Jim Parsons, and Tony Award Honorees, Nikiya Mathis, and Dr. Jason Kindt. I've been waiting for this episode all year long, and you won't want to miss these exciting interviews. So without further ado, let's get on to this week's Weekly Dose of Joel.

[0:36] Joel Crump: I had the time of my life being at the Tony Award Meet the Nominees Junket last week. It is such an exciting event, and you get to interview almost all the nominees in one day. This was my second Tony Award Meet the Nominees, and the day is just such a fantastic day. You're interviewing from straight in the morning, very early in the morning, all the way till the afternoon. You do like 70 interviews in one day, which is so wild. And what I've been telling people is that you know you get to see all these Broadway actors, you interview these Broadway actors at their different opening nights all year long, and then you get to the nominee day, and then two days later you have the junket, and it's like you're seeing everybody you've talked to, you've seen on the street, you've seen on the red carpet all in one day at one place, and it is truly the best time ever.

And let's not forget to mention that this year's nominees are like insane. Like there are so many celebrities this year. I remember just like standing in the hall and being like, wow, Daniel Radcliffe's right there, Jonathan Groff's over here, all my favorite Broadway people are here, Leslie Odom Jr., everybody. It was just a wild moment in time, and I'm so excited to share my interviews with you today. So to start off, let's talk to first-time Tony Award nominee, Daniel Radcliffe, who is nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Charlie in Merrily We Roll Along.

[1:53] Daniel Radcliffe: Hey you guys, I'm here with Daniel Radcliffe. We're here at the Tony Awards Press Junket. This is your first nomination. You're in Merrily We Roll Along. Tell me, how does it feel?

[2:02] Daniel Radcliffe: It's really exciting. I mean, it's a crazy day, but it's really great, and I don't know, I'm so proud of the show and of the work that Jonathan, Lindsay, and I all do in it, and to be nominated all together is really, really cool.

[2:14] Joel Crump: Yeah, you know, playing this character in the show, he's very energetic, and I always think about your number, "Franklin Shepherd, Inc." Tell me, did you ever think you would be able to be in Merrily We Roll Along and receive your flowers for it too?

[2:25] Daniel Radcliffe: I really didn't. I mean, when I first saw this production in London in 2013, I immediately loved it. And when I saw Damien Humbley do Franklin Shepherd, there was a part of my brain that went like, oh, I would love to do that one day. But I definitely would never have thought that I would get to do it on Broadway and that we would all, you know, that we get received like this. So yeah, it's a real honor.

[2:49] Joel Crump: The last thing I want to know is where were you and what were you doing when you found out you were Tony nominated?

[2:54] Daniel Radcliffe: I was finishing my son's breakfast and putting him down for his morning nap. I got a text from one of the girls who was in the show letting me know that that had happened. So it was a nice, it was a very nice morning surprise.

[3:05] Joel Crump: Congratulations, Daniel. Such a pleasure to meet you. He gives such a great performance in Merrily We Roll Along, and it was so amazing to interview him at the Tony Awards Press Junket. Now we have an actress who made her Broadway debut this year in her Broadway musical, and she's also obviously a first-time Tony Award nominee. I'm talking about none other than Maleah Joi Moon, who is currently in Hell's Kitchen, killing it every night. She is so amazing, you guys. Her voice is just so killer. And she's starring in this new Alicia Keys musical. So here's my chat with Maleah Joi Moon.

[3:38] Maleah Joi Moon: I'm with Maleah Joi Moon. We're here at the Tony Awards Press Junket. You are nominated for a Tony Award. To make your Broadway debut and then receive a Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical, how does it feel?

[3:50] Maleah Joi Moon: It is an absolute dream come true. It was enough just to be here and to be doing the debut and being in the show. So all anybody wants is to be recognized. So it's insane. Growing up, did you ever think you would be in a Broadway show, let alone Alicia Keys' Broadway show?

[4:09] Maleah Joi Moon: I mean, no. I wish, like, if I had known that she was making something so beautiful that was so authentic. I mean, I probably would have been following it for a long time, but it's like her best-kept secret. It's insane. I've been listening to Alicia since I was a baby.

[4:26] Joel Crump: Right.

[4:27] Maleah Joi Moon: So being a part of this and being so heavily involved in it with her, it's just awesome. It's absolutely awesome. What song would you say would describe your experience being on Broadway so far?

[4:38] Maleah Joi Moon: I always say this is my favorite song by Alicia, but "Unbreakable" from the MTV Unplugged album is just it. The vibe is right, it's such high energy, it's a good bop, and that's just what it feels like to be up here.

[4:54] Joel Crump: Yeah, and the last thing I want to know is what were you doing and where were you when you found out you were Tony nominated?

[5:01] Maleah Joi Moon: Okay, I was when I knew that the Tony noms were coming out. I was like, okay, I'm gonna be asleep when it happens. And this is so corny, but like, so in case, like I'm quote-unquote disappointed. I don't even know how I could be disappointed right now, but in case, I'd be sleeping so no one would know.

[5:14] Maleah Joi Moon: No one would know exactly. But then someone, Charlie called me. He's on my PR team, and everybody was blowing up my phone, and they were like, I checked my phone, and it was like Malia, Malia, Malia. I was like, no way. Yeah. No way, man. But hey, we're here, and I'm so happy to be here.

[5:37] Joel Crump: Congratulations, Malia. I'm so happy for you. I interviewed Malia at the opening night of Hell's Kitchen when I was doing coverage for Ebony, and to see her a couple weeks later at the junket for the Tony Awards to see her nominated, I'm just so happy and proud of her, and I just can't wait to see what she does next because she is killer. This girl is literally on fire. Next up, we have third-time Tony nominee, Jonathan Groff, who is starring as Franklin Shepherd in Merrily We Roll Along. You guys, this is one of the top shows of the year. It sells out every single week because Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez are giving the performance of a lifetime. And you guys aren't gonna believe this, but I haven't seen Merrily We Roll Along yet. What I know. So I'm very excited. I'm seeing it in a couple weeks. Let's go. And I cannot wait to see these three's performance. So here's my chat with Jonathan Groff, who is nominated for Best Actor in a Musical.

[6:35] Jonathan Groff: Hey you guys, I'm here, Jonathan Groff. Jonathan, to be nominated in a show like Merrily We Roll Along, this iconic Sondheim show. The only thing I want to know is what would you ask Sondheim in these moments being in the show? What would you ask him advice about writing the show or just being in the show?

[6:49] Jonathan Groff: Well, it's so funny because I feel like he speaks to us every night. Like he left us the gift of his material, which we've done over 300 times now, including off-Broadway. Every night there is something new to learn and something new to experience. So I feel like he left us so many questions, so many answers. He left us his gift.

[7:11] Joel Crump: Yes. Everybody was on such a time crunch on the Tony Awards Press Junket that I had to do Jonathan's interview in the lobby of where we were having the junket at. And I'm so grateful to his publicist for giving me that opportunity. I knew I had to ask him about the legend, Stephen Sondheim. I mean, to perform such a legendary show like Merrily We Roll Along and doing it after the passing of Stephen Sondheim, it must be a wild experience. So that's what I wanted to talk to Jonathan about. We must keep marching, marching, and marching. And now we're gonna march on to Nikki M. James, who is nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. This is Nikki's second nomination. She is a Tony Award winner. She won a Tony Award for her performance in The Book of Mormon, and she is now in SUF's on Broadway. So without further ado, my interview with Nikki M. James.

[8:01] Nikki M. James: Hey you guys, we're here at the Tony Awards Press Junket. Nikki, you are nominated this season. Tell me, how does it feel?

[8:08] Nikki M. James: Um, feels amazing. I'm also really tired. Yeah. Because it turns out we get nominated for a Tony, you still have to do all your shows. You don't get a break. No, no rest for the weary, but it's an amazing feeling. I'm nominated in a category with some of my favorite actresses, and it's gonna just be an incredible celebration of talent and of really good storytelling.

[8:31] Joel Crump: Yeah, telling the story of SUF's on stage every night. What has that been like?

[8:36] Nikki M. James: It has been really incredible to share this story with people who don't know the history of these women and seeing young women become inspired and seeing older women and men alike, just people really being inspired by the resilience of these women and also just the magic of our democracy.

[8:58] Joel Crump: Yeah, you know, telling the story of Ida B. Wells on stage. We talked about this a little on opening night, but it's really inspiring to me. I want to know today, what advice would you give to a young Black girl who wants to be on stage, she wants to be on Broadway?

[9:10] Nikki M. James: Oh my goodness. I guess I should say that you shouldn't wait your turn. Yeah. No. I, you know, I think that there's a sense of knowing who you are and knowing what you want to say. Yeah. And not letting anybody dictate that for you.

[9:22] Joel Crump: Thank you so much, Nikki.

[9:23] Nikki M. James: Welcome. Great to see you. Are you enjoying this episode? I hope you are, and I know I love talking to all these Tony Award nominees. But before we continue, it's time for a quick break.

[9:36] Joel Crump: And now let's return to this week's exciting episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel. And since we're on the topic of SUF's, let's talk to Shaina Taub, who made her Broadway debut this year, starring in SUF's and also writing the original score and book for SUF's. I mean, talk about a multi-hyphenate. And she is nominated for two Tony Awards, Best Original Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. So I think it's time to talk to Shaina Taub.

[10:03] Joel Crump: I'm here with Shaina Taub. We are here at the Tony Awards Press Junket. Shaina, to be nominated for two Tony Awards, and this is your Broadway debut. How does it feel?

[10:12] Shaina Taub: Amazing and surreal. I grew up watching the Tonys with my mom every year as a girl, and like it's just to be a part of the community now means everything to me.

[10:21] Joel Crump: Yeah. Growing up, did you ever imagine writing a musical about women empowerment and for it to get so much attention on Broadway?

[10:27] Shaina Taub: I didn't think of writing as an option or a possibility. I dreamed of being a performer. I didn't realize I was not around new musicals being created. Like I was lucky to grow up doing a lot of musicals in community theater in school, but it didn't occur to me like the process of making it. And then when I got to college and I kind of was around people who were writing, I was like, oh, you can do that. You know, it hadn't really been modeled for me, and then that got me excited. So no, I never imagined that I could write or be capable of doing it.

[10:56] Shaina Taub: Yeah. You know that song "Keep Marching." I love it so much. When I heard it the first time, I was like, this is so special. Talk to me how you kept marching during your career to now be here on Broadway to be Tony nominated.

[11:09] Shaina Taub: Thank you. Yeah. I mean, it's been, it's such hard work. Everyone, I'm sure all of my peers and colleagues here know to persist in this business will sort of give you every reason to quit. It's so hard and it's so competitive and it's so grueling, and there's so many rejections and failures and setbacks, so many. But your love of doing it has to drive you, and that's what's driven me.

[11:33] Maleah Joi Moon: My passion for telling stories, making music, connecting with audiences, bringing people together as a community in a theater. You know, that's it's been my passion since I did community theater growing up. And so I think, yeah, that that sense of not giving up, especially on SUFs, it was such hard work and a really daunting subject, and so many times I was like, oh, maybe I can't really finish this show. But uh the women I was studying never gave up. Yeah, and so that was what inspired me. In case you were wondering, when I was singing before my Nikki M. James musical, I was singing a bit of Keep Marching, because like I said in my interview with Shaina, I love the song so much, and I really do love SUFs.

It is unbelievable, and it's telling the story that needs to be told on Broadway. Next up is my chat with Jim Parsons, which oh my god, I couldn't believe this when I was doing my research. This is his first Tony Award nomination, which is so wild to me because he's been doing Broadway for a very long time. So I'm so happy I was able to talk to him at the press junket. He's currently in Mother Play with Jessica Lang and Celia Keenan Bulger. All three of them received the Tony nomination. And like I said, this is his first nomination. He's nominated for Best Featured Actor in a Play. So without further ado, my chat with Jim Parsons.

[12:49] Jim Parsons: Hey you guys, I'm here with Jim Parsons. We are here at the Tony Awards Press Junket to be nominated this season for Mother Play. Tell me, how does it feel? Oh, you know, it's more special than I was kind of prepared for, and I I think I know why, because um theater's the first thing I ever did as an actor, and theater is my first love as far as the mediums I can act with. And and in some ways, after the whole pandemic and everything in 2020, theater being around so many people at the same time feels even more special than it ever did. So to be alongside all these other people, to be recognized by this the highest theater honor, I guess you could say we have in this country. Um yeah, it's very special.

Growing up, did you ever imagine you would be able to be in so many Broadway shows and be honored like this? No, I really didn't. No, it's very funny. One of the reasons I wanted to do this play so much was that it was written by Paula Vogel and it was a new play of hers. And I grew up, and when I was in school reading Paula Vogel plays, doing scenes from Paula Vogel plays, and it was unfathomable and still is to that 18, 19 year old that I'm in a new Paula Vogel play. Yeah. It doesn't that part he'll that little part in me will never fully understand this or accept it, but is so excited. It was so great to talk to Jim, and I actually didn't know that theater was one of the first things he ever did, but it makes sense because it returns to Broadway so much, and Mother Play, such a great play this season, and it really shows how we have so much on Broadway this season.

He was talking about Paula Vogel to have her work on Broadway this season. We have a Sondheim show on Broadway. We have so much on Broadway, and as you look at all the theaters, every single theater has a different show in it, which is telling a completely different story. Each show is so different. And so right now is the best time to go and see theater. I'm telling you guys, if you guys don't have tickets to go see something on Broadway, go see a show. Every show is so special, and you guys know Broadway is the thing I love the most. So I hope you guys are also having the chance to go and experience Broadway.

[14:50] Maleah Joi Moon: Another one of my favorite shows this season was The Outsiders on Broadway. And I was able to chat with Sky Lakota-Lynch at the Meet the Nominees. I was also able to talk to him on the opening night, and it was so great to see him again. And this is his first nomination. Let's go. He is killing it in The Outsiders. So here's my chat with Sky Lakota-Lynch.

[15:11] Sky Lakota-Lynch: Hey you guys, here's Sky Lakota-Lynch. We're here at the Tony Awards Press Junket. Toby, how are you feeling to be Tony nominated this season? I feel crazy, man. It feels so surreal. I can't believe I'm here talking to you and at the Tony Tony Press junk. Yeah, what's this crazy? Yeah. I was looking at everybody in your category. You're the youngest nominee in that group. What is it like, you know, being the youngest in that group? Like how did that feel? It feels surreal. I mean, I can't wait to learn from these guys who've been doing it for so long. I mean, you got Daniel Radcliffe, you got Brandon Victor Dixon, Roger Barr, people I looked up to for so many years, and now I'm in this category.

I just feel so honored to be seen. You know. Yeah, Kirk me from you're from Philadelphia, right? Philadelphia. Growing up in Philly, did you ever imagine you would be Tony nominated in a show like The Outsiders? No, The Outsiders is the first book I ever read to completion in eighth grade. And so it's just so full circle. And I'm thinking about all my friends that I've back in Philly or the friends that I've lost over my life and just how full circle it truly is. Yeah. And talk to me about this product experience for you. What has it been like, you know, opening up the show, being in the show, and now to be Tony nominated? It's so wild because I remember when it started off as just a tiny seed.

You know, we were at the Daryl Roth Theater doing the show on concrete, like with no one watching, and now it's become this thing, and I think it's just it's so awesome because I can't wait to when I step out of the show and get to see someone else your age step into it and do their thing. So yeah.

[16:31] Sky Lakota-Lynch: The last thing I don't know is where were you and what were you doing when you found out you were Tony nominated? I was sleeping and I got a phone call and I answered it, and they were like, You got a nominated, I think for best musical, or like no, you got nominated for best support. I jumped out of my bed, I ran around my apartment, I called my mom and I had her read the list to make sure I was actually on it. I was. That's so funny. Congratulations, guys. I feel like that's the best way to find out you're Tony nominated. You were asleep and you wake up and your phone is going bazonkers, and you're like, What? What? I'm Tony nominated. That's such a cool story. Thank you so much for speaking with me, Sky.

Now I'm talking to some Tony Award honorees. First up is Nikiya Mathis, who's getting a Tony Award honoree for her work on Ja Jas African Hair Braiding. You guys are gonna hear the excitement in my voice because I was very excited to talk to Nakia. But I saw her in the fall when she first opened up Dodgers African Hair Braiding, and she also worked on other shows this season, which is so wild. And so to see her at the Tony Awards Press Junket, we found out that day that she was an honoree. I was thrilled. Absolutely thrilled.

[17:40] Nikiya Mathis: Hey you guys, with Nikiya Mathis. We're here at the Tony Awards Press Junket today. This year you are a Tony Award honoree. My gosh. Like when I think about, you know what? I don't I first of all, it I learned that it is the first ever Tony Award for a wig designer. Which is crazy. And the fact that it's for like sell a celebration of black women and their hair, which has been not valued, it's been looked over. Like I like, I feel like God is really like wanting to make a statement, you know, wanting to say, black women are the face of God, and look, let me award you with this for all of these black women on Broadway. So I'm so grateful. I'm so happy and proud. Yes. Tell me, when you started working on Ja Jas and you had multiple seat shows this season, not to mention Did you ever imagine it would be recognized like this?

The funny thing is, no, I specifically thought black women are gonna appreciate this. Nobody else will. Nobody else is gonna understand the nuance of our hair. So I expected, I said, I'm going to make sure black women feel good when they come into these theaters. I don't care about anybody else because they are gonna overlook it. Right. And when people when we started getting feedback, I was just like, what? Like, I wasn't able to really get out of work mode to even process it. And now to see like how it's become this almost iconic thing in the theater world in terms of black women in their hair, it's like a dream. Yeah. It's a dream.

[19:10] Nikiya Mathis: I don't know. Where were you and what were you doing when you found out you were gonna get this Tony honore? So the funny thing is, I'm also an actress. That's how I started um doing wig design. So I was headed to um a fitting for a show that I was about to act on, and I was just driving, headed to Queens to this uh place, and they called and said, uh, you're gonna be honored this year. And I was like, no, you're lying. You gotta be a good idea. You're lying. Stop, stop, stop. No, so yeah, I was like, I'm driving, like I need to pull over. It was it was crazy. I couldn't process it. It was crazy. And lastly, I'm talking to Dr. Jason Kent, who was the medical director of the Samuel J. Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts, and is receiving a Tony Award honor this year for his work in the industry.

They are operated in partnership with the Entertainment Community Fund and the Mount Sinai Doctors, and are conveniently located in Times Square. The Friedman Health Center is the only health center in New York City solely focused on the particular health care of the needs of those who work in the performing arts and entertainment. And I know that all the Broadway actors and everybody, even in this episode, are so grateful to them. So I'm so happy that they're receiving an honoree this year. And here's my interview with Dr. Jason Kent.

[20:24] Dr. Jason Kindt: Hey you guys, we're here at the Tony Awards Press Junket. You guys are getting the Tony Awards honor this year. That's just tell me how does it feel? Surreal. That's kind of crazy. I never dreamed going into medicine that I'd be this connected to the Broadway community. But you keep us safe and healthy. Tell me, why is it so important to make sure that our Broadway actors are safe and healthy on stage every night? So I represent a team of phenomenal doctors, the Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts. And we can help people with insurance and without insurance. It's an industry of intermittent work and therefore intermittent health care coverage. But through Mount Sinai Hospital and the Entertainment Community Fund with the generous support of Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, we're able to provide medical care for people with and without healthcare coverage. And that's on stage and behind the scenes.

[21:12] Dr. Jason Kindt: Yeah. Tell me, where were you? What were you doing when you found out you guys would be getting this Tony Award honor this year? I got a call from our CEO, uh uh Joe Banacasa Friday night, and I just thought this isn't happening. What? Yeah, yeah. Well, congratulations. And that's this week's episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel. I mean, let's talk about this for a minute. I have to say, I am so grateful to be in this industry to be able to talk to all of these actors. You know, being Broadway's youngest journalist, it can be very daunting, you know, being in these huge rooms where so much is going on. And I'm so fortunate and blessed to have this platform to be on the Broadway Podcast Network to have my podcast and to also have my business Broadway Time where I'm sharing what I love the most, Broadway.

So you guys have to get geared up for the Tony Awards. They are on June 16th this year, and there are a lot more interviews with the nominees on my Instagram if you go to Joel Crump Official. You can see so many more interviews if you go to our website, www.broadwaytime.com. Even more interviews and also interviews from all the shows from this season, not just the shows that are Tony were nominated, from all the different special shows this season, because every show was truly special this season. And don't you worry, this month I'm bringing you even more coverage. There are so many other awards ceremonies as well. We have the Drama League Awards, Shida Rivera Awards, Lucia Lortel Awards, and you better believe I'll be covering them all.

So you guys have to stay tuned for even more fun content. I'm telling you, this time of the year is my favorite time of the year. We just wrapped up all the opening nights, and now people are receiving their flowers, and I'm thrilled. But I will see you next time for another episode of The Weekly Dose of Joel. Joel Crump out.