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[0:02] Lara Scott: And you're listening to West of Broadway.

[0:11] Lara Scott: It's curtains up on another episode of West of Broadway, a celebration of theater in Los Angeles and Orange County. I'm Lara Scott, radio host and theater enthusiast, along with celebrity publicist and theater veteran Will Armstrong.

[0:24] Will Armstrong: And today we're sticking it to the man. I mean, talking about Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock.

[0:31] Lara Scott: You say it like that, right?

[0:33] Will Armstrong: I played that commercial a few times at work.

[0:35] Lara Scott: I guess so.

[0:36] Will Armstrong: Yeah.

[0:37] Lara Scott: And I know that you got to see—did you see it opening night?

[0:39] Will Armstrong: I did see it opening night in Hollywood at the Pantages. Incredibly talented, incredible group of people. Like it's just, it was amazing.

[0:47] Lara Scott: I know you got to see the show. I actually got a special press experience where we went in the middle of the day. We show up in the lobby of the Pantages, and it was like me and some people from Variety and a bunch of other websites, um, and local and national newspapers, and the kids all show up in the lobby and performed an acoustic performance just for press.

[1:07] Will Armstrong: It was—and I was like, how did I get in here? Like it was crazy. We were invited. We should say we didn't actually sneak in the back door.

[1:10] Lara Scott: Exactly.

[1:13] Will Armstrong: He's like, I'm just gonna pretend I'm with Variety.

[1:14] Lara Scott: But it was so cool. I was so honored to be there, and it was so special just to see these incredibly talented kids that are just so professional and have so much skill, whether it's instruments and singing and then just performing. Like they could just—they're just being in touch with their way to convey emotion through songs. Just so good.

[1:39] Will Armstrong: I am calling them quadruple—quadruple, that's a hard word to say—quadruple threats, because you're right, they're playing instruments and they are playing live. There's actually a little announcement from Andrew Lloyd Webber that runs before the show starts saying, and yes, they're playing live. And I was second row, so I could see their little fingers flying. Um, but they're playing the instruments, they're singing, they're acting, they're doing a little bit of dancing. And you know how people will say, "Well, for a kid, they're really good." Not just for a kid, just as an actor and performer, I'm so excited to see what they're gonna do.

[2:11] Lara Scott: And it's so fun because I can't wait to hear from them in just a bit. We're gonna play a pretty long interview piece where you get to talk to the kids. I can't—like so after they performed, I got some one-on-one time with Rob Colletti, who stars in the show, and along with Lexi Dorset Sharp. And then I got to meet four of the kids from the ensemble, and then four of the actors who are swings who cover all of the children.

[2:32] Will Armstrong: And what's a swing by the way? Because that's one of those Broadway terms that somebody like you who's been in shows is just like, oh yeah, the swing. But for me, who's just a fan and learning more every time I talk to you, what's a swing?

[2:43] Lara Scott: Okay, so they'll cast a show and everyone will be assigned parts, but it's live theater, anything can happen. They have to have understudies and they have to have people—people go on because the show happens every single day, uh, or with one day off a week, eight shows a week. Sometimes people go on vacations, sometimes people get sick, sometimes people get hurt, sometimes something comes up. They need people who can just seamlessly step into that show.

[3:06] Will Armstrong: So they have insurance policies where they have multiple people who can do multiple tracks and they're backstage ready to go.

[3:13] Lara Scott: And when you say track, what does that mean?

[3:14] Will Armstrong: Okay, a track is your role. So, um, the term track, we just use it backstage as because everybody has their show track from beginning to end of the show, you're on a track.

[3:26] Lara Scott: Like a little path you follow.

[3:27] Will Armstrong: Exactly. So you're on stage going from your marks on stage, but then you run into the wings and you have to know exactly where to go to change because your dresser's waiting for you to get you into your next costume. And then so each swing knows multiple roles sometimes. Like these kids, they're understudying five different roles.

[3:43] Lara Scott: So they—yeah, it's really cool. And it was really impressive to see how well these kids handle it and how much they enjoy it.

[3:51] Will Armstrong: Yeah, and they're going to school. Not School of Rock school, but like school school, as they're on this national tour. So, and you know, well, for someone who hasn't seen the show, you're pretty familiar with it now.

[4:01] Lara Scott: I will tell you, so it's based on the movie with Jack Black.

[4:03] Will Armstrong: Right.

[4:04] Lara Scott: And I never saw the movie, so I didn't really have anything to compare it to. I've been listening to the soundtrack with the original Broadway cast, and it's—I just seen Love Never Dies, another Andrew Lloyd Webber musical at the Pantages, which is beautiful, but much more of a classical show. This had a completely different feel. Like this is a rock show. It's funny, and I think it's a great first show for somebody who maybe has been intimidated by theater.

[4:29] Will Armstrong: We talked about that when we reviewed—I hate to say reviewed—when we celebrated the Bodyguard musical when that was here. Um, I will caution you, there is some language.

[4:37] Lara Scott: Okay, a little bit of language. They recommend the show for kids ages eight and up. Um, but just as a parent, use your best judgment. You might want to prep the kids or cover their ears ahead of time if you know where the words are gonna be.

[4:51] Will Armstrong: That this dynamo is still relevant and still pumping out hits. Like, because when I was a kid and first falling in love with musical theater, it was Phantom of the Opera, you know, and that was one of my first great loves. I remember in high school going and sitting in the audience and, uh, when it came through on tour in Boston, and to know that his really useful—really useful company, which is the name of his production company, is still going strong, like with from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat all the way to Love Never Dies and School of Rock. It's Cats and just coming to the Pantages. He is an institute, like his contribution to musical theater is just incredible.

[5:25] Lara Scott: It's astounding. That'd be interesting to know how many people are in the business because they saw one of his shows as a kid and were just saying, I have to be a part of that.

[5:33] Will Armstrong: And not just musical, like he was at the forefront of like the mega musicals, you know, where it's just like dropping chandeliers on audiences and it's just incredible.

[5:42] Lara Scott: It doesn't actually fall in the audience of Phantom of the Opera, but you kind of think it might.

[5:45] Will Armstrong: He was there opening night too.

[5:47] Lara Scott: Yes, he was. And it was really cool to share that with—what you'll hear when we, uh, when we play the interview—how, uh, how special that was to the cast and how much they appreciated that and it didn't—it wasn't something that they took for granted.

[6:00] Will Armstrong: Yeah, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, if you're—Sir, Sir Andrew, if you're listening, we'd love to have you on the show. Reach out to us.

[6:06] Lara Scott: So, uh, Rob, who plays Dewey, the Jack Black character, if you will, he's gonna give you a great summary of the show when we get into the interview portion. But I will say it's about this guy who kind of gets kicked out of the hair band that he's in. He's crashing on his friend's couch. His friend is a teacher, and Dewey, the Jack Black character, impersonates his friend and goes to become a teacher at this very sort of fancy schmancy school, and realizes that the kids he's teaching know how to play instruments, so he decides they're gonna be his backing band for this battle of the bands that he wants it to be in.

[6:39] Will Armstrong: And it's funny, it's so touching. Again, as a parent, you have these kids just giving every range of emotion, wondering why their parents aren't hearing what they're saying, the parents wanting to connect but not knowing how. There's a lot going on in this show.

[6:52] Lara Scott: So we're excited to get into that in just a minute. But, uh, first we're gonna take a break and talk about what's happening here in Southern California.

[7:00] Lara Scott: And the big news, Will, that everybody was buzzing about is that Frozen is gonna be kicking off the national tour.

[7:07] Will Armstrong: At first I thought it was this fall, and then I read a little bit more.

[7:10] Lara Scott: Oh, fall 2019, which I think is when the Frozen sequel, the movie sequel, is coming out.

[7:15] Will Armstrong: Exactly. And they're gonna kick off the tour at the Pantages.

[7:17] Lara Scott: Yeah, super exciting.

[7:18] Will Armstrong: I know.

[7:18] Lara Scott: But it's gonna be an amazing show. I can't wait to see how they raise the castle on the stage.

[7:22] Will Armstrong: It's gonna be awesome. What else is going on with that?

[7:24] Lara Scott: Women's in theater, it's the world premiere of Soft Power, which opened on May 3rd and is playing all the way till June 10th. And that's Center Theater Group. We love them. Everything they do is fantastic.

[7:31] Will Armstrong: Absolutely.

[7:34] Lara Scott: And then Chandra Wilson is doing something, and she was on Broadway.

[7:36] Will Armstrong: Yes, Chandra Wilson from Grey's Anatomy, she is right now in town filming a Christmas musical. Um, she's starring in a romantic musical. Um, it's called Christmas Harmony, and it's a star-studded cast. I think Sally Struthers is also in it.

[7:49] Lara Scott: I don't know.

[7:50] Will Armstrong: Yeah, but who I also love—fantastic. Any kind of Christmas harmony musical.

[7:54] Lara Scott: Speaking of tours, The Color Purple, the 2016 Tony winner for Best Musical Revival, that tour is coming to the Pantages Theater after School of Rock wraps. And, uh, that's gonna be May 29th through June 17th, and we'll be there for opening night for that.

[8:07] Will Armstrong: We're very excited.

[8:08] Lara Scott: Which I can't wait for it. Uh, and Sweet Charity star starring Laura Bell Bundy. Uh, it's part of the Reprise 2.0. I know that they, um, have just announced the whole cast list, and they're—it's going to be performing June 20th to July 1st at UCLA Freud Playhouse.

[8:22] Will Armstrong: Yeah, they've got some cool stuff coming. A friend of mine is working with them, and, uh, later this year it'll be Victor/Victoria and then Grand Hotel.

[8:29] Lara Scott: I know, it's super exciting. And then, of course, everyone needs to tune in June 10th because that's the day of the Tony Awards.

[8:35] Will Armstrong: Yay!

[8:36] Lara Scott: Can we do like live tweeting that or something?

[8:38] Will Armstrong: We need to do some commentary on it.

[8:39] Lara Scott: 100%, absolutely we will.

[8:41] Will Armstrong: That's gonna be so.

[8:41] Lara Scott: All right, so let's get back to talking about School of Rock. We talked about swings.

[8:45] Will Armstrong: Right.

[8:45] Lara Scott: So when the kids start talking about tracks and the layout of the stage and everything, hopefully you'll know what that means. And then we talked to—well, you will. I'm peanut butter and jealous, so you got to talk to everybody.

[8:55] Will Armstrong: So you talk to Lexi and Rob, and also thank you to the Pantages for giving us some of the musical clips to use. You'll hear some of the songs and also that live performance of "If Only You Would Listen," which the kids did just sit in their normal street clothes.

[9:10] Lara Scott: Oh, and I'm trying to remember his name. He played Zach, he was so great playing the guitar in the lobby of the Pantages.

[9:15] Will Armstrong: So without any further ado, it's Will and the stars of School of Rock.

[9:21] Will Armstrong: I'm with Lexi Dorset Sharp, and I'm—she's one of the stars of School of Rock. Hi Lexi.

[9:25] Lexi Dorset Sharp: Hi!

[9:26] Will Armstrong: I know that you've been in several national tours.

[9:29] Lexi Dorset Sharp: Yes, yes, this is my fourth.

[9:30] Will Armstrong: I always say that when people are on tour, they become a family. How different is it being with a family full of children?

[9:36] Lexi Dorset Sharp: Like you know what? It's actually fantastic because I think everyone's on their best behavior. I mean, as we all should be, but you know, kids are—they're sponges.

[9:45] Will Armstrong: Yes.

[9:45] Lexi Dorset Sharp: You know, um, and so what I found is not only is this a just a fantastic group, and I really mean that. I, you know, I know the family thing, some people think it's cliché, but it really is true. And also, I mean, with these kids around, I'm—I know that I'm always, um, making sure that I'm holding myself in a way that would be an example.

[10:03] Will Armstrong: Right.

[10:03] Lexi Dorset Sharp: But you know, to be honest with you, a lot of times it's the kids that are inspiring us.

[10:07] Will Armstrong: Sure.

[10:07] Lexi Dorset Sharp: You know, their endless energy, you know, they are doing school, um, hello, they're children all day, and then this is kind of like recess for them. This huge Andrew Lloyd Webber musical every night. And for the rest of their lives, they'll look back at this and say that it's an incredible experience they had for you to be a part of that. And like it's just really, I think, humbling in a way.

[10:22] Will Armstrong: Yeah, oh, it absolutely is. And, you know, it's what's amazing is you know, a lot of these kids, they're nine, they're ten, they're eleven. You know, who knows if they're even going to go on to do musical theater. But I think what's so great is that all of these skills, the musicianship, all of these things translate, you know, whether or not they're literally learning to harmonize with others, so they're learning, um, they're learning to work in a group, they're learning to perform in front of hundreds of people.

[10:45] Lexi Dorset Sharp: Yes, I mean confidence, hello. You know, so I realize as I get older and as they get older to see how those, um, their talents translate.

[10:52] Will Armstrong: Exactly.

[10:52] Lexi Dorset Sharp: Exactly. I've been so impressed with the kids that I've gotten to speak with. They're so well spoken.

[10:55] Will Armstrong: Exactly. Now tell me about—you're here at the Pantages Theater. What is that? How does it like to perform in the world?

[11:00] Lexi Dorset Sharp: It's major. It's major because, um, you know, this is definitely—I’ve toured before, but this is my—this is a first national tour. So with that comes, you know, incredible responsibility and incredible venues like this, where you know, we are the—unless you go to New York and see the show on Broadway, or you go to London to see the show on the West End, we are the first time that a lot of people are getting to see, you know, the show or even hear some of these songs.

[11:25] Will Armstrong: Exactly.

[11:25] Lexi Dorset Sharp: Umbassadors.

[11:27] Will Armstrong: Yeah, and it's really awesome. And to play the Pantages, you know, I lived here my first year of marriage. I lived in Los Feliz, you know, like right down the street. And you know, went to Birds, went to all of the great places. So it's really wonderful to be back.

[11:38] Lexi Dorset Sharp: Sure.

[11:38] Will Armstrong: Um, where I came here and all so many things and play somewhere this historic. I mean, it's a—it's a dream, you know.

[11:44] Lexi Dorset Sharp: And Andrew Lloyd Webber was here for our opening night. I mean, these are the kind of like bucket list things that, you know, I'm—I had a moment opening night where I'm like, I am in on stage at the Pantages with Andrew Lloyd Webber in the audience singing this, you know, where did the rock go? This anthem he's written for women, which arguably he's one of the best, you know, um, female, you know, power ballad writers, right? We have "Memory" and Cats, we have "I Don't Know How to Love Him." I mean, they are iconic songs, and I just had a moment where it's like this is so amazing, this is me. I get to do this right now.

[12:15] Will Armstrong: I think it's so exciting for you to know that you know that and you feel that because you—you hope for the people that you respect and you see you up on stage, yeah, to know that you're just as humbled.

[12:24] Lexi Dorset Sharp: Oh god, I feel it in my bones. I feel it in my bones, you know. You know, with this business, you never know. You never know what's next, and all of that uncertainty can be, um, anxiety-ridden, it can be all of these things. So I think it's just so important when you do have an opportunity to check in with that, and that kind of goes back to what you were saying, you know, with the children in the show. I mean, I feel like I'm constantly reminded of the opportunities we're having, watching them have joy in the little things, watching them, you know. One of them ran in and was like, "Lexi, there's palm trees in California."

[12:59] Will Armstrong: You're right, that's awesome.

[13:00] Lexi Dorset Sharp: You know, like sometimes, you know, watching them see things for the first time and remember how cool it is that we do get to travel the entire country this breakfast.

[13:11] ♪ Musical number ♪

[15:16] Greer: I'm here with Greer, Gabriella, Cameron, and Yara. Is that right? Awesome. Guys, thank you so much for talking with me and thanks for that amazing performance. I feel so special. How are you guys doing today?

[15:29] Gabriella: Excellent.

[15:30] Greer: Is this typical doing a press event like this in each city?

[15:34] Yara: Um, is it special? Yeah, we pretty much in every city we have like a press event, but not all the time, all of us get interviewed, so some of this is our first time, so I'm really excited.

[15:44] Greer: Nice, kind of special. What do you think about performing here at the Pantages Theater? What do you think of the theater?

[15:49] Cameron: Yeah, I think it's super fun to like perform here because it's a very, very old, pretty, it has lots of great architecture. And it's like it's a beautiful theater, like um, and it's really cool. And I'm also really happy to perform at the Pantages because I live in LA and I saw my first show at the Pantages.

[16:07] Greer: Really? What was the first show you saw?

[16:08] Cameron: My first show, I was never really into theater until I got into this. Nice. I've never, but once I saw Matilda for the first time, I can't remember where though, it was a long time ago. Sure. But yeah. Um, and but when I got here, I would and my parents said this is Pantages, and all the crazy awesome shows have been here. I was like, wow, this feels really good to be performing here.

[16:30] Yara: Yeah, there's a lot of history here.

[16:31] Greer: Um, and um, how about you? How did you get involved, Yara, with uh musical theater?

[16:36] Yara: Um, so when I was six, um I saw the Lion King here, and I think that was probably what inspired me because a bit fuzzy, honestly. It's kind of confusing how I got into it. And then um about a year later, a couple of my friends were doing a um local theater thing, and I was like, okay, I'll try it, and then I really liked it, so I ended up doing it after that, and then eventually I got into this.

[16:58] Greer: Awesome. Greer, right? What advice do you have for kids that want to get into show business?

[17:03] Greer: Um, you need to practice. Um, you can't give up, you cannot doubt yourself. And if you don't get an audition, because I know all of us, we don't get we don't we do not get every audition. That's just like a fact. It don't doubt yourself and be like, oh, I didn't get that audition. You just need to keep trying, because if you try your best, that's the best you can do.

[17:22] Gabriella: That's great advice. Gabriella, what advice do you have for a kid who just got hired and they're going on tour? What do you need to think about or know?

[17:31] Gabriella: Well, uh, rehearsals are a really long process, so make sure to put on your thinking cap. Make sure you're on top notch focus. Yes. Lots of notes. But it's a really great time. Just have fun, do your best.

[17:46] Greer: Yeah, okay. Where are you from, Gabriella?

[17:49] Gabriella: I'm from the Hudson Valley of New York.

[17:50] Greer: Oh, excellent. Um, do you get time to sightsee and to see around Hollywood? Like, can you?

[17:55] Gabriella: Yes? We have um since we're here for a month, that's one of the that's actually the longest day we've been in one city at a time.

[18:05] Greer: Right.

[18:05] Gabriella: We normally spend just like a week.

[18:07] Greer: Wow.

[18:07] Gabriella: Week or two. Awesome. Yeah, and normally Monday is our travel day.

[18:12] Greer: Sure.

[18:12] Gabriella: But that's considered a day off.

[18:14] Greer: Okay.

[18:14] Gabriella: So normally we're all busy during travel day, and if you want, you can go out at the end of Monday and just go to the pool.

[18:21] Greer: So wait, so what you're saying is you haven't done much sightseeing here in LA?

[18:25] Gabriella: Well, sorta. Yes. We had a day off. We actually had a day off this Monday, but the last Monday, because it was a travel day, we didn't really do it.

[18:33] Greer: And what you're saying is because you have shows every single day except for Mondays, which is a travel day, you work every day.

[18:40] Gabriella: Basically.

[18:41] Greer: Oh my gosh. And it's a six-month project, right?

[19:11] ♪ Musical number ♪

[19:46] Greer: Okay, so I'm here with Jesse Sparks, Jack Suarez, Kimmel Bella Fraker, and Raina Farr. They are, believe it or not, the swings of School of Rock, which is near and dear to my heart because I know how hard that is. Hi guys, thanks so much for joining me.

[20:00] Jesse: Thank you for having you.

[20:02] Greer: So, um, real quick, how do you think it differs from a person who's cast as a single role to someone who's a swing? How do you look at the stage? How do you look at the performance?

[20:11] Jack: It's a lot different, and also it's very similar.

[20:16] Kimmel: Okay.

[20:17] Jack: Because what as we look at the stage, we see the numbers, the people on we see the numbers on the stage. So the people who cover one person will know, oh, I go to ten in this. We see he goes to ten on this, she goes to four on this, he goes to three on that, and it's just a it's a lot different. It's very hard, but we have to.

[20:46] Raina: But we come on stage and be like, ten, six, five, like, yeah. This is just like how we like memorize. We don't really rehearse on the stage. We rehearse either in a dressing room or in a rehearsal room. So we don't have the stage.

[20:57] Greer: Okay, so have you guys seen the movie Harry Potter?

[20:59] Jesse: Yeah, yeah, I'm the biggest Harry Potter fan.

[21:01] Greer: Okay, so remember when they're playing like live chess and they're moving, like they play the that's what I think being a swing is.

[21:07] Jack: It kind of is.

[21:08] Greer: You know, because it's all the different pieces.

[21:10] Kimmel: Yeah, it is. And it's just like we're walking through and we're doing a because you have to know, especially with your tracks, who's crossing. And that's the most dangerous part about being a swing. Is who's going in front of you and who's going behind you? So you have to know your tracks and your patterns.

[21:23] Raina: Which is daunting. How many, okay, uh, you are Bella, right? How many how many roles do you swing?

[21:27] Kimmel: I swing for five roles.

[21:30] Greer: Five roles, and how about you?

[21:31] Jesse: Uh, five roles together.

[21:32] Greer: Wow. So and you guys same or?

[21:35] Raina: I do five.

[21:36] Greer: I do all the boys.

[21:38] Kimmel: Okay, so now except for once. Well, here's my question for you. Instruments. Do you play all the instruments?

[21:40] Jesse: Well, the only girl part that plays an instrument in the role is Katie, and she plays bass, so we both play um.

[21:47] Kimmel: Holy I play, I play drums and guitar. So, like in the press, I was playing guitar for something you would listen. So I understudy Zach and Freddie as well as the other boys who are in the ensemble and who don't play an instrument.

[22:02] Greer: Amazing. Okay. How did you uh the you personally, you are Jesse.

[22:06] Jesse: Yes.

[22:06] Greer: Right? How did you get involved in musical theater?

[22:09] Jesse: Um for me, well, I actually started out playing guitar at like just recitals and like school shows. I was in our school band, which was like we had our own little rock band and it was super fun.

[22:21] Greer: What part of the town? Where uh where where in the country?

[22:24] Jesse: That was in Manhattan.

[22:25] Greer: Oh great. That's where I go to school. Um, but uh yeah, so I got into musical theater because I went to School of Rock live once, and um I met the dad of Brandon Niederauer who played Zach and he sent in an audition clip for me.

[22:39] Greer: Sure.

[22:40] Jesse: And then a couple months later, when I didn't get into the Broadway show with Zach, um, I got uh um an email saying I was ready to audition for the tour, and then I got in as a swing and I understudied Zach and James, Billy, and Mason.

[22:55] Greer: Very cool. Okay, I've gotta tell you a story. I um when I was on tour with Wicked, um my friends had their baby on uh and they traveled with her, and she learned all the show, all the song words to the songs, and she was obsessed with Alphaba. And I mean this was years ago. Uh Wicked's been around for a while. Um that little girl is Isabella Russo who played so weird. Yeah, like I was on tour with I knew her yeah, she was the original summer. I knew her when she was a baby. And we it was she and she was her and her parents are so incredibly talented and wonderful. I'm so happy for her and her success and stuff like that. But how cool for you guys to be like following in those footsteps and like that's the fun. Ballpark, how many times do you go on a week?

[23:36] Jesse: Um that depends on who is out, who's who's taking a personal day, who's sick, and um sometimes we can go on like eight times a week, sometimes we can go on four times a week, sometimes it's none, sometimes it's one. In the middle of a show, they're like, You're off the show. I've been on a few times like um at five, like they'll be like, they'll call like five minutes till places at intermission, then someone would be like, I don't feel good, I don't want to go on, and then they'll be like, Bella, you're on, and then it's just like oh my god, you're like getting in a costume, and then you're just on stage, you're like, oh my god, that just happened.

[24:06] Raina: That has never happened to me yet.

[24:07] Jesse: Really?

[24:10] Raina: Yeah, from when I went to Jack. For me and Jack, we've only been here for like three months.

[24:14] Jesse: Really?

[24:15] Raina: Because we're part of the newer casting. And I've gone uh five times because one week uh Theo Mitchell Penner, who plays Lawrence, took a vacation week.

[24:24] Jesse: Right.

[24:24] Raina: And then um Carson, who covers Mason, had to go on as Lawrence, and I went on as Mason four times. Just like Vincent called out for his birthday.

[24:36] Jesse: Right. Uh he filed for a personal day, and I went on last Sunday evening in Appleton. Another really cool thing about being a swing is that you get multiple opening nights.

[24:46] Greer: Yeah.

[24:47] Raina: It does feel like opening nights. And it's so much fun. Like that's I feel like that's the best part because every time you go on is like so exciting, and everyone's so excited for you. So it's a lot of fun.

[24:56] Jesse: It's like opening night is Katie. Opening night is summer. It's like I get like five opening nights. Yeah, because the other kids get to go on every night, and sometimes in rehearsal, the uh people who help us with dancing and other things are like you guys have to make sure that you don't get bored, and but it's kinda hard for the swings to get bored because every time we go on, it's super exciting because we don't get to go on that.

[25:21] Greer: And I'm sure it's super exciting for everybody working with you because it's a new show for them.

[25:25] Raina: Exactly. Okay, so now we're gonna talk about backstage stuff. What's it like for s like you guys are are you all in the same grade or you in different grades?

[25:32] Kimmel: I'm in grade.

[25:33] Raina: Fifth grade.

[25:33] Kimmel: Sixth grade.

[25:33] Raina: Sixth grade, sixth grade. I'm the youngest.

[25:37] Greer: Really? Very cool. And so how does school work for you guys?

[25:41] Kimmel: We have tutors who travel. So at every in every hotel, like they'll get like a meeting room, and then like we'll have tutors that will come in and then we'll like we most of us have an online school.

[25:51] Raina: Right.

[25:52] Kimmel: And so we'll just like sit backstage, not like backstage, but in the hotel, and then we'll do our school, and I think we have to do it for at least four hours a day.

[25:59] Raina: Right.

[25:59] Kimmel: And so we'll go to school in the afternoon, and then and then we and then we go to we have our dinner break. The schedule is like we wake up, eat breakfast, go to school, have lunch, school uh lunches, like in school. Right. So have lunch, have dinner, have the show, go to bed, repeat.

[26:17] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[26:18] Unknown speaker: It's like no time at all.

[26:20] Unknown speaker: It's a uh when it's um we have two shows, so like on Saturdays and Sundays, well we don'll have school.

[26:25] Unknown speaker: We also have you know, we have school Saturday.

[26:27] Unknown speaker: Wow.

[26:27] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[26:28] Unknown speaker: Oh, so it's a lot, it's a huge commitment.

[26:30] Unknown speaker: Yes, it is.

[26:31] Unknown speaker: But it's all worth it in the end.

[26:32] Unknown speaker: Also, swings and other understudy roles.

[26:35] Unknown speaker: Um we have to also go to some more rehearsals than the kids who just do one track.

[26:41] Unknown speaker: Because um we uh have to go to understudy rehearsals, that's just one part where we have to go to swing rehearsals.

[26:47] Unknown speaker: So we read all the current rehearsals, you rehearse during the show, you rehearse before the show.

[26:53] Unknown speaker: People think that like musical theater, it's like luck like you work a couple hours a day and that's it.

[26:59] Unknown speaker: No, not at all.

[27:00] Unknown speaker: They probably work maybe four to five hours a day.

[27:05] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[27:06] Unknown speaker: It's incredible.

[27:07] Unknown speaker: Well, that's great.

[27:08] Unknown speaker: Okay, so and you guys are leaving here and then you go to Costa Mesa.

[27:11] Unknown speaker: How long are you contracted for the show?

[27:13] Unknown speaker: Um I'm ending in August.

[27:16] Unknown speaker: Okay, wow.

[27:17] Unknown speaker: Each kid has a six-month contract, so we'll go for six months, and then sometimes you can decide to leave, or they'll be like you're too tall.

[27:24] Unknown speaker: Or like so like that's why they give us six months because like some people can get tall, their voice can change.

[27:29] Unknown speaker: Like that's just how kids are.

[27:30] Unknown speaker: What yeah?

[27:30] Unknown speaker: So you have to like be careful.

[27:32] Unknown speaker: It's a lot more uh it's a lot different from the adults because they don't really change in appearance or in their voices.

[27:39] Unknown speaker: But the kids, like, after say their six-month contract, their voice does a sudden drop, or they grow like three inches, they'll leave, or say like they might have been the tallest at the time, but everybody else screwed except for them.

[27:53] Unknown speaker: It's crazy.

[27:54] Unknown speaker: They could get another contract for six months, or they could like do something else.

[27:58] Unknown speaker: They could switch plays.

[28:00] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[28:00] Unknown speaker: The theater I did 42nd Street in in New York, um, they did ragtime there, and there's these little kids in ragtime.

[28:06] Unknown speaker: Uh uh, and in the s uh in the costume department on the door, you could see their names and then the ticks, and like you they would mark how tall the kids got, and then after it got to a certain height, you didn't see their name anymore.

[28:19] Unknown speaker: Um, like everything's just like it's crazy.

[28:28] Unknown speaker: Okay, so I'm I didn't realize I'd have this much time.

[28:31] Unknown speaker: What is the goal?

[28:31] Unknown speaker: What do you guys want to do?

[28:32] Unknown speaker: Like what like what's your dream?

[28:34] Unknown speaker: Okay, let me go down the let me go.

[28:35] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[28:36] Unknown speaker: Um I think I want to be on Broadway, because you know, it's so much fun being on Rumway and I have friends on Broadway and say it's really fun and and I just I just really want to do that.

[28:45] Unknown speaker: So yeah.

[28:45] Unknown speaker: Um for me, uh it's either I want to do musical theater, which is kind of new to me, but before that it was always my d uh dream to be in like a rock and roll band or something.

[28:55] Unknown speaker: Cool.

[28:56] Unknown speaker: Um my dream is like to be like on television, be like like like a star.

[28:59] Unknown speaker: And I also love Broadway, but like I love like TV and film and it's really really fun.

[29:04] Unknown speaker: How about yourself?

[29:04] Unknown speaker: Uh to be honest, anything that just makes me happy, which is really music.

[29:04] Unknown speaker: Which is really music.

[29:11] Unknown speaker: So like playing guitar, playing drums, singing, I really don't care as long as I'm happy.

[29:16] Unknown speaker: Right.

[29:16] Unknown speaker: So it might not have anything to do with music.

[29:19] Unknown speaker: I could be a doctor when I grow up and be happy.

[29:21] Unknown speaker: So right now I'm happy where I am.

[29:23] Unknown speaker: Right now.

[29:24] Unknown speaker: Well later on, anything that really makes me happy.

[29:27] Unknown speaker: Cool.

[29:27] Unknown speaker: Well, and and that's a great answer.

[29:29] Unknown speaker: Yeah, the fun thing for us is since we're starting out early, we can like build up a repertoire nice and early.

[29:35] Unknown speaker: So if we want to go forward with something else, instead of having to start at like maybe 18 or 19, we started 10, 11, or 12.

[29:43] Unknown speaker: Or you can feel like you could do this show and then later on decide, like, you know what, I don't really want to do musical theater anymore.

[29:48] Unknown speaker: And then not have to be.

[29:49] Unknown speaker: You still have it under your belt.

[29:50] Unknown speaker: Right.

[29:50] Unknown speaker: But it's still it's still there.

[29:51] Unknown speaker: And like so, so Bella, how you said like TV and film.

[29:54] Unknown speaker: Like, when I was a kid, it was either or, and now, like with glee and with rise and with Smash and all these shows.

[30:01] Unknown speaker: Like, it's musical.

[30:03] Unknown speaker: Musical theater is mainstream.

[30:04] Unknown speaker: Like, it's got it's great.

[30:05] Unknown speaker: It's really good.

[30:07] Unknown speaker: I said allegiance to the band.

[30:10] Unknown speaker: I've had allegiance to the band.

[30:12] Unknown speaker: And I tried to give Mr.

[30:14] Unknown speaker: P people to be a good idea.

[30:16] Unknown speaker: I want us to give this T people.

[30:19] Unknown speaker: And we can control of the fan in the hull.

[30:22] Unknown speaker: We can rock and do go!

[30:23] Unknown speaker: We saw hard and nutshell.

[30:25] Unknown speaker: If you reincrease your hand.

[30:28] Unknown speaker: I'm in the fan.

[30:29] Unknown speaker: I'm in the fan.

[30:31] Unknown speaker: I'm in the fan.

[30:32] Unknown speaker: I'm in the fan.

[30:34] Unknown speaker: I'm in the fan.

[30:35] Unknown speaker: I'm in the fan.

[30:37] Unknown speaker: Yes, you're in the band.

[30:40] Unknown speaker: You're in the fans.

[30:43] Unknown speaker: You're in the band.

[30:47] Rob Colletti: I am here with the star of School of Rock, Rob Colletti.

[30:51] Rob Colletti: Rob, thank you so much for joining us.

[30:52] Rob Colletti: Thank you for having me.

[30:53] Rob Colletti: Um, just a quick couple questions.

[30:55] Rob Colletti: You've been on several national tours.

[30:58] Rob Colletti: Yeah, a couple, yeah.

[30:59] Rob Colletti: How has the internet and social media changed being on tour?

[31:04] Rob Colletti: Like with your your relationship with your fans.

[31:06] Rob Colletti: Great question.

[31:06] Rob Colletti: Uh honestly, it's incredibly helpful.

[31:08] Rob Colletti: I mean, uh just even today I'm actually doing an Instagram takeover of the Pantagus account.

[31:14] Rob Colletti: Um, and just to have like the interaction with the fans, truly, we see like, oh, I'm coming to the show this day, like on the live feed, is your lives and all of that.

[31:22] Rob Colletti: And honestly, um, having access to that has allowed us to communicate with the fan base in a way I imagine couldn't have existed before.

[31:30] Unknown speaker: Exactly.

[31:31] Unknown speaker: Um, and so with taking over the Pantagesous, like, what's it like performing?

[31:35] Unknown speaker: What's your thoughts about performing here at the Pantages Theater?

[31:37] Rob Colletti: Well, I mean, it's arguably the most historic theater we've played on the entire tour.

[31:41] Rob Colletti: Um, the Pantages has so much history, and you know, being able to be uh even associated in the least has always been a dream.

[31:48] Rob Colletti: And so this is my my second return to it.

[31:51] Rob Colletti: Uh I it's one of the most beautiful houses I've ever played.

[31:54] Rob Colletti: The fans here in Los Angeles are outstanding.

[31:58] Rob Colletti: I mean, there is clearly uh a desire for quality theater on the West Coast, and the Pantages is one of the two or three premier places to find it.

[32:08] Unknown speaker: That's awesome.

[32:09] Unknown speaker: And so, with respect to School of Rock, if someone isn't familiar with it, maybe they might have seen the movie, maybe they didn't, and like why should someone come here and see School of Rock and the Pantages?

[32:19] Rob Colletti: Well, the movie is this really incredible story about this guy who's down on his luck, and uh he loses his job, uh, gets kicked out of his band, and gets kicked out of his apartment all in the same day.

[32:29] Rob Colletti: And in order to kind of like save himself, he uh gets a phone call looking for his roommate and asking him to be a substitute teacher.

[32:36] Rob Colletti: My character pretends to be his roommate, goes to the school to get the paycheck, and actually ends up having a great connection with these kids because they all play music, and he sort of like inadvertently teaches them about what it's like to really listen to yourself, but in doing so also learns a bit about himself and kind of like teaches the entire community around him.

[32:55] Rob Colletti: Uh and you know, hilarity ensues and some plot points develop.

[32:59] Rob Colletti: Um, but what you'll get here at the musical is a really expanded relationship with my character and the kids, and also a really expanded relationship with my character and Rosalie Mullins, the principal.

[33:09] Rob Colletti: She has this really incredible song, and it the role is played by Lexi Dorset Sharp, who is going to win 150 Tony's before her time is over.

[33:17] Rob Colletti: Um, her performance in the show is outrageously fantastic.

[33:21] Rob Colletti: And um when you see the show, not only will you be getting um a Broadway play, you'll also be getting a concert because at the end of the show, we interact with the audience and we throw pics out, and you know, we we work with them.

[33:34] Rob Colletti: That we get their response and we create the environment of the show with them, and that's something you get very rarely in live theater.

[33:41] Unknown speaker: Well, and so and what a a lot of people I feel being in the audience think they want to be respectful by sitting and be quiet and just and and just taking it all in like they're in front of a TV.

[33:51] Unknown speaker: Joe, this is the show that if you ever could hoot and holler, the more you do, the more the show will feel it.

[33:57] Unknown speaker: You we encourage you to get what you put into it.

[34:00] Unknown speaker: Yes, like it's a team effort.

[34:01] Unknown speaker: If you're going to see some Harold Pinter or some you know Eugene O'Neal, yes, don't open your candy in the middle of the show, but come see us, clap, cheer.

[34:09] Unknown speaker: We are there with you, we want you to experience it with us every night.

[34:13] Unknown speaker: So it's so great.

[34:14] Unknown speaker: And I I've said this a couple times today to to the folks that have come by to speak with me.

[34:18] Rob Colletti: Uh tours, even more so than on Broadway.

[34:22] Rob Colletti: Uh, you become a family because you're you're the constant in every city, it's the people that you travel with.

[34:27] Rob Colletti: But I feel with this group, the family element is very, very prevalent.

[34:32] Rob Colletti: Like I just I just think it's so it's so amazing that you're such a special group.

[34:35] Rob Colletti: Absolutely.

[34:36] Rob Colletti: We are a family, and um we all get along so well, and you hear about that sometimes, but it's not a cliche here.

[34:42] Rob Colletti: We we love each other and we really all get along, all hang out, and um, you know, I think that's sort of a testament to the show, too, because it really is a show for families, and we we tell the story for families.

[34:54] Rob Colletti: There's something in here from anyone from age five to a hundred.

[34:58] Rob Colletti: We have people who come to the stage door of all ages who are affected, and to know that we're all telling that story together, I think binds us together.

[35:05] Unknown speaker: Rob, thanks so much for speaking me with us.

[35:06] Rob Colletti: Oh, thank you.

[35:07] Rob Colletti: I really appreciate it.

[35:08] Unknown speaker: Thanks so much.

[35:09] Unknown speaker: How fun was that.

[35:11] Unknown speaker: Well, you're such a good interviewer, and I love that that they just opened up to you, and I love all the details the kids gave about everything from school to to sightsee to getting too tall.

[35:20] Unknown speaker: I can't believe how much access I had and how much time I had just to get to know all these people.

[35:24] Unknown speaker: They were awesome.

[35:24] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[35:25] Unknown speaker: Well, like Rob was just saying a minute ago about how he took over the Pantages Instagram.

[35:29] Unknown speaker: Social media really has been such a game changer because you get to see people away from what they're doing on the stage.

[35:35] Unknown speaker: You really feel like you get to know them.

[35:37] Unknown speaker: And I love how generous I see the stars being with the fans and the people that come to the stage door.

[35:45] Unknown speaker: It's just a really beautiful thing to see.

[35:46] Unknown speaker: So it's been really, really cool.

[35:47] Unknown speaker: Like even like Judson Mills from The Bodyguard, I I follow him on social media too.

[35:51] Unknown speaker: And he just it's it's a wonderful way to experience traveling in a national tour and just really connecting with people in every single city.

[36:01] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[36:01] Unknown speaker: And when they're gone, they're not forgotten because you can still stay with them and and and share in their experiences.

[36:07] Unknown speaker: And I've started following all the theaters and then also looking ahead to see who's coming in the next show.

[36:11] Unknown speaker: So you kind of feel like you know them by the time you see them on the stage, you're like, oh hey, it's so and so.

[36:15] Unknown speaker: Well, I mean, yeah, the selfie culture that we live in.

[36:18] Unknown speaker: Like people are so excited to see the show, and then they run to the stage door, and then they're everyone gets a picture or a video.

[36:25] Unknown speaker: And it's just it's it's it's uh uh quite a commitment for the uh the performers to finish such a like a uh an athletic show and then come out and do FaceTime with all, but that's so many of the um the people in the shows are so gracious and so wonderful.

[36:39] Unknown speaker: So gracious, yeah, appreciative of the audience.

[36:41] Unknown speaker: I was gonna say, just no, we appreciate that so much.

[36:44] Unknown speaker: So we're taping this on May 19th.

[36:46] Unknown speaker: Right.

[36:47] Unknown speaker: School of Rock is here in town for another week at the Pantages, and then it is moving on.

[36:51] Unknown speaker: Yes, I the next closest city that it's going to be is uh Costa Mesa.

[36:55] Unknown speaker: So Orange County.

[36:56] Unknown speaker: Yes, in Costa Mesa in co in Orange County.

[36:57] Unknown speaker: And so check uh the dates for that.

[36:59] Unknown speaker: Yeah, Sagerstrom.

[37:00] Unknown speaker: Exactly, which is another great theater.

[37:02] Unknown speaker: Yeah, and then moving on.

[37:03] Unknown speaker: So hopefully you can catch it on tour, depending on where you live.

[37:06] Unknown speaker: I I feel like this show is such a blast again.

[37:08] Unknown speaker: It's very different from the traditional show.

[37:11] Unknown speaker: But if you just go in, especially if you love rock and roll, there are some fist pumping anthems in this one if you haven't heard the songs, like stick it to the man.

[37:18] Unknown speaker: Like that's just a great rock song.

[37:19] Unknown speaker: Right.

[37:19] Unknown speaker: So it's gonna be a blast.

[37:20] Unknown speaker: And then again, switching gears, the color purple is gonna be the next show at the Hollywood Pantages Theater.

[37:26] Unknown speaker: We'll be there for opening night.

[37:27] Unknown speaker: I can't wait.

[37:27] Unknown speaker: Have you ever seen the movie?

[37:28] Unknown speaker: I've never seen the movie.

[37:29] Unknown speaker: I see I had kids and I've missed a lot of movies.

[37:32] Unknown speaker: I know this one came out.

[37:33] Unknown speaker: I think maybe I was too young to see it when it came out.

[37:36] Unknown speaker: It's so good.

[37:37] Unknown speaker: I'm pretty glad you don't know anything though.

[37:39] Unknown speaker: I'm kinda glad I'm just gonna go in with an open mind.

[37:41] Unknown speaker: That's like yeah, that's like me with Hamilton.

[37:43] Unknown speaker: I didn't know what to expect.

[37:44] Unknown speaker: I knew it was gonna be good, but I didn't know what, and I so appreciated every second of it.

[37:48] Unknown speaker: So we I'm excited for you to you it's gonna you're gonna you won't it's gonna be amazing.

[37:53] Unknown speaker: I can't wait to talk about it.

[37:54] Unknown speaker: I'm already I'm already crying.

[37:55] Unknown speaker: Just looking at your face right now.

[37:56] Unknown speaker: Like I'm totally gonna crack it.

[38:06] Unknown speaker: Yeah, that's so fun.

[38:07] Unknown speaker: And so if you want to kind of follow along on opening night, and if you're there, reach out to us and let us know, and we can get together for a selfie.

[38:13] Unknown speaker: We're not actually the stars of it, but we're not at the stage door, but we can meet you in the lobby.

[38:17] Unknown speaker: So how can people find us online, Will?

[38:19] Will Armstrong: Well, so uh we have our our website which is West of Broadway Podcast.com, and that's we'll stream all of our our shows on there, and then we uh social media the easiest way to connect with us is on Facebook, and you can search West of Broadway or Will and Lara.

[38:32] Will Armstrong: And um, but yeah, and send us messages, we'll post videos, we'll post suggestions of shows you want us to talk about.

[38:39] Will Armstrong: Yeah, all that jazz.

[38:40] Will Armstrong: So yeah, so it and and and of course our shows stream on iTunes and Stitcher and all of the the usual suspects, and we so appreciate everyone who likes and subscribes and leaves comments and five-star ratings and all those things that are necessary with podcasts these days.

[38:57] Will Armstrong: And as always, if you're looking for us, you can find us West of Broadway.