This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Alex Brightman: Hello and welcome back to As The Curtain Rises. Will Kay and Bobby ever be... I'm sorry, you guys. Seriously, I'm sorry. It's just... Oh, God. How do you even go on after a performance like Stavros's? You know what I mean? I mean, am I an imposter? Seriously. I'm actually asking. Like, should Stavros be narrating this whole story in addition to starring in it? I'm sad. As Alex Brightman, I'm sad. So this is like... I mean, what are any of us even doing with our lives at this point? And honestly, I've had this question for quite a bit now, but how do you actually pronounce avatar with two Vs? Is it supposed to be like av-a-va-tar? Do you just lengthen it? Is it av-a-va-tar? I mean, this is stressing me out. To make me feel... Okay. You know what? To make me feel better, let's check in on Emma Olivia's happy love nest and the rest of the gang now, shall we?

[1:07] Emma Olivia: Oh, I think it's great that you got the part, Stavros. Really. It's all because of you. They never would have seen me for a major show like this. Who am I? I don't even have any credits. I know. It's so funny. It's like you came out of nowhere and now you're going to be a star overnight in my show. Our show, I mean. I can't wait to get to work with you. Every day, Stavros. I really can't.

[1:36] Stavros: Yeah, but I think right now I need to... I need to find some alone time and just... I need to get back to my zen. You know, my chi and just getting back in touch with the, uh, the role.

[1:46] Emma Olivia: But you don't have a script yet.

[1:51] Stavros: Scripts don't matter, Stavros. You'll understand what I mean someday.

[1:56] Stavros: Okay. Well, that's fine, actually, because Bobby, Kay, and Thomas, they've invited me over for a work session. I'm a tree. I can bend. I'm a tree. I can bend. Okay, I'll see you in a bit. Anything you want me to tell the gang?

[2:07] Emma Olivia: Nope. No thanks, Stavros. I will tell them myself.

[2:14] Emma Olivia: Well, shady reputations may precede some of our Avatar team members, but we're in gimme-gimme territory now. Watch out, Sutton. Game changer for sure. Maybe those crazy Na'vi ticket buyers are on to something. I don't know about you, but with Stavros on board, I'm buying my tickets now. Bet your producers Steve and Cheryl are feeling very relieved.

[2:37] Cheryl Philips: Ah! I knew in my gut, Avatar, even this Avatar, could hit it out of the park.

[2:43] Steve Jones: Oh, please. You did not. Who do you think you're talking to, Steve? We were just given a dreamy life raft. It's not a done deal. It's what we do with this good fortune that will set the world on fire. Or not.

[2:56] Cheryl Philips: You underestimate my genius. You can be sure of that. Not to mention the fact that we're still creating Avatar the Musical without the ability to use any Avatar movie, story, characters, production design, etc. etc. Stavros's gorgeous voice and gorgeous everything else is not going to make that any easier.

[3:18] Steve Jones: Oh, you're such a downer, Cheryl. This is a marketing guru's dream. Best if you just simply get out of my way, and let me work my magic.

[3:32] Cheryl Philips: In a million years.

[3:38] Steve Jones: I hear there's a bold new approach to Avatar happening right now, and no, I don't mean their insanity by not casting me. I bet the creative team can't wait to put their own spin on things. Hashtag, it's not too late to cast me, Debra.

[3:55] Gordon Cox: Hey, Zoe, it's Gordon Cox at Variety. I host the Variety Stagecraft podcast. I've been hearing so much about Avatar, and I'd really love to invite you to be my guest on the podcast, so we can talk about your pretty ambitious plans for this really expensive show. Just let me know what works best for you. I'd love to do this as soon as we can. Thanks. Talk to you soon.

[4:19] Cheryl Philips: Oh, welcome. Please take a seat. David Korins, Natasha Katz, thank you both so much for agreeing to meet with us today. Your visionary set design and lighting design work is legendary, and we are just so excited to work with you. But let's get right to it. As you know, we open in six months, so time is precious.

[4:43] Natasha Katz: Yes, absolutely. My pleasure. The show is so thrilling, and I always love getting to spend time with David. Such a talent, this one. I mean, I have to say, I am so excited about this. I mean, Avatar. It's just so incredibly ambitious.

[5:06] David Korins: You have no idea. That's what attracted me to this project, too. You know, the sheer scope.

[5:13] Natasha Katz: I know. I have to pinch myself. Avatar. And I can't even drink yet. But of course, we're looking for designers to bring their own style to this. We don't want to just toss what worked in the film on stage. This needs to be original.

[5:28] David Korins: That's why we hired Zoe, a visionary who can out-Cameron Cameron.

[5:34] Natasha Katz: Totally. But of course, there's a few hero set pieces that are totally mandatory, right?

[5:38] Cheryl Philips: No, no, no, no, no, no. I don't think they are.

[5:45] Steve Jones: Fresh slate. That's what we want. And don't worry about breaking any of the Avatar world's rules. That's why we have our science consultant, Andrew Barth Feldman.

[5:51] Andrew Barth Feldman: I'm here to keep him honest.

[5:51] Natasha Katz: Well, I, for one, am delighted to make this project my own. I've already been testing out different blue.

[5:56] Cheryl Philips: Stop right there, Natasha. Stop right there.

[6:04] Natasha Katz: No blue here.

[6:04] Cheryl Philips: I'm sorry? No blue?

[6:11] Steve Jones: Guys, guys, I fought it, too. But Steve and Cheryl brought up a great point. You know, blue is done. Dear Evan Hansen cornered the color in 2016. So we need to be the new kid on the block. We're already re-envisioning this world. We can't afford to throw an existing IP on stage without making it worthy of a Broadway theater like the Hellinger.

[6:29] Natasha Katz: That's right. Dear Evan Hansen is a very blue show.

[6:33] David Korins: It's true. I was surrounded by blue 24-7. And we wouldn't want to repeat ourselves, would we, David?

[6:37] David Korins: No, no, no, no. I totally agree. It's a real opportunity to show off our creativity.

[6:45] Cheryl Philips: So no blue for an Avatar musical?

[6:45] Natasha Katz: No blue?

[6:50] Steve Jones: Yellow and black.

[6:50] Natasha Katz: What?

[6:57] Steve Jones: Stay with me. We're treating this as a glimpse at a foreign world, right? You know, this whole other universe set in the future. And I want it to feel like the most futuristic version of a National Geographic issue imaginable. You know, ground this wild new world where people live underwater with a framing device that people can understand.

[7:03] Natasha Katz: Underwater? Instead of flying. The tie-ins alone with National Geographic. And the free publicity. I think this is such a brilliant idea from Zoe.

[7:15] Zoe: Oh, thanks, Boo. This is exactly what a future National Geographic would be covering.

[7:20] Natasha Katz: Yellow and black?

[7:26] Steve Jones: Yep. Great to have you on board.

[7:26] Alan Cumming: Hello, Deborah. It's Alan Cumming. I got your message about Avatar the musical. Wow, that's epic. But, you know, please thank Stephen Sherrill. I really appreciate the offer. But it's a no from me. I kind of have done blue already. I think I've had more than my fair share of blue makeup on my face and body for one lifetime. So I'm not really interested in doing that again.

[8:07] Alan Cumming: If you've any red or yellow or orange roles going, then let's talk. Actually, I'm kidding. That's I don't want to have any red or yellow or orange makeup on either ever, ever again. So yes, good luck. Hope you find someone soon. Bye.

[8:13] Emma Olivia: Stavros, tell us everything about you.

[8:21] Stavros: Oh, well, there's really not much to tell. I grew up in Paris, went to school just outside of Boston.

[8:24] Emma Olivia: Ah, yes, Harvard.

[8:27] Stavros: Yeah, good guess.

[8:27] Emma Olivia: Yale man myself. Guess we're sworn enemies, huh?

[8:33] Stavros: Anyway, I took some time off to work as a tour guide on Easter Island.

[8:38] Emma Olivia: What an amazing place. But you know, when I was little, I thought the whole island was filled with giant busts of Angelica Houston.

[8:46] Stavros: Me too. Really?

[8:48] Emma Olivia: Anyway. And after a while, I felt a need to reconnect with humanity. And I moved to New Jersey.

[8:54] Stavros: Oh, yeah. Well, that's definitely a hub of humanity.

[8:58] Emma Olivia: You have such an air of self-reliance. It's reminding me a lot of dear Hal.

[9:03] Stavros: Hal?

[9:04] Emma Olivia: Prince.

[9:04] Stavros: I can't wait to write for you, to mold and shape Lake.

[9:39] Unknown speaker: This is the personalization of social media.

[9:41] Unknown speaker: But now it's this, and we have Stavros!

[9:43] Bobby Kearns: Bobby, Stavros changes everything.

[9:45] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[9:47] Unknown speaker: Everything?

[9:49] Kay Fields: Well, not everything. Thomas, do you have a draft of Act One for us to look at with Stavros?

[9:53] Thomas: Still cooking, Kay.

[9:55] Kay Fields: Let us know when we can stick a fork in you.

[9:57] Bobby Kearns: Bobby, you look so tense.

[9:59] Unknown speaker: May I?

[10:01] Unknown speaker: Oh no, there's really no need to.

[10:03] Unknown speaker: Okay, no.

[10:05] Unknown speaker: Ow!

[10:07] Unknown speaker: Oh.

[10:09] Unknown speaker: Oh, Stavros.

[10:11] Unknown speaker: Those hands!

[10:13] Stavros: I spent some time as a personal masseur for a well-known athlete.

[10:15] Unknown speaker: A-Rod? LeBron?

[10:17] Stavros: Cher.

[10:19] Stavros: I really can't say.

[10:21] Unknown speaker: This is not what we planned, Fernsby.

[10:23] Maxwell Fernsby: I don't understand. Stavros is in.

[10:25] Unknown speaker: This is what you wanted, right?

[10:27] Maxwell Fernsby: No, I wanted him to be in the cast.

[10:29] Unknown speaker: Not to be a co-star.

[10:31] Unknown speaker: But Lake is the co-lead of the show.

[10:33] Maxwell Fernsby: Yeah, before Stavros.

[10:36] Unknown speaker: He never told me that he could sing.

[10:38] Unknown speaker: I thought they'd have to cut the role with him in it and turn the focus to me.

[10:42] Unknown speaker: But now...

[10:44] Unknown speaker: Now...

[10:46] Unknown speaker: Oh, I'm so angry, I could just...

[10:48] Unknown speaker: No! Harold, I am not ready to address what is at the root of this.

[10:50] Unknown speaker: Because nothing is!

[10:52] Unknown speaker: Are you at your therapist's again?

[10:56] Unknown speaker: Emergency session. I didn't know what else to do.

[10:58] Unknown speaker: Dr. Hay, you can take that whipple bat and you can shove it up your...

[11:02] Unknown speaker: I'm on top of this, I swear.

[11:05] Unknown speaker: In fact, I had a call out already to take care of this.

[11:09] Unknown speaker: And...

[11:11] Unknown speaker: Oh, that's them calling back now.

[11:13] Unknown speaker: Yes! Oh, I knew I could count on you, Maxie.

[11:15] Unknown speaker: See, Dr. Harold? Do you see how I'm starting to let people in?

[11:21] Unknown speaker: Ah, feels good.

[11:23] Unknown speaker: Hey, Dr. Hay, can I get a gold star? Or whatever I saw you give that kid last week?

[11:27] Unknown speaker: You know what, I think it's really unfair that not all of your customers get the same treatment.

[11:33] Unknown speaker: Especially when some of us are better at therapy than others.

[11:37] Unknown speaker: Okay, well, uh, goodbye?

[11:39] Unknown speaker: Hello?

[11:41] Paul Tazwell: This is Paul Taswell.

[11:43] Cheryl Phillips: Paul, honey! It's Cheryl. Avatar! What more do I need to say?

[11:49] Paul Tazwell: You know I'd love to work with you, Cheryl. But I'm not too eager to work with Steve Jones.

[11:57] Cheryl Phillips: I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way.

[11:59] Cheryl Phillips: Oh, honey, tell me about it. I'm with you entirely. But I'll protect you. Not to worry.

[12:08] Cheryl Phillips: Well, as you know, I also gravitate to original work. Avatar is already a magnificent blue world with iconic characters. There's not much room for interpretation.

[12:18] Paul Tazwell: I know that, Paul. And that's exactly why I'm calling you. No blue.

[12:24] Cheryl Phillips: And the world is entirely different. We're going underwater.

[12:28] Paul Tazwell: No blue.

[12:31] Paul Tazwell: Underwater?

[12:33] Cheryl Phillips: Exactly. Top to bottom. A complete reconceptualization of Avatar.

[12:39] Paul Tazwell: You know, I think that I'm going to have you keep looking around.

[12:43] Cheryl Phillips: Thanks, Cheryl.

[12:45] Paul Tazwell: Paul? Hello?

[12:47] Unknown speaker: Paul?

[12:49] Unknown speaker: Phone ringing.

[12:51] Maxwell Fernsby: Furnsby here.

[12:53] Unknown speaker: Hello, Mr. Furnsby. I got your voicemail. What a thrill to hear from you.

[12:57] Unknown speaker: Sure.

[12:59] Unknown speaker: I really enjoyed all of the Magnolia deliveries. She pretends to throw them out as soon as they come in, but I noticed the cartons in the trash are empty the next morning.

[13:07] Unknown speaker: I love that she sneaks treats out of the garbage can in the middle of the night.

[13:11] Stavros: Stavros, look, I heard about the audition. In fact, Deborah sent me a cell phone video she made. What a strong choice.

[13:17] Stavros: Singing shirtless.

[13:19] Unknown speaker: It was by request.

[13:21] Unknown speaker: So listen, Stavros, let me cut to the chase. Let me represent you.

[13:28] Stavros: Yes.

[13:30] Unknown speaker: I want to make sure you're taken care of. After all, you're important to Emma Olivia, so you're important to me.

[13:36] Stavros: But wouldn't it be a conflict of interest to represent us both?

[13:40] Unknown speaker: Some people might look at it that way, I suppose, but I don't see why. Look, we're all working together in the best interest of Avatar, right? So it makes sense that I'd be the best person to steer the ship.

[13:54] Stavros: Uh-huh.

[13:57] Unknown speaker: It just seems a little bit like a monopoly. It's a great game, but an ugly work.

[14:01] Stavros: I actually don't love the capitalism inherited in that game. I like Clue. I like solving mysteries.

[14:07] Unknown speaker: Okay, well, if you want to represent yourself, you're more than welcome to, of course.

[14:11] Stavros: Thank you, Mr. Furnsby. It's been nice chatting.

[14:15] Unknown speaker: Yeah, well, we can keep this between us, right? No need to tell Emma Olivia.

[14:19] Stavros: Goodbye, Mr. Furnsby.

[14:21] Unknown speaker: Will Bobby, Kay, and Thomas be healed by the blinding power of Stavros's voice and 8-pack? Will Steve and Cheryl actually have a shot at recouping? Will Furnsby admit he's been outmaneuvered by an Adonis? Will Zoe finally have the male muse she's been looking for? Will this whole yellow and black design thing take off? Will the Broadway Podcast Network's podcast actually chronicle what's really going on behind the curtain? And just how far will Emma Olivia go to sabotage her own big scheme? Tune in next week for some, none, or all of the answers to these questions.

[15:02] Unknown speaker: Just as a personal note, guys, it's definitely not going to be all. Not going to be all the answers. Just as an FYI, you guys. Seriously. Thank you from the bottom of our cold hearts for listening to As the Curtain Rises.

[15:14] Unknown speaker: A gargantuan thanks to our brilliant cast.

[15:19] Unknown speaker: James Monroe Iglehart as producer Steve Jones.

[15:23] Unknown speaker: Lillias White as producer Cheryl Phillips.

[15:27] Unknown speaker: Ashley Park as book writer lyricist Kay Fields.

[15:31] Unknown speaker: Michael Urie as composer Bobby Kearns.

[15:35] Unknown speaker: Sarah Stiles as diva Emma Olivia.

[15:39] Unknown speaker: George Salazar as agent Maxwell Furnsby in the bathroom.

[15:43] Unknown speaker: Ariana DeBose as director choreographer Zoe Taylor.

[15:47] Unknown speaker: Andrew Barth Feldman as science consultant Andrew Barth Feldman.

[15:53] Unknown speaker: Lesli Margherita as the Broadway disher.

[15:57] Unknown speaker: Mauricio Martinez as Thomas.

[16:01] Unknown speaker: Ramin Karimloo as the dreamy Stavros.

[16:05] Unknown speaker: David Korins as genius set designer David Korins.

[16:09] Unknown speaker: Natasha Katz as legendary lighting designer Natasha Katz.

[16:13] Unknown speaker: Paul Tazwell as costume designer designer extraordinaire Paul Tazwell.

[16:18] Unknown speaker: And me, the incredible two-time Tony Award loser Alex Brightman as the narrator!

[16:32] Unknown speaker: Also huge, gigantic, stupendous thanks to our phone message leavers.

[16:38] Unknown speaker: Varieties Gordon Cox and Alan Cumming who looks fabulous in every color, not just blue.

[16:45] Unknown speaker: Written by Dory Berenstein and Mark Peikert.

[16:49] Unknown speaker: Directed by Dory Berenstein.

[16:51] Unknown speaker: Music, sound editing, and design by Bart Fassbender.

[16:55] Unknown speaker: Avatar music by Matthew Sklar.

[16:59] Unknown speaker: Sound engineering by Alan Seales.

[17:01] Unknown speaker: Banshee wrangling by the wonderful Bill Berloni.

[17:05] Unknown speaker: Produced by Dory Berenstein, Alan Seales, and the Broadway Podcast Network.

[17:07] Unknown speaker: Music directed and sound edited by Marty Maguire.

[17:17] Unknown speaker: Executive produced by Liz Armstrong.

[17:19] Unknown speaker: And absolutely everything else by our extraordinary BPN team.

[17:25] Unknown speaker: Brittany Bigelow, Joanna Nikolova, Katie Rosen, Cindy Schatz, and Beatriz Westby.

[17:31] Unknown speaker: As the Curtain Rises was created and recorded entirely in quarantine. This Broadway soap opera celebrates and supports the Actors Fund and the BPN Frontline Worker Initiative www.bpn.fm.com.

[17:52] Unknown speaker: And finally, a very special thanks to our producing partner, Liz Armstrong for your extraordinary support and inspiration.

[18:00] Unknown speaker: Buh-bye!