This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Quincy Brown: Yeah, well, that's why it's interesting because your first two Broadway jobs were capital B Broadway Corporation shows. They're not like the small indie artsy shows.

[0:09] Kevin Bianchi: We love a commercial theater, girly. I know what I am.

[0:19] Quincy Brown: My name's Quincy.

[0:20] Kevin Bianchi: And my name's Kevin.

[0:22] Quincy Brown: And this is Sentimental Men from Theaterly.

[0:24] Kevin Bianchi: We are here to talk.

[0:26] Quincy Brown: And maybe scream.

[0:27] Kevin Bianchi: About our favorite women in musical theater.

[0:30] Quincy Brown: We're feeling some type of way.

[0:41] Kevin Bianchi: Whose version was I singing just then?

[0:43] Quincy Brown: Barbara.

[0:44] Kevin Bianchi: Of course.

[0:46] Quincy Brown: Come on, give me a hard one.

[0:47] Kevin Bianchi: I've been listening to the Broadway album all day today.

[0:51] Quincy Brown: Why? I mean, not in a bad way, but why? What inspired that?

[0:55] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, I think Josh Gad posted about rehearsals for Gutenberg and on that post he put Barbara's putting it together. And that reminded me how splendiferous her rendition of putting it together is and then led me to the entire album.

[1:09] Quincy Brown: Ah, that's so good. Guys, go see Gutenberg on Broadway. Starts performances September 15th.

[1:13] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, it's already running as you're listening to this intro.

[1:16] Quincy Brown: Sure is. Sure is.

[1:18] Kevin Bianchi: Quincy, the other day, we had our little Sentimental Men check in on Friday. And then we had you and I each had an hour to kill before we interviewed today's guest.

[1:30] Quincy Brown: And in that hour, I had stuck in my head, I believe in love.

[1:35] Kevin Bianchi: I believe in love.

[1:37] Quincy Brown: And so I thought it was Casey Levy.

[1:41] Kevin Bianchi: And so I went to go listen to it. It was not what I had stuck in my head was Shoshana Bean. So then I fell down a little tiny hair rabbit hole.

[1:50] Quincy Brown: And it's saturated with Elphaba's.

[1:54] Kevin Bianchi: That makes sense to me. That rabbit hole.

[1:56] Quincy Brown: It makes a lot of sense to me, but looking at all of it in one place, I was like, wow, we're very blessed with this. And yes, I am going to walk you through all of them, Quincy.

[2:06] Kevin Bianchi: All right.

[2:07] Quincy Brown: So in the revival of Hair, the Tony Award winning revival, Casey Levy was Sheila. Jackie Burns and Seikan were in The Tribe. And Annaleigh Ashford was a replacement.

[2:24] Kevin Bianchi: Jeannie, I think is that character's name.

[2:27] Quincy Brown: I don't think I know.

[2:28] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, the Frank. I met a boy called Frank Rose.

[2:32] Quincy Brown: Oh, interesting.

[2:33] Kevin Bianchi: She replaced that, which makes perfect sense. And then on that Actors Fund recording, we have Ana Gasteyer, Shoshana Bean, Julia Murney, Eden and Brandi Chavon Massey.

[2:44] Quincy Brown: Voices.

[2:45] Kevin Bianchi: It's rain and Elphaba's.

[2:49] Quincy Brown: It's rain and Elphaba's.

[2:52] Kevin Bianchi: Listening then to that Hair.

[2:54] Quincy Brown: Yeah, that's why I said that. Listening to that Actors Fund cast recording really made me long and opine for.

[3:04] Kevin Bianchi: Opine.

[3:04] Quincy Brown: Eboni Scott Elphaba. She's kind of like my Elphaba that got away. You know what I mean?

[3:11] Kevin Bianchi: Wait, is opine a word or was that a slip? I just want to know.

[3:14] Quincy Brown: Opine.

[3:15] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[3:16] Quincy Brown: Yeah, like Elphaba.

[3:17] Kevin Bianchi: I didn't know there was an O that came before it. Spell it.

[3:20] Quincy Brown: O-P-I-N-E.

[3:22] Kevin Bianchi: Opine? State as one's opinion.

[3:24] Quincy Brown: Opine. It's like to take a stance.

[3:27] Kevin Bianchi: That's different than pine I'm pining for.

[3:30] Quincy Brown: Pining is different.

[3:31] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, but both are applicable in this.

[3:34] Quincy Brown: This man is a genius.

[3:35] Kevin Bianchi: He opined.

[3:36] Quincy Brown: He states as one's opinion.

[3:39] Kevin Bianchi: Stephanie J. Block is a god.

[3:41] Quincy Brown: They opined.

[3:42] Kevin Bianchi: He opined.

[3:43] Quincy Brown: Wow. Thank you for that education.

[3:45] Kevin Bianchi: Anyway, back to Shari Renee Scott Elphaba. I think that this like the Elphabas that got away conversation would be fun to do for a bonus episode in the green circle.

[3:54] Quincy Brown: Does that mean like we say the actresses who we wish would have played Elphaba?

[4:02] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, who maybe wouldn't get the call today.

[4:05] Quincy Brown: Gotcha.

[4:06] Kevin Bianchi: That's fun. I like that. I'm trying to think if I can come up with one on the spot.

[4:09] Quincy Brown: The art of making art.

[4:11] Kevin Bianchi: It's okay if not.

[4:12] Quincy Brown: Is putting it together. Barbara, I guess.

[4:14] Kevin Bianchi: Is yours Barbara Strachan?

[4:18] Quincy Brown: And then I do. We circle back to this a lot, but I would love to see Alice Ripley as Elphaba. See what she would have done with that.

[4:24] Kevin Bianchi: Coming soon to a bonus episode near you. Get that promo in, Kevin.

[4:30] Quincy Brown: I'm trying to make us a buck or two, Quincy.

[4:38] Kevin Bianchi: For God's sake. The guest that we are talking to today.

[4:42] Quincy Brown: I had the great fortune of seeing as Glinda. We already recorded this episode. And the day that we did the interview, I also happened to see the show that evening because my friend is in a newly minted Broadway era and especially a wicked era.

[4:56] Kevin Bianchi: So he entered the lottery and won and took me with him. And it was kind of great to be able to talk to Mackenzie and then three hours later, go over to the Gersh. We were both on our way to the Gersh to see me to see her to perform.

[5:09] Quincy Brown: Yeah. She's really incredible.

[5:11] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, I'm so jealous. Like because we saw her together like two weeks after she started a week after she started.

[5:18] Quincy Brown: Yeah. And what I will say, which I believe we get into in the interview, is if I wanted to clock any change from then to now, which is how I love my Glinda's to be performed, Mackenzie has really solidified for me because I was like, why is this hitting so hard? She's a cookie, crazy, funny Glinda who is like really, really like was making choices that I hadn't seen before, which is kind of huge.

[5:47] Kevin Bianchi: I think in the year 2023, her popular was lol funny. Her I do think she is. It's tough. Oh, I can't even talk about it. We'll talk about it in the outro because you guys don't know what kind of Glinda she is yet. But yeah, and the vocals are just incredible. I really do think she is like I tweeted that she's got your Glinda vibe. She's really doing something that feels so special and unique and also feels like we're going to be seeing her as Glinda for years and years to come. Like it's just so solid and it feels like I mean, she's so young. It feels like there's so much growth room for her, not that she needs it, but I'm excited to watch how this her Glinda develops as the years go by and as she's in and out because I'm sure that will be happening for her. Fingers crossed. I hope.

[6:31] Quincy Brown: Anyway, take us into her resume.

[6:35] Kevin Bianchi: All right. Well, Quincy, her resume is very, I would say impressive because it all starts in 2020 when she makes her Broadway debut as Anna in Frozen. Worth noting that I saw her as Anna in Frozen, which I just remembered.

[6:55] Quincy Brown: Yes.

[6:56] Kevin Bianchi: And worth noting that this was like very shortly after she graduated from college and there's a really cool timeline involved in this that she gets into in the interview. But so this all happens. Boom. Shut down. Pandemic. Remember it well.

[7:13] Quincy Brown: So her show's on hold. Then it's announced her show is not coming back. Very sad. In 2021, though, she was in our living rooms. Miss Mackenzie Kurtz as the star to be on Annie Live on NBC. Fabulous. Also featuring, which we'll get into in the interview. Also featuring Megan Hilty, which.

[7:32] Kevin Bianchi: That's me snapping into the mic. Yeah, we're just dropping little breadcrumbs of what to look forward to in the interview. I can't tell if I like having done the interview already or if I don't like it for the intro, outro stuff.

[7:43] Quincy Brown: Well, you think about that.

[7:46] Kevin Bianchi: In 2022, she was an emergency replacement, last second call to come out and close the first national tour of Frozen as Anna.

[7:56] Quincy Brown: Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde tour vibes.

[7:58] Kevin Bianchi: Yes, Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde tour vibes. Mackenzie needs to do Legally Blonde somewhere.

[8:05] Quincy Brown: Anywhere. Desperately.

[8:06] Kevin Bianchi: Literally just like at 54 below.

[8:10] Quincy Brown: Oh my god.

[8:12] Kevin Bianchi: Okay. I know. Anyways. And then in 2023, back on Broadway, making her Wicked debut as Glinda in the Broadway company of Wicked straight to principal, honey.

[8:23] Quincy Brown: Mm hmm.

[8:25] Kevin Bianchi: At the age of 26, which has been a very prevalent age in our last couple of episodes.

[8:35] Quincy Brown: It's also the age I currently reside at.

[8:36] Kevin Bianchi: Yes, it is also the age that Quincy currently resides at.

[8:41] Quincy Brown: I was going to say something before I got sidetracked with making fun of you for being old. What was it?

[8:49] Kevin Bianchi: Laura Bell Bundy, Mackenzie Kurtz, Legally Blonde. Straight to principal.

[8:54] Quincy Brown: Straight to principal. Oh, I would love if someone listening could let us know who the last straight to principal Broadway Glinda was. It's not coming to me off the top of my head.

[9:05] Kevin Bianchi: I feel I have a feeling that it's been a long time.

[9:09] Quincy Brown: Wow. Kevin's having a vision, almost like a prophecy, or he's desperately trying to have one.

[9:12] Kevin Bianchi: I'm trying to like go through a list. Hold on. Let me look. I'll tell you who it was.

[9:18] Quincy Brown: Less frequent than Elphaba, I think.

[9:21] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, there are less Glindas than...

[9:24] Quincy Brown: Ginna Claire toured first. Is that true? You know that as fact?

[9:27] Kevin Bianchi: No, I don't know. I'm not good at timelines like you are, Quincy.

[9:34] Quincy Brown: We'll fact check this. Someone can let us know, unless you're dead set on figuring this out right now.

[9:40] Kevin Bianchi: I'm dead set on confirming that Ginna Claire toured first.

[9:43] Quincy Brown: She did.

[9:43] Kevin Bianchi: I think the last one was Kara Lindsay, right?

[9:46] Quincy Brown: Kara Lindsay didn't tour first.

[9:48] Kevin Bianchi: She toured after.

[9:49] Quincy Brown: Are you sure?

[9:50] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[9:51] Quincy Brown: I thought she toured first.

[9:52] Kevin Bianchi: Hold on. Now I'm also determined.

[9:57] Quincy Brown: No, I think she might have toured first.

[9:59] Kevin Bianchi: Educated guest, Jenny Barber. Someone let us know, though. Okay, that was a fun little detour. Let's get into our interview with Mackenzie Kurtz.

[10:06] Kevin Bianchi: Mackenzie Kurtz, thank you so much for joining us on Sentimental Men today.

[10:11] McKenzie Kurtz: I'm so excited to be here. Thank you for having me.

[10:15] Kevin Bianchi: The current Broadway Glinda.

[10:17] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes, I am so excited to have a Glinda girly on the podcast, Mackenzie.

[10:22] Quincy Brown: Woo!

[10:22] Kevin Bianchi: You launch us into this, Kevin.

[10:26] Quincy Brown: All right. So Mackenzie, we know that you're a big fan of the show, you launch us into this, Kevin.

[10:34] Kevin Bianchi: All right. So Mackenzie, we start every episode by asking, how did Wicked come into your life? Not professionally as an actress, but personally, when did Wicked come into your life?

[10:46] McKenzie Kurtz: My earliest memory of Wicked was fourth grade, getting the CD of the original Broadway cast recording and playing it every day in my little boom box. Hello Kitty pink boom box. Shout out. Yes, so that was my earliest memory, just being obsessed with the cast recording and listening to it all the time.

[11:09] McKenzie Kurtz: And my best friend in fourth grade, we used to do the full performance in my basement, in my room, wherever we could and wherever we could get people to watch us.

[11:20] Quincy Brown: As you do.

[11:21] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah. So that was my earliest memory. And then...

[11:23] Kevin Bianchi: Were you Glinda in those performances from the beginning?

[11:26] McKenzie Kurtz: We would switch back and forth, but...

[11:28] Quincy Brown: Got you a girl who can do both.

[11:30] McKenzie Kurtz: Listen, you have to do what you have to do. And so then I believe I was nine years old when I saw Wicked on Broadway for the first time. And that was in 2007. And I saw Kendrick Hasselbaum as Glinda, which was amazing.

[11:47] McKenzie Kurtz: And I remember my family and I went to go see it. And my mom wanted us to be as close as possible and have the best seats as possible. So she bought us all individual tickets in the orchestra, so we didn't even sit together. I didn't care. So I was by myself as a nine-year-old, fully sobbing.

[12:08] Kevin Bianchi: Strangers on each side of you.

[12:10] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh, but sobbing, sobbing at nine years old by myself, having a spiritual experience in the Gershwin Theater. And it changed my life. And I was like, I have to be in this show ever since then.

[12:23] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah. And were you like, I'm going to do theater when I grow up from the get-go?

[12:27] McKenzie Kurtz: Totally, yeah. My first shows that I did, I was like seven, eight years old. And once I started, I never looked back. And I was like, yep, we have to do this.

[12:38] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah. Okay, so you and I are the same age. And I feel like my childhood was kind of...

[12:45] Quincy Brown: I'm taking it personally that you keep bringing that up.

[12:48] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, my gosh. Because I do think when I was that internet pre-teeny age was kind of when the like bootleg culture was really thriving.

[12:58] McKenzie Kurtz: Totally.

[12:58] Kevin Bianchi: Was that something you partook in?

[13:00] McKenzie Kurtz: Totally, bootlegs.

[13:02] McKenzie Kurtz: Honestly, I have memories of being like 12, 13 when 13 the musical was happening and being obsessed with that entire cast because it was like kids our age. And they were posting all these behind the scenes things of like them recording the cast album. And so definitely bootlegs were big for me growing up. So okay, so then what growing up then watching those bootlegs who were the touch points for you? Like who were your favorites? I mean, even now, I think like, obviously, anything with Kristen, duh. Megan Hilty is a big one for me, just so iconic. And Kara Lindsay was one like, everyone, anything I could get my hands on.

[13:48] Quincy Brown: Yeah. Well, and it's funny, too, that you said Megan Hilty right off the bat, because we saw you in the show a couple months ago, like right your first week, I think, like within within the first couple weeks. Yeah. And we we said we were like, off the bat, like we got like essence of Hilty from you.

[14:04] McKenzie Kurtz: That means a lot. Which is which is because she's like my number one for sure. And I think definitely up there for Quincy. And so it's interesting that you're saying that she was like one of your earlier influences.

[14:15] McKenzie Kurtz: Absolutely. She actually came by the theater two days ago, and came to visit. And it was so much fun. And I love her. We did Annie live together in 2021. That's right. She's such an icon. And I look up to her so much. She's amazing.

[14:34] Quincy Brown: Okay, so we'll get we'll circle back to your performance because we do have things to say. But how when did actually auditioning for Wicked first time come across your desk?

[14:45] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes. So it was 2019. And I had graduated in May of 2019. And I think the first time I taped was that summer. And I was at the Muni and I had gotten a tape for Glinda. And at the Muni, I was doing Footloose at the Muni. It was fun.

[15:07] Quincy Brown: We love a dance show in Muni weather.

[15:10] McKenzie Kurtz: Exactly. Except Ariel doesn't really have to dance that much. So shout out to that. No, it was a great show that I love doing that. But we did so I did a tape and then moved to New York City in the fall of 2019. And that was the first time I had gone in in person for an audition. And I think I had just sung popular and done a couple sides. And then like a couple days later, I had found out that I was offered Anna in Frozen. So I knew Glinda wasn't going to be going any further at that point. And then obviously the world ended and the pandemic happened. And so I was home in Georgia for a while. I went home to be with my family. And then I think I was trying I literally was trying to figure this out because it's so confusing date wise. I think it was 2021 around January, February, they called me back in to go in in person.

[16:06] Quincy Brown: And okay, wait, so had you heard anything you got on? But after that initial audition before you heard about Anna, had you heard any feedback or anything or was just kind of silent?

[16:17] McKenzie Kurtz: It was positive feedback. And it was good. It was like I got some stuff and I was assuming they were about to bring me back in maybe for a work session. So I was like, okay, great. But then we went the other way, obviously timing.

[16:31] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, just timing. And then in 2021, I went back in in person again, and had a good audition felt good about it, and found out that they had offered me the tour. And I lost my mind and was like, yes. But I had just moved back to New York after being home in Georgia for like two years. And my agent, my manager were like, let's wait and it killed me. They were like, let's wait, restrain the restraints to get offered your dream role and then be like, No, wait a second. And I wanted to be in New York. I really did want to be in New York.

[17:10] McKenzie Kurtz: Then I didn't hear anything for like 10 months. And I was actually home for Thanksgiving in November of 2021. And when am I getting this wrong? You guys? What year is it? It's 2022 2022. I'm so sorry. I was home in November of 2022. And I got a call from my agent. And I had been waiting to hear about another project that I had been in for recently. And I was like, so excited. I'm like, Oh, is this about this? And he's like, No, you're about to freak out. Like they offered you Glinda for the 20th anniversary. And it was like completely out of the blue. 10 months later wasn't even on my radar.

[17:56] Quincy Brown: They didn't bring you back in for another checkup or anything?

[17:58] McKenzie Kurtz: Nope. Wow. I was shook. Y'all. I was like, what? And of course, I'm like, yeah, no hesitation. Absolutely. Let's do it. Where do I sign?

[18:11] Quincy Brown: Exactly. But that's so crazy to go to one go into principal without having ever done like a standby understudy iteration of it before. But to go straight into principal on Broadway and attach it to an anniversary year.

[18:22] McKenzie Kurtz: It was crazy. I still am like, why? What am I doing here? But it's I feel so lucky.

[18:30] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah. And and then in that moment, did like the weight of that all hit you? Or was it just excitement of like, the dream is coming true?

[18:35] McKenzie Kurtz: I mean, both both of it. I mean, I was so excited. I was sobbing. And this is a role I've wanted to do since I saw it for the first time. And then on top of that, knowing it's the 20th anniversary just felt like the greatest gift could ever be given. Yeah, I was. Yeah, I was a mess.

[19:01] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah. Because we talked to Nicole Parker, who, correct me Kevin, was the first Elphaba to go straight to principal on Broadway. And she talks about happens a little more frequently now. But in that time, that like really was an anomaly. And she was like, this is a mistake. I don't understand how this happened. Did you feel that or?

[19:10] McKenzie Kurtz: I mean, I was I was just happy. I was like, this is I was definitely like, wow, this is a I feel honored that I just was put into this position without having, you know, to go through, right, like understudying or being standby. And it's like, I just was like, this is crazy. It was crazy.

[19:28] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah. What were some things that surprised you that you weren't expecting as you started to learn the role?

[19:44] McKenzie Kurtz: I mean, I feel like almost every Glinda Elphaba will say this, but you grow up listening to this cast recording every day, and then you show up for rehearsal. And Dan Michouquet is like, what are you singing? And you're like, oh, gosh, okay. I mean, it's so it's there's a lot of differences, obviously. And over the years, things have changed and they are trying new things. And Wicked is constantly evolving, whether you may know it or not. But it's like, you know, so learning all of those new things, especially musically. Okay. That was definitely a surprise. And just I think also not I expected it because I knew Glinda. It's a it's a big role and it's hard and it's so but then kind of doing it for the first time all the way through costume changes, everything I was like, oh, this is this is a doozy.

[20:42] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, this is a doozy. And so that took a second to, you know, get adjusted to and feel good about. So yeah. And a lot of Glinda's costumes are so physically restricting.

[20:49] Quincy Brown: Totally. In a way that maybe like Elphaba's are like I know the like the act to dress is super heavy for Elphaba. But like I feel like Glinda is always a little more like.

[21:02] McKenzie Kurtz: Yeah, we're in those. We're in those corsets. We are in those. And then the heels. And then plus here's another surprise, too, that you just reminded me of the Broadway stage is raked. So that rake plus the heels, plus the 20 pound ball gown that takes some getting used to for sure.

[21:21] Quincy Brown: Yeah. And the hoop skirt out to here. You literally. Yes. Mackenzie, I feel like you burst it onto the scene with Frozen replacement cast coming in with Sierra and then just like really built this career for yourself really quickly. Do you feel like your time as Anna prepared you for Glinda? Are you happy that it happened in that order? Or do you think I probably could have done Glinda tour from the get go?

[21:47] McKenzie Kurtz: I'm happy that it happened the way it happened, for sure. Anna was one of the most challenging roles I've ever done, and I only did it for Broadway like for a month and then got to do it on tour for a month or two, which was also a surprise. Wasn't supposed to happen. We'll get into that story. Yeah, I definitely feel like just the this having to build up that stamina and then like for that one month, I mean, I was fresh out of college and I was like, here we go. And I really got an understanding of what it was to be doing eight shows a week in a principal role on Broadway, where not only are you singing this, like Anna was hard. You don't think about it and you think about Elsa being kind of the star of the show, but Anna doesn't leave the stage. She is running around throwing herself much like Glinda is a lot of the time.

[22:39] McKenzie Kurtz: So I definitely feel like physical, totally. Belting too. Belting. I was, yeah, and those costume changes too are insane. It's like, you don't even realize it. But yeah, I definitely feel like that prepared me. In that show too. And I would imagine with Wicked, there's so many like technical spots that you have to hit with like to get the magic trick right or to do the illusion.

[23:02] McKenzie Kurtz: Absolutely. And that's I feel like that's a level of specificity that is surprising coming in. Definitely. Yeah, it was coming into Frozen. It was like, I mean, the whole bridge sequence of what do you know about love and climbing and all the magic that goes into it and the costume changes that are happening on stage, like magnet hats throwing. Yeah, it's there was a lot of technical elements being thrown at you at once.

[23:36] Quincy Brown: Yeah, well, that's why it's interesting because your first two Broadway jobs were capital B Broadway Corporation shows. They're not like the small indie artsy shows.

[23:43] McKenzie Kurtz: We love a commercial theater girly.

[23:53] Quincy Brown: Okay, so when we saw you, I really think it was one of your first couple performances. And what shocked us the most it was in the Talia overlap.

[24:04] McKenzie Kurtz: Oh my gosh, y'all need to come back. Please.

[24:11] McKenzie Kurtz: Mackenzie, I'm coming tonight. My friend texted me and he won the lottery. And he's like,

[24:18] McKenzie Kurtz: Okay, wait, I have I have some breaking news for you then.

[24:27] McKenzie Kurtz: Wow. Okay. Oh my god. I am so jealous. Oh my god. That's insane. I know. Now whenever I see Wicked Without Kevin, I feel like I'm cheating. But you really were so settled into the role and comfortable and making specific choices already. It like felt like you had been doing the role for so long.

[24:49] McKenzie Kurtz: One that's so impressive is those basement shows.

[24:54] Quincy Brown: I was gonna say I have been doing the show since maybe 2006. So in my room. Thank you. I appreciate were there any things as you were rehearsing it that you came into the role being like, this is something I want to do with my Glinda. And this is like, right, I want to have

[25:09] McKenzie Kurtz: I mean, I, I have gotten from multiple Alphabas that I've done this with so far that I'm one of the more unhinged Glinda's and I pride myself on that. And I think just growing up like doing popular in my room and making the most absurd zany choices. I was like, I cannot wait to be able to do this for real. And then it's still night to night like it changes and I just go with what I feel in the moment. And it's like the coolest thing ever. So bringing some of that, you know, energy, I think into the role for sure.

[25:39] Kevin Bianchi: When you were first going on and actually performing, what were you finding tricky about performing the role?

[25:51] McKenzie Kurtz: I guess I mean, stamina is one thing. It's, it's tough. And like vocally, they have you in the stratosphere, and then doing some

[26:04] McKenzie Kurtz: Testier lower stuff so vocally like finding that rhythm and like knowing how do you typically like to sing where what is like comfort? I'm definitely a mixer for sure. And so that middle ground is always something that I feel comfortable in, feel great in. Finding my Glinda sound was something that was interesting for me, and I feel like now I'm like really comfortable and I know what I'm doing with every song that I approach and I plan my sing and I sing my plan, as my vocal teacher likes to say. Yeah, that was something challenging, that's the stamina vocally, but yeah, I don't know if you could think about where you were with your portrayal and take on the role day one versus now six months in, how do you think it has evolved?

Oh my gosh. I think Glinda has gotten—this is 'cause I'm awful—Glinda's gotten sadder, I think. But honestly, you start out and you're doing your dream role and everything is happy and you're just like excited to be standing on the stage. And I think, you know, now I'm six months in, life has settled in more, and I'm someone that my day-to-day totally affects, you know, like how I approach my performance at night, and I use it, I guess, and like no, seriously. And so it's like I think now I have brought a lot more of me and my day-to-day into the role. Now I'm gonna sound like I'm sad, but no, does that make sense? Yeah, definitely evolved and like I think there's more—she's more complex and her array of emotions that she goes through through the show as opposed to just being like a hundred all the way through and like let's go.

[28:06] Quincy Brown: So totally having grown up a fan of the show, what is it like now to be on the other side of it and like witness that? And I'm sure you can relate to some of the interactions that you're having.

[28:16] McKenzie Kurtz: It's so cool. And I'm still like the biggest fan. I mean, it's my favorite show, and going out to the stage door every night is one of my favorite, you know, things. Like meeting the kids honestly is like so awesome for me because—and even seeing the kids like when I'm up in the bubble before I come down, you can peek down and there's a little hole in the curtain where you can see the front row, and I see, you know, like nine-year-olds just like I was sitting in the audience. And right, I get so emotional thinking about it, and I'm like, it's just, it's the—I really like, it's just the coolest thing ever to be able to do it. And then like going and talking to these kids and the amount of kids too that are like this was my first Broadway show, and it's like I'm such a fan now, and there's a reason it's been around for 20 years now.

It's like it's still affecting people the way it affected me when I was sitting there in 2007. It's yeah, so it's just so awesome, and what a nice way of like keeping it fresh is that acknowledgment that like you are somebody's first Glinda out there right now?

[29:29] Quincy Brown: Yeah, no, it's real. It's real, like, yeah, like very grounding. Definitely.

[29:40] McKenzie Kurtz: While you're in the flyspace, this episode is gonna be dropping during October, the 20th anniversary month. I feel like, but it has been like the year of the 20th anniversary. Like you guys have been pounding the pavement already for—

[29:54] Quincy Brown: Yeah, these next two months are about to get pretty crazy.

[29:57] McKenzie Kurtz: They're about to get a little wild, but I'm so excited for all the stuff that is to come.

[30:02] Quincy Brown: Yeah, I think to get like heady about it because it's anniversary month, what do you think it is about Wicked that has like given it this longevity?

[30:11] McKenzie Kurtz: We were just talking to Laura Bell Bundy, and she was like just to remind you guys, Wicked opened to mixed reviews. Like it was not a hit right first opened, yet it has had the staying power. And what do you think it is about it?

[30:24] McKenzie Kurtz: Gosh, that is such a hard question. I mean, I mean it's hard, but it's easy because it's like if you've seen it, you know like what—like why? It's just, I think also at the core of it, the story between Elphaba and Glinda, and it's something that like everyone can relate to whether they see themselves in Elphaba or Glinda. And so cheesy, but the magic of it. And I think also what plays into it is like The Wizard of Oz, a classic, and having this amazing cool backstory to something that everyone knows and loves and grew up on. And there's so many reasons. There's so many reasons, and the music is just—it never gets old. It's something that I will listen to for the rest of my life, and I'm not sick of it even now. I'm like I would listen to it. So many reasons. It's thrilling, and then obviously "Defying Gravity" is one of the most iconic Broadway moments of all time, like spectacular. It's literally spectacular.

[31:31] Quincy Brown: So you are such a Glinda in vibe and personality, but you have a really sick belt. Did you ever think maybe I'll go in for Elphaba?

[31:38] McKenzie Kurtz: I didn't think I would go in for Elphaba. I mean growing up, I loved singing—videos of you singing Elphaba. You know, I know I was definitely—and I always wanted to play Glinda. I'm such a comedy girly at heart, and yeah, that's like work, but what I love to do. Yeah, I knew I wasn't gonna be going in for Elphaba, but I want to be painted green really badly just to see what I would look like.

[32:14] Quincy Brown: Yeah, I was just curious. We hear a lot from the Elphabas about the kind of sisterhood of Elphabas. Do you have any kind of correlating experience with other Glindas where you feel like you've gotten mentorship from them or anything like that?

[32:31] McKenzie Kurtz: I mean coming in, Brittany was so lovely. I cannot sing her praises enough. She was so lovely and gave me a lot of amazing advice just about taking care of myself and like what this role can do to you. And like she had a little post-it in her dressing room that just said, "Drink water," and I remember coming in and being like, haha, but then I'm like, no, babe, we need to be drinking water. Like she just had—she was so kind, and it was just a seamless kind of transition that can only come from, you know, two people that are like each other's biggest fans. And then obviously Megan coming in the other day was so awesome, and I remember when we did Annie Live together, she came up to me and was like, "Your star-to-be is a mix of Elfie and Glinda, and I don't know which one," and I peed my pants.

And so then she came in the other day and she was like, "Well now I guess we know." It's so cool, and so yeah, that's just—I feel like I'm surrounded by women, and you know, Glindas have reached out and via like Instagram and just everyone's really supportive because it's like you're the only people that know what you're going through and what you're—that's, you know, it's such a unique experience, and everyone has been so lovely and welcoming and awesome.

[34:01] Quincy Brown: Is this a role you could see yourself coming back to as the years go on?

[34:05] McKenzie Kurtz: Absolutely. Never get out of Wicked script. I know, absolutely. I'm like, please. Yeah, I love doing this role. I love—the company is fabulous. I would absolutely come back later down the line whenever that is. It's just so impressive to me that you can be brand new and slay so hard in the school.

[34:31] Quincy Brown: Thank you. Alright, so moving into the question, are you a popular Glinda or a thank goodness Glinda? A popular Glinda or thank goodness Glinda can mean whatever you want it to mean. All we ask is that you explain why.

[34:46] McKenzie Kurtz: Okay, gosh, I've given this so much thought already, and even now I'm sitting here like, okay, okay. I think at my core, I am a popular Glinda. I think that is really—I just love it so much. There's never a time where I'm like, oh gosh, alright, here we go. Like I'm—that's what I look forward to.

[35:11] Quincy Brown: Yeah.

[35:13] McKenzie Kurtz: On the flip side, something about "Thank Goodness," I just—I mean one, as Glinda, it's like this moment where you see the inner workings of what's really going on, and I think it's so beautiful and it's vulnerable, and it's just so beautifully written, and like you're seeing the turmoil that's going on inside her, and I love doing that on stage. Also, selfishly, as me, Mackenzie, I really enjoy, you know, just standing and having this gorgeous like diva moment wearing one of my favorite costumes in the show and just like, yeah, literally, that's what it is. It's so—it's such a different vibe than "Popular," and so that's why it's so hard to pick. But I love them both, but I think at my core, I am a popular girly because it's just like I love making choices.

I love comedy, but it's not even all about that too. It's like her objective is to help Elfie, and she's so excited about it, and she's like, I can help you out, and it's gonna be so great, and like just getting to do that too and playing off of my Elphaba is always like—it's just a dream. It's so much fun.

[36:32] Quincy Brown: Can we talk about the Frozen of it all for a little bit? What was your headspace during that pre-pandemic into pandemic era? Crazy, this is your Broadway debut, and you booked this leading role.

[36:42] McKenzie Kurtz: Yes, I was, yeah, quite literally fresh out of college. It's what I just turned 23, and so yeah, I turned 23 like right before I started rehearsals, and I was just over the moon. I mean, I was on cloud nine, like so happy, and I—you know, that month was insane. We were doing a lot of stuff. I remember we flew down to like Junior Theatre Festival in Georgia. They were having us—we're getting caress talk shows because it was, you know, this new cast coming in, Ryan McCartan, Sierra, and myself. Yeah, and then they were also revamping the show, and they cut certain numbers. So it was a lot going on in that first month, but I was so happy to be doing it. And then frankly, like once it shut down, like it was obviously so tragic because of what was going on in the world, and I went home, and we were thinking it's gonna be two weeks, and then two weeks turned into two months, and then we found out Frozen was not going to be coming back at all.

And so I'm working on my vulnerability here. I was very sad. I went through a dark time being home, and like I felt like I had achieved my dream, and then it was just gone like in the blink of an eye, and it was rough for a while. But then I got the call to go and do the tour, which was completely out of the blue, and so I was so happy about that because I felt like I finally got some closure with Frozen itself, and I knew my last show was going to be my last show. And then also Ryan McCartan was doing it on tour as well, so we got to have that experience together, which was amazing.

[38:22] Quincy Brown: And the tour was a short stint too, right?

[38:26] McKenzie Kurtz: It was, yes. I was just coming in because someone had left unexpectedly, and I was just coming in, and it was one of those things where I got the call, and they were like, can you be here tomorrow, and can you rehearse for three days? And I was like, I have not done this show in two years, and I only did it for—not performed in two years. Yeah, it was so—I was like, okay. But I was so happy about it, but also it was crazy. It was crazy.

[38:55] Quincy Brown: Yeah. I'm glad you had that closure though.

[38:57] McKenzie Kurtz: Me too. It was good.

[39:07] McKenzie Kurtz: What do you envision the rest of your career looking like? What are roles you want to play? Types of shows you want to do? I just think you're so talented.

[39:18] Quincy Brown: Thank you. I would love to originate a role. That is something that is on the bucket list for sure. I'd love to originate something. I love comedy. I really do. But I also love a drama. I don't really have any specific ideas to whether or not I would want to do one or the other. I'm like, whatever you'll give me, I will do. I'm not picky. But yeah, originating something, maybe doing something more golden age and not super current. That's something I've always really wanted to do. As a kid, I remember growing up, I would always say when people say, what do you want to be when you grow up? And instead of being like, you know, Broadway star, I would just say, I want to be a working actress on Broadway.

Very level-headed. I was like, I don't know what, I had something screwed on right. But I was like, I want to be a working actress on Broadway. And to this day, I'm like, I just want to do really great projects. And I want to love what I'm doing. And I want it to be as consistent as it can be. Because in this field, it can be so inconsistent and it's so hard. But since I was eight years old, that's what I've been saying. And it's still true to this day. I just want to do projects that I'm passionate about and that I think tell amazing stories. And that's really what I'm looking to continue to do.

[40:46] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah. And I mean, you have been working consistently. The inconsistencies have been forced on you. But in the times you've been able to work, you have been.

[40:54] McKenzie Kurtz: Thanks. Knock on wood.

[40:59] Quincy Brown: Mackenzie, this was so fun. Thank you for joining us.

[41:02] McKenzie Kurtz: Thank you for having me. I'm so honored. I'm like, I made it. I'm so excited.

[41:08] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, my goodness. And I will see you. Thank you so much for swinging by.

[41:12] McKenzie Kurtz: Of course. Yes. Yes. See you tonight. Are you going to be at the stage door after? I'll come say hey.

[41:17] McKenzie Kurtz: Maybe. Yeah. Stick around.

[41:19] Quincy Brown: OK, cool. I'm quick. I'll run down.

[41:22] Kevin Bianchi: All right. I got to say, I am really and truly obsessed with Mackenzie Kurtz. I think she has really she's already doing really big, incredible, exciting things. And I think there are only bigger and incredible things on the horizon for her and her career.

[41:45] Quincy Brown: I think, oh, yeah, I think she is. I don't know if it's like the first, but she is definitely like of I think like the new generation, like the new era of Wicked that we're moving into where like people who grew up loving the show are now starting to be in it. I think it's really fun that we were able to talk to her about growing up with bootleg culture and kind of how those early memories show up or like kind of color or shade the way she plays the role now.

[42:24] Kevin Bianchi: Well, what's interesting as like our head spaces are pretty much and history with the show are similarly aligned to hers and her experience with the show. It's on a similar timeline. So the references. And I feel like when you watch her performance, you get a sense of the Glinda's and we talked about it, of the Glinda's that are in her head and are kind of have informed the way that she performs and perceives the role. And it's exciting for me because like those are kind of the same crop of gals that I was very into during my very into phase of Wicked as a younger person. And again, I just think it's like so evident in her performance who she is hearkening back to. And it's so thrilling to see that on the stage of the Gersh.

[43:13] Quincy Brown: Did you feel like after talking to her and having her kind of like point out the things that she feels like she's developed on or gotten more comfortable with? Like, did you take her performance in any differently that night having just talked to her?

[43:22] Kevin Bianchi: Um, not necessarily in the sense where like, I wasn't thinking, oh, yes, Glinda is much more sad. I can definitely see that. I think I mean, she was just kind of a runaway hit of the entire show. Like it feels like Mackenzie's show in a very special, non-intrusive way. Just like, you know, oh, my God, this is like she's living her life. I did pay close attention to her.

[43:59] Quincy Brown: Thank goodness.

[44:00] Kevin Bianchi: I mean, you always do.

[44:01] Quincy Brown: How could you not?

[44:02] Kevin Bianchi: But I did tap in in a special way for her.

[44:06] Quincy Brown: Thank goodness. And boy, was it special.

[44:08] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, my God. Wait, how was Laurel Harris?

[44:12] Quincy Brown: I know I didn't even get there yet. I was gonna bring it.

[44:15] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah. So this. Oh, yeah. We found out with Mackenzie. She was incredible. It was so exciting to see her. I really don't think I've seen her before. I can't remember.

[44:23] Quincy Brown: I never have. I used to keep a really detailed spreadsheet of every Broadway show I've ever seen. And then for Wicked and Waitress, I would put my principal cast, too. But I've fallen off of that. I think this was the first time I've ever seen Laurel Harris. And it was she was incredible. This was her first performance back as this vacation standby track that she's doing right now, if I'm not mistaken. And again, it was really cool to see kind of like a legacy Elphaba performing with like new age Glinda. It was really? There were so many times as I was watching the show that I'd be clapping and I'd just be like, this is great. Audibly would say, this is great.

[45:06] Kevin Bianchi: And also, I have to say, I saw the show with my same friend who I saw the cottage with, who I read his text message review. And it was so cool and eye-opening to watch the show with someone who like was watching it as a show was taking in the plot. Like he was gasping at certain things that I was like, I literally I'm trying to think of specific moments. First of all, when the board flips over, animals should be seen and not heard his hands on his mouth audible gasp. And I was like, wow, that's like, okay. And then during The Wizard and I, he was reacting to like lyrical storytelling moments. There would be moments where I was locked in waiting to see what choices Laurel was going to make vocally, where he would react to some to a bit of storytelling that was happening that I realized I wasn't even clocking. Because in my head, I'm just like, this is The Wizard and I understand where we're getting now.

[46:06] Quincy Brown: Right. You're thinking of it as a whole.

[46:08] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah. And so it was really cool to be sitting next to someone who was taking it in in that way. And I do think it really forced me to like take it in in that way a little bit too, which I probably haven't since probably like the dress rehearsal we went to before reopening a Broadway.

[46:25] Quincy Brown: Yeah. Oh, my God. Yeah. But there was a moment, my friend, after As Long As You're Mine, where Elphaba's like, I just wish I could be beautiful for you. And Fiyero goes, it's not. And Elphaba's like, you don't have to lie to me. And Fiyero goes, it's not lying. It's looking at things a different way. My friend turns to me and he goes, I would kill myself. And then I was like, you know what, that line actually isn't a great thing to say to someone who's like seeking validation.

[47:04] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, my God. Yeah.

[47:06] Quincy Brown: Like it's kind of a not nice thing to say. I understand the sentiment. Yeah, but then she gets it back at the end when he's like, oh, God, now I'm so ugly. And she's like, no, babe, it's looking at things another way. Yeah, but it was really fun and just like so cool to see. I was talking to Mackenzie after the show and she was like, God, I feel like I had such a wicked day. I talked to you guys and then I went and did the show. And I was like, imagine how I feel. I was actually watching the show.

[47:30] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah.

[47:32] Quincy Brown: You know what else I loved is that story or that like fact, I guess, that the last Frozen show on Broadway was Mackenzie and Alyssa Joy Fox. And then, yeah, I got really good to do it together.

[47:46] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah. I didn't realize that that's special.

[47:48] Quincy Brown: Oh, I will say she is. So, yeah, I agree with her. Popular Wizard and I are no one more than Wicked Glinda is what I was going to say.

[47:58] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, you know what I did think about? I'll circle back to that. You know, I did think about as I was watching the show. One, as long as you're mine, there's like some synthy. I can only describe it as a synthy waterfall instrumentals that happened during the verses that I had never noticed before that are really so like I wasn't even listening to the words during as long as you're mine. I was listening to the orchestration, which felt lightning. Yeah, the Gersh you know, really, I was taking it in. There was one more interesting point that I really wanted to bring up, but it's not coming to me right now. So next time, I guess.

[48:34] Kevin Bianchi: Yeah, save it for a bonus episode. All to say is get thee to the Gersh to see Mackenzie Kurtz's Glinda because what she's doing on that stage is really special. And really, I'm a fangirl for Mackenzie Kurtz.

[48:42] Quincy Brown: Oh, anything else to say today, Quincy?

[48:50] Kevin Bianchi: I have nothing to say except that I hope everyone liked today's episode. And if you did and you'd like to support the pod, there are a few ways to do so. You can subscribe to our Patreon and join the Green Circle. Members of the Green Circle get to be on our close friends on Instagram where you will help us plan episodes and think of questions for the guest. You will also get some access to extended episodes and bonus content. So that's cool. And if you're looking for a free way to support the pod, just open up whatever app you're listening on and give us a rating, give us a review, and we'll love you forever.

[49:30] Quincy Brown: That's all I got. I hope Wicked Month is training you guys nicely.

[49:34] Kevin Bianchi: Yes, I do too. We're halfway through Wicked Month already. I think today is Friday the 13th when you're listening to this. So if you're listening to this, I am sitting at the AMC Times Square watching Taylor Swift's Eras Tour movie. I'm probably getting a tattoo.

[49:49] Quincy Brown: Of what?

[49:52] Kevin Bianchi: I don't know.

[49:53] Quincy Brown: Taylor Swift?

[49:54] Kevin Bianchi: That's the point of Friday the 13th.

[49:55] Quincy Brown: Oh, do you always do that?

[49:57] Kevin Bianchi: That is a thing, yeah.

[49:58] Quincy Brown: Yeah.

[49:59] Kevin Bianchi: Every Friday the 13th, though?

[50:00] Quincy Brown: No, but all of them are from Friday the 13th, but I don't do it every Friday the 13th.

[50:07] Kevin Bianchi: Get a Taylor tattoo to commemorate her movie release.

[50:10] Quincy Brown: No, what if I got...

[50:12] Kevin Bianchi: That's going to have a bigger opening than Barbie movie.

[50:15] Quincy Brown: Is that for real?

[50:16] Kevin Bianchi: It's projected to make so much more money than Barbie movie.

[50:20] Quincy Brown: I don't know the actual numbers.

[50:22] Kevin Bianchi: All right, well, good episode of our Wicked podcast. Love you a long time.

[50:26] Quincy Brown: McKenzie Kurtz will star as Barbie in the Barbie musical movie adaptation.

[50:36] Kevin Bianchi: Absolutely.

[50:37] Quincy Brown: That's inspired.

[50:39] Kevin Bianchi: And who would the boy be? Who's going to be Ken?

[50:41] Quincy Brown: I would love an Isaac Cole Powell moment as Ken.

[50:44] Kevin Bianchi: Yes, that's perfect, Quincy.

[50:47] Quincy Brown: Yeah, that feels good. Anyways, okay, good episode, Quincy.

[50:55] Kevin Bianchi: All right, bye. Talk to you soon.

[51:23] Quincy Brown: If you want to get in touch, send us an email. We love to hear from you all. You can reach us at sentmenpod at theaterly.com. That's T-H-E-A-T-R-E-L-Y. You can also connect with us across social media on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at sentmenpod. Thanks for tuning in. Till next time, I'm Quincy.

[51:44] Kevin Bianchi: And I'm Kevin.

[51:53] Quincy Brown: I feel like I saw a hubbub about hair.

[51:57] Kevin Bianchi: Did you tweet about this or something?

[51:59] Quincy Brown: No, you read it in our outline.

[52:02] Kevin Bianchi: Oh, okay. Sorry, continue.