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[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 130 of Take A Bow. I'm your host Eli Tokash and this week we have another exciting episode for all of you folks. We are here at the red carpet opening night of & Juliet which was just a blast. I have so much to talk to you all about this show. I absolutely loved it. I was able to see the show. It was literally one of the best shows that I've seen in a long time and I think I've had an awakening y'all. I think I like jukebox musicals. I don't think I realized you know I kind of always not been down on them but I was just like you know it's like eh you know I don't know. I've never I've never said it's like one of my favorite musicals but this one is pretty dang close and I absolutely loved & Juliet.

I thought the way that they did this show was absolutely brilliant. They're literally rewriting Shakespeare in the middle of the show. I think it's just so much fun so it was so cool to be able to sit down and cover the opening night of this special day for the cast and to then of course see the show was just an absolute blast and it was just unbelievable. Please go check it out. Hopefully this episode gets you excited about it all but before we get to all of it why don't we talk some Broadway news shall we? Oh first of all happy Thanksgiving everyone. How could I not start off the episode by saying I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I hope everyone who traveled traveled safely and with no I guess complications or obstacles that stood in the way which is you know always a thing.

So happy Thanksgiving. Hope everyone had a great time. Hope everyone stuffed their face with all of their favorite foods and yeah speaking of speaking of Thanksgiving we got to talk about the Macy's Day Thanksgiving. Oh my god I messed this up on yesterday's episode too. We are so excited to be talking about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Oh my gosh tongue twister. Speaking of Thanksgiving we have to talk about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. So many wonderful performances from the folks of Beautiful Noise and we had performances from the cast of Funny Girl. First of all best way to open the parade absolutely brilliant whoever decided that needed a raise. Just so good so perfect for for the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Day Parade.

That song was literally made for the parade I feel. It was absolutely brilliant and a blast that they did it the way that they did and Lea Michele and the cast of Funny Girl are just absolutely incredible and no surprise there what they were able to do on that performance. Beautiful Noise also performed so fun. Everyone in the crowd was like it was really really cute because everyone in the crowd was singing along because you know Neil Diamond he's a classic you know singer-songwriter everyone knows his stuff. So to kind of see that like little sense of community especially in like Sweet Caroline because later literally all the ensemble members kind of just like huddled around and put their arms around each other as you could see the people in the crowds were doing and just singing along and it was such like a little cute community moment right in time for the holiday season.

I don't know I was just like my heart was just so happy. Anyways so that was fantastic. Beautiful Noise looks fantastic. I cannot wait to see it. I think I'm going to the opening night so um to actually see the show so hopefully that works out and I'm so excited for that show. Another fun one was Some Like It Hot. Oh my god Some Like It Hot was so fun. Jay Harrison Gee looks amazing in that show. Adriana Hicks killing it as always. That music is pretty fun you know I didn't know much about the show before it came to Broadway or this time around at least. But the music is so fun the costumes are so cool and it seems like such a like a fun little show. I could be wrong. It could be really sad because I haven't seen it yet but it seems like what I've seen it's just so like catchy and upbeat and all the things and gets you going and I don't know.

I'm excited to see that one. Some Like It Hot that should be a fun one. I think I need to go see that one too. Anyways these performances just made me so excited to see the shows. And then we had performance from The Lion King and those costumes I swear to God I will never never not marvel at those costumes. I'm just like always blown away by them. I love everything about The Lion King and what they pull off on eight shows a week and how they were able to construct it and the way that they were able to construct it like 25 years ago. Like that's absolutely insane to kind of have that like revolutionary moment for Broadway. It's it's so unbelievable. So the fact that they were able to perform on the parade this year was just so perfect and it was such a fun performance.

So that and then you had performances from Six and Moulin Rouge as well not at the parade itself but in their theaters which was also super fun. Moulin Rouge and Six have been around for a minute. So same with Lion King. So I was kind of performed that they all performed but it makes sense that Moulin Rouge and Six did their performances in their respective theaters with you know being on for so long and not taking away from the other shows that are that are new and trying to you know do a little promo thing for the parade. Great performances all around by everyone. I love the Thanksgiving Day parade performances because those things are not hard or that are not easy. Like I obviously performed at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in 2015 and you know you're up at like 4 a.m. at the theater to fully get ready.

Whether it's you know makeup, hair, costume, whatever it is you have to be there at 4 o'clock and then you are heading in a bus over to Macy's at like 5 o'clock to do like a little dress rehearsal thing with everything and then you're you're in a break at like 7 to 8 ish and then you're back at 8 because then like 7 to 8 ish you grab like your coffee your breakfast do whatever and then 8 you have to be there in your trailers and they'll pull you in at like 9 or 9 15 9 30 and 9 45 you know whenever your performance is and then you go home and then you usually some some people have shows that night I know I had a show that night I don't know if everyone else did this week but insane stuff you know like you just did a show you maybe did two shows on a Wednesday the day before and then you're up at 4 o'clock to be there at the theater like you know at that same time and get everything ready and then have a performance at 9 o'clock and it's just madness and then of course like leading up to it you have to go to the recording studio because fun fact the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Day parade performances are not live they are lip-synced and make sense because it's like 9 a.m. and it's like impossible to like really warm your voice up at that time especially after doing a show that day craziness you just need to rest your voice especially in the freezing cold you know that's the other thing like there's so much to it that like you don't even think of there's rehearsals the day before there's there's literally rehearsal the night before at the parade and like all the things and it's just like you know for the camera for the blocking for the all the things so it's it's a lot and I respect everyone those performances so much and when I watch them I just have an absolute ball because I just appreciate not not only like the quality of the performance in the performance itself but just like as a Broadway fan you know you love to see that kind of stuff and you love to be such serenaded on a Thanksgiving Day in your PJs at home what's better anyways I'm talking way too long about Thanksgiving Day parade but it's just so much fun and I absolutely love it so there you have it happy Thanksgiving that's my little spiel and here's some news this week so Broadway news this week let's talk about it I did see a another show this week that was not on Broadway oh my god I keep saying Broadway news and then like not sharing Broadway news but that's okay cuz it's like take about news you know all the things I was actually fortunate enough to see a production of a play called Row that my old school put on PPAs the Professional Performing Arts School they put on a production of a new work and it's a play called row and if you can't guess by the name it is about the Roe v. Wade case and actually it's about it's about the plaintiff and the lawyer who who both who were involved in the Roe v. Wade case they both wrote a book and they both both of their books had different perspectives and didn't quite line up necessarily so this play is about those two telling their stories and kind of competing to see and to I guess get the audience to vote whose story was like most accurate and most authentic I guess and it was kind of neat it because that I talked to the director afterwards Heather Lanza by the way this show was written by Lisa Loomer so wanted to shout her out because it was absolutely incredible I wanted to I went up to the director afterwards and talked to her a little bit about the show and they said that this show was actually written in 2016 and just recently so pretty much all of that too was an extension on the the play itself of of life you know post this Roe v. Wade world that kind of got overturned so here we are and and they talk about all of that and and how there's still so much work to be done they never once felt that the work was done and it was really interesting because it was more so like screw all of the talk about abortion you know like at the end of the day that's not what they are fighting for and what this case has been about this whole time it's literally solely been about a woman having the right to make decisions for herself like that's pretty much it and for her body so kind of hearing that perspective was absolutely incredible just to it's so empowering it's so just hearing it it's kind of heartbreaking and well it is heartbreaking in a lot of senses but you know you you go and you're just like holy like you're so moved I haven't been that moved by a piece in a dramatic way in such a long time you know it's always like a feel-good way you feel moved and everything but this kind of left you with a sort of rage in the best way possible to you know do good and I think everyone like I went up to the director and was like this isn't a school play like this I need I need to see this at the Public Theater I need to see this in all the different places I need to see this at Shakespeare in the Park I think that would be an awesome place to see the show but there there was just so many great things about it that blew me away and in just learning more about the history of the case and learning who Jane Roe actually was and who the lawyer was that actually kind of brought this out and what their stories were and why they were so passionate about it at that time and doing all these things it was just absolutely incredible highly recommended the the high school juniors that that are currently at PPAS who put on the performance were absolutely incredible shout out to all of you if any of you all are listening you are all fantastic I was blown away by your performance and was just so thrilled to be able to come and support you all and be back at PPAS which was kind of odd and fun all at the same time anyways now with that being said we will actually talk about some Broadway news that happened this week not much is happening this week so I wanted to tell those stories of course one thing that did happening that happened obviously the Ann Juliette opened very exciting stuff and a Christmas Carol with Jefferson Mays opened which you all know is very special to me it was my first professional production of a show ever I played Tiny Tim so to go back and revisit this show was absolutely incredible Jefferson Mays gives a performance that is unforgettable in every sense of the word it's a one-man play I've never seen a Christmas Carol done that way it's absolutely amazing you all need to go check that out congratulations Jefferson Mays and everyone else involved in the production of this beautiful beautiful show and Jefferson Mays I mean if he doesn't want a Tony for this his performance in this show it I don't know what to say honestly he definitely has my vote if I were to be voting in the Tony Awards which I'm not so I guess it's irrelevant but I wanted to say it anyways anyways okay some other exciting news.

[14:06] Eli Tokash: I'm so sorry, I feel like I always mess up that name. Joaquina Calucango is going to be stepping in to Into the Woods, which is so exciting because it's just giving us all... it's exciting, but at the same time it's like, oh my god, now I have to break the bank again, you know? Like, what else is new? Because how many times can we all go see the show with all of these incredible people continuing to step in? But she will be playing The Witch in Into the Woods, which is very exciting. She will be playing it next month, so I believe for their final two weeks of the run, she will be playing The Witch, which is just so exciting because she's incredible. She was incredible in Paradise Square, but she's been in a million other things too, so I know she's going to be fantastic in this role as well.

So congrats to her and the cast of Into the Woods, very exciting stuff. And one last piece of news that happened this... well, I guess that's happening today. Matilda, the musical The Movie, that is very hard to say, is coming out and that is very exciting. I've heard great things about it so far. Their album is actually already out, so y'all can listen to that. And I just wanted to shout out some other good news this week with my friend and Take a Bow family member, Joshua Cauley, who is going to be playing Hook, which is fun because it's like a little crossover with Neverland, in a new Descendants kind of movie for Disney, which is so exciting, so happy for Josh. Hopefully we can have him back on and talk about his role and a couple other of his projects that he's done since coming on, because he's done a lot because this was pre-pandemic.

Joshua Cauley, and I have to shout out Gabriella Baldacchino, who is playing Mary, I believe, in Disenchanted. So that's already out, so that's very exciting. You all can watch that. It's like the Enchanted, but now it's Disenchanted. I need to go watch it to tell you all what it's about and all the things, and I'm excited to see it. But shout out to those friends of myself and of the show. So hopefully we can have them back on and talk to them a little bit about their experience. Anyways, that's all I have for you folks this week. Let's turn it over to the wonderful opening night of & Juliet, because it was so cool. There were actually some random people at this red carpet. I mean, not random, but it was crazy that these people were here at a Broadway opening night.

Dirk was there, who is a Dallas Maverick basketball player, and I don't even want to try to pronounce his last name, so I apologize, because I know I'm just going to get it wrong. Dirk was there. Simon Cowell was there, which is really, really cool. Annie from Schitt's Creek was there. That was fantastic. Chris Martin from Coldplay was there. Just so many fun and fabulous people. Carly Hughes, Keala Settle, for some Broadway folks. Yeah, and there were just a ton of people. And you'll also hear from them here on this episode, and if you want, because I know it's way more fun and it's a fast-paced episode with these red carpets and all the things. It's up on YouTube right now, so go watch it.

Go check it out. Go watch these people while I interview them, just to follow along a little easier. I talked to pretty much the whole cast of & Juliet, and then of course some of the fun people that are either involved with the show or who happen to attend opening night. So very exciting stuff. Here it is. Without further ado, let's turn it over to the cast of & Juliet. & Juliet, curtain up.

[18:18] Unknown speaker: We're here at the opening night of & Juliet, obviously. How excited are we to see the show?

[18:22] Unknown speaker: Dude, I'm delighted. I've been really excited to see the show. This is the show I'm most excited about this season.

[18:26] Unknown speaker: Yeah, well tell me, what's your thoughts about jukebox musicals? Obviously this is a Broadway show and it's got some pop songs in it. What's your thoughts?

[18:30] Unknown speaker: I'm down. I like when people find different ways to find jukebox musicals. You know, I loved Beautiful that was here in the same theater, and I thought they did a beautiful job of making those songs naturally flow within the script and move the story forward. So I'm excited to see how & Juliet does that.

[18:51] Unknown speaker: Well, speaking of these pop songs, do you have a go-to shower pop song that you love to belt your face off to?

[19:00] Unknown speaker: That's such a great question. You know what, I'll do Britney. You know what I mean? I'll belt some Britney. Oh my gosh, absolutely legendary. But again, I'm just ready for all these songs to kind of wash over me.

[19:16] Unknown speaker: Yeah, well we're so excited for you to see the show. Enjoy the show and yeah, have a great night. You look amazing. Good to see you too. Thanks for stopping by. Thank you.

[19:25] Unknown speaker: We're here at the opening night of & Juliet. How excited are we to see the show?

[19:30] Unknown speaker: We're all very excited. As excited as I am cold. Yeah. Oh my god, it's freezing out here. Sorry. But it's worth it.

[19:35] Unknown speaker: Yeah. Well, thanks for chatting with the girls, for sure. Well, I mean, it's a jukebox musical, so there's a bunch of pop songs in the show. What's your favorite, like, go-to pop song to sing in the shower?

[19:40] Unknown speaker: Oh, I mean, right now, right now, there's a lot of like Hailey Bieber, not Hailey Bieber, okay, but at the top of my list, sorry, at the top of my list is Bang Bang.

[19:54] Unknown speaker: Oh yeah, Jesse J. Absolutely.

[20:03] Unknown speaker: Yeah. Do you have a hot, do you have a Shakespeare hot take?

[20:06] Unknown speaker: Um, wherefore art thou a Romeo? Right. But where art thou a Romeo? Like, where is my Romeo? No shade. I feel like I've been looking for a while.

[20:17] Unknown speaker: Right, right, right. So if you are my Romeo, hit my line. Well, thank you so much. Enjoy the show. That was iconic. Thank you. Nice to see you.

[20:26] Unknown speaker: So excited. Super excited for Lorna. Yes. Can't wait. Well, this is a pop musical, jukebox musical type thing. What's your go-to, like, pop song to sing in the shower?

[20:32] Unknown speaker: Oh, probably Love on the Brain by Rihanna.

[20:37] Unknown speaker: Yeah, that's a good one. Everyone's like, Duran was like, yeah, we know it, daddy.

[20:43] Unknown speaker: Oh my god, amazing. So do you have a hot take on Shakespeare? Or just like general thoughts?

[20:49] Unknown speaker: Yeah, I mean, great. Oh, hot take in that Shakespeare is black.

[21:00] Unknown speaker: Oh, oh my god. Love. That's good stuff. That's good stuff right there. Thank you.

[21:10] Unknown speaker: Oh my god. So obviously, like pop songs, all the things. Do you have like a concert that you really want to go to by a pop song singer?

[21:15] Unknown speaker: Yes. Renee Rapp.

[21:24] Unknown speaker: Oh my god. Stop it. No, literally pop queen. Thank you so much. That's a great answer. Thanks for stopping by.

[21:28] Unknown speaker: So excited. Yes. And this show is obviously, it has some pop music in it. Do we have a favorite pop song that we like to sing in the shower?

[21:35] Unknown speaker: Yeah. Right now, because I don't come to New York a whole lot, but I'm excited to be here. So I'm listening to City of Gods.

[21:42] Unknown speaker: Oh my god. It's so beautiful. So good. So good. Do we have a Shakespeare hot take?

[21:48] Unknown speaker: Um, yeah. I feel like there's a lot of misogyny happening there, which, you know, for me, & Juliet is dismantling the Mice's heteropatriarchy, and we love that.

[22:05] Unknown speaker: Yeah, we love it. We love it. I'm just gonna second that. Yeah, no, we love everything about this show. It's so good, and I cannot wait for you guys to see it. So enjoy opening night, and thanks for chatting.

[22:14] Unknown speaker: Thanks for having us. Yes, of course. Thank you.

[22:18] Unknown speaker: Sounds great. So we're here at the opening night of & Juliet, of course. How are we feeling? It's a pop musical. What are we feeling about the jukebox musicals now on Broadway?

[22:23] Unknown speaker: Yeah, it's, you know, I'm someone who's a musical theater writer. You know, I've written a lot of musicals, and so for me, it's always like a strange thing, a jukebox musical. But I mean, this one, the songs are really good. The cast is really exciting. I love Puyo Puyo. I love Paloma Young, and so I feel like it's going to be a good night, and a fun show. And you know, if I have to have my job replaced by Max Martin, I'm happy that there's going to be confetti in my room.

[22:56] Unknown speaker: Oh my god, what an answer. How about you? You have anything to add?

[23:01] Unknown speaker: Everything is great. Yes, everything.

[23:05] Unknown speaker: No, no, I'm really excited. It's gonna be great. Do you guys have a go-to shower pop song? A go-to shower pop song?

[23:10] Unknown speaker: Yeah, I love Mamma Mia.

[23:15] Unknown speaker: Yeah, that's a good song. You know, I'm a big fan of that one. Or A Little Priest from Sweeney Todd.

[23:22] Unknown speaker: Oh, period. Yeah, same.

[23:28] Unknown speaker: I love, mine's not either really a pop song, but Stars from Les Mis is probably a good one, because you, like, you want to kill yourself at the end of your shower, but you know, you can sing your heart out, nobody cares.

[23:36] Unknown speaker: Absolutely legendary. Do you ever sing your own songs in the shower?

[23:41] Unknown speaker: Um, no, I never do.

[23:45] Unknown speaker: No? No, because imagine if someone heard me singing my own songs in the shower. That would just be, that would be like, I think that's what people's idea of me is.

[23:49] Unknown speaker: Yeah. I don't want to give them the satisfaction. Hey, you have to send out your Venmo requests for your neighbors, you know.

[23:54] Unknown speaker: All right, thank you guys so much, and enjoy the opening of & Juliet. Thank you.

[24:03] Unknown speaker: Yeah, of course, have a good one.

[24:07] Unknown speaker: Yeah, exactly. Excited, can't wait for the energy. It's going to be a fantastic show. And you guys are both producers on the show, making your Broadway debut as a producer. What does that mean? Is this like a, you know, checkbox moment on your, like, goals?

[24:12] Unknown speaker: I think & Juliet is the perfect show to come to. I think being from New York, growing up, going to Broadway, it's quite exciting to be a part of something like this. Especially one that I think is going to bring so much joy and happiness to the city.

[24:29] Unknown speaker: Absolutely, those are great answers. And how about, who's your, like, shower pop song? You guys listen to any pop songs in the shower that you just love to belt out?

[24:39] Unknown speaker: It's probably one of the songs on the show. Roar by Katy Perry.

[24:44] Unknown speaker: Yeah, there it is. Well now, since the show, I've been singing It's My Life by Bon Jovi. It was never one of my shower songs, but it now is. It's one of my favorite songs. I still sing it to this day. I sang it in the shower this morning, to be honest with you. So thank you both.

[25:05] Unknown speaker: Yeah, of course, I love it. And congratulations to both of you on making your Broadway debut, and congratulations and good luck. Thank you so much.

[25:09] Unknown speaker: Yeah, bake a leg. Thank you.

[25:15] Unknown speaker: Well, we're here at the opening night of & Juliet. How excited are you to have this show finally opened on Broadway? I mean, this is a lifelong dream come true to be on Broadway. And to be on Broadway with this show means so much to me, because this show is like a perfect fusion of everything in my background, from theater, to pop, to hip-hop, and it's all coming together on stage tonight.

[25:30] Unknown speaker: Oh my god, it's so brilliant. And the dancing is incredible, and that's led by you. Talk to me about what it's like to put dance to pop music in a musical theater world.

[25:35] Unknown speaker: I mean, you know, we really try to always focus on the storytelling. And the thing that makes this show so amazing is having such an incredible cast of incredibly diverse movers to bring it to life. And it's totally not a show about everyone doing it the same way, but it's a show about everyone doing it with the same heart. And that's what makes & Juliet magical.

[26:01] Unknown speaker: Oh my god, come on. If that doesn't get you excited to see the show, I don't know what's gonna get you excited. Do you have a shower song that you absolutely just love to like scream your face off to?

[26:11] Unknown speaker: It's probably one of the songs in the show, and that's okay. Sure. I mean, since you've been gone, who doesn't love to sing that in the shower? So good. Just scream my face off. Yep, I love it. Well, thank you so much. Break a leg on your run, and congrats.

[26:25] Unknown speaker: Yeah, of course.

[26:31] Unknown speaker: Hi, we're here with Joe Muller, who just opened & Juliet on Broadway. How are we feeling?

[26:37] Joe Muller: I'm feeling amazing. It's my Broadway debut. I can't believe it.

[26:44] Unknown speaker: You're a Broadway star. Craziness. How exciting are you to be making your Broadway debut in this particular show?

[26:51] Joe Muller: I am a firm believer that like this was the show for me. I'm 34. I've waited this long. Like this show has been waiting for me. I have been waiting for this show. Like this is the perfect vehicle for me.

[27:00] Unknown speaker: Yes, it really is. And it's, for those of you who don't know, it's a jukebox musical, so there's a bunch of pop songs. I gotta ask you, what's your go-to shower pop song?

[27:05] Joe Muller: Oh my gosh, my go-to. I gotta go with It's Gonna Be May.

[27:11] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[27:17] Unknown speaker: Yeah, that was everything. And one last question for you before you leave. What was the question I wanted to ask? Oh, if there was a Broadway, if there's a pop song that's not in the show that you really want to be in the show, what would it be?

[27:22] Joe Muller: You know that new T-Swift song that, it's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me.

[27:30] Unknown speaker: Yes, that one. A thousand percent that. Do I know that song? Come on, who doesn't know that song? That's a brilliant answer. Thank you so much. Congratulations.

[27:34] Joe Muller: Thank you. It's so good to see you.

[27:41] Unknown speaker: I love you too. You look amazing. This is everything.

[27:45] Virgil Gatson: Hello, my name is Virgil Gatson and I play Augustine. Yes, and he killed it. He just opened & Juliet on Broadway. How are we feeling?

[27:50] Virgil Gatson: It's amazing. It's so great. It's such a great feeling. Hey, this has been a long time in the making, highly anticipated. Was there a lot of pressure coming into this opening night?

[28:00] Virgil Gatson: Oh yeah, there's definitely a lot of pressure. We were like sweating, but at the same time, like, we all care for each other so much and love each other, so we were all there for each other and we made it work. We made it happen. Incredible, incredible. Well, this is a jukebox musical, obviously.

[28:13] Nicholas Edwards: So there's a lot of pop songs. Do you have a go-to shower pop song?

[28:16] Lorna Courtney: Oh my goodness. It's so many. There's so many to choose from. I'd like to sing them all of them.

[28:20] Nicholas Edwards: I wanted that away. Tell me why it ain't nothing but a huh.

[28:26] Lorna Courtney: See, I already know. Right? Come on, everybody knows these songs. Are you kidding me? It's amazing.

[28:30] Nicholas Edwards: And one last question for you. A pop song that's not in the show that you really want to be in the show. You got one?

[28:36] Lorna Courtney: Ooh, pop song. Let's see. Oh my gosh. Now I'm saying bye, bye, bye, bye, bye.

[28:42] Lorna Courtney: I don't know lyrics like that, but it's all good. It may be crazy, but it ain't no lie, baby. Bye, bye.

[28:50] Nicholas Edwards: Yes. Ain't no lie. Bye, bye, bye. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. Congrats on opening night and break a leg on the rest of your run.

[28:56] Lorna Courtney: Yes, thank you. Have a good one.

[28:58] Nicholas Edwards: My name is Nicholas Edwards and I play Sly and Lord Capulet.

[29:03] Stark Sands: Yes, and he's killing it. He just opened and Juliet on Broadway. How are we feeling?

[29:07] Nicholas Edwards: I feel amazing. I've been waiting to come back to Broadway since the pandemic.

[29:13] Nicholas Edwards: And it just feels absolutely amazing to finally be back on Broadway, especially with this show.

[29:19] Nicholas Edwards: This show that is all about love and joy and fun.

[29:23] Nicholas Edwards: And it's every time we come to work, I just like can't wait to do the show.

[29:27] Nicholas Edwards: And today was electric.

[29:29] Stark Sands: Oh my God. The audience is just amazing.

[29:31] Nicholas Edwards: I have to ask you, do you have a Shakespeare hot take?

[29:35] Stark Sands: Shakespeare hot take?

[29:37] Nicholas Edwards: What are your thoughts on Shakespeare? First thing that comes to head.

[29:39] Stark Sands: Okay, hot take on Shakespeare. He's a little cocky.

[29:45] Stark Sands: He's a little cocky.

[29:47] Stark Sands: From the beginning of the show, he's a little cocky.

[29:49] Stark Sands: He's got some lessons to learn from Anne, I think.

[29:55] Nicholas Edwards: Which he definitely does. You come see the show, you'll find out how.

[29:59] Nicholas Edwards: And if you come see the show, you'll be hearing a lot of pop music, which is so much fun and so electric.

[30:03] Nicholas Edwards: And I think that's what the audience enjoy and have just so much fun dancing in their seats and everything.

[30:07] Nicholas Edwards: Do you have a go-to pop song that you sing in the shower?

[30:11] Stark Sands: Oh my God.

[30:13] Nicholas Edwards: Come on. You have to have like a shower playlist.

[30:15] Stark Sands: Oh, okay.

[30:17] Stark Sands: What's on that?

[30:19] Stark Sands: It's my life. Absolutely.

[30:21] Stark Sands: Because we always finish act one with that number.

[30:26] Stark Sands: No spoilers, but we finish act one with it's my life.

[30:30] Stark Sands: And throughout all of intermission, we're all singing it's my life.

[30:32] Stark Sands: It's so catchy.

[30:34] Stark Sands: It's so good.

[30:36] Nicholas Edwards: And one last question for you. Since there are a lot of pop songs, do you have a favorite pop song that you really wish was in the show that's just not in the show?

[30:44] Stark Sands: Oh, man.

[30:48] Stark Sands: I think Max Martin wrote Take My Breath.

[30:50] Stark Sands: I think he took the Weekend song.

[30:56] Stark Sands: And I feel like if Romeo sang that in this show, it would be pretty sick.

[31:00] Nicholas Edwards: Yeah, that'd be sick.

[31:02] Nicholas Edwards: That's really dope.

[31:04] Nicholas Edwards: So thank you so much for stopping by.

[31:06] Nicholas Edwards: And congratulations on opening night.

[31:08] Stark Sands: Thank you so much.

[31:10] Stark Sands: It was nice meeting you.

[31:12] Rachel Webb: Hi, my name is Rachel Webb and I play Judith in Anne Juliet.

[31:16] Nicholas Edwards: Talk to me, because you just made the opening night.

[31:20] Nicholas Edwards: You just opened Anne Juliet on Broadway.

[31:22] Nicholas Edwards: Long time coming.

[31:24] Nicholas Edwards: What's going through your mind right now?

[31:26] Rachel Webb: I don't know.

[31:28] Rachel Webb: I'm actually overwhelmed in the best way.

[31:30] Rachel Webb: I'm exhilarated.

[31:32] Rachel Webb: I feel just excited.

[31:34] Rachel Webb: Just happy, grateful.

[31:36] Rachel Webb: There's nothing else other than gratitude.

[31:38] Rachel Webb: That's my biggest adjective right now.

[31:40] Nicholas Edwards: That's awesome.

[31:42] Nicholas Edwards: Well, this show is so beautiful for so many reasons.

[31:44] Nicholas Edwards: But it's so fun because there's so many recognizable songs in it.

[31:48] Nicholas Edwards: Especially the pop songs.

[31:50] Nicholas Edwards: They're all pop songs.

[31:52] Nicholas Edwards: Do you have a go-to pop song that you like to sing and scream your face off in the shower to?

[31:56] Rachel Webb: From the show?

[31:58] Rachel Webb: It could be anything.

[32:00] Rachel Webb: From the show, it could be just a regular pop song.

[32:02] Rachel Webb: What's on your shower playlist?

[32:04] Rachel Webb: Looking back on when I was a little nappy-headed boy.

[32:09] Rachel Webb: Yeah.

[32:11] Rachel Webb: Stevie.

[32:13] Rachel Webb: Iconic.

[32:15] Nicholas Edwards: Is there a pop song out there that you really wish was in the show?

[32:19] Rachel Webb: Honestly?

[32:21] Rachel Webb: No, I think it's written actually perfectly.

[32:23] Rachel Webb: There might have been some Taylor Swift songs in the workshop.

[32:27] Rachel Webb: Who knows?

[32:29] Rachel Webb: But things came together.

[32:31] Rachel Webb: And now we have a bunch of...

[32:33] Rachel Webb: You know.

[32:35] Rachel Webb: You know.

[32:37] Rachel Webb: You know.

[32:39] Rachel Webb: Max Martin is incredible.

[32:41] Rachel Webb: A literal god.

[32:43] Rachel Webb: A musical genius.

[32:45] Rachel Webb: It's unbelievable.

[32:47] Rachel Webb: The pop soundtrack for the past 20 years.

[32:49] Rachel Webb: This man has all of those hits.

[32:51] Nicholas Edwards: It's crazy.

[32:53] Nicholas Edwards: Well, congratulations.

[32:55] Nicholas Edwards: And break a leg on the rest of your run.

[32:57] Rachel Webb: Thank you so much.

[32:59] Brittany Nicholas: My name is Brittany Nicholas.

[33:01] Brittany Nicholas: And I am a swing.

[33:03] Brittany Nicholas: But my character name is Viola.

[33:05] Brittany Nicholas: I am also the dance captain.

[33:07] Brittany Nicholas: And I am a cover for Angelique.

[33:09] Nicholas Edwards: Oh my god.

[33:11] Nicholas Edwards: So she's literally every role with the dance captain.

[33:13] Nicholas Edwards: That's just incredible.

[33:15] Nicholas Edwards: Good for you.

[33:17] Nicholas Edwards: How are we feeling?

[33:19] Nicholas Edwards: We're here at the opening night of Ann Juliet.

[33:21] Nicholas Edwards: Obviously a long time coming.

[33:23] Nicholas Edwards: What's going through the mind right now?

[33:25] Brittany Nicholas: I am just on top of the world.

[33:27] Brittany Nicholas: It's been a long road.

[33:29] Brittany Nicholas: I was also in the original cast of Mean Girls.

[33:31] Brittany Nicholas: And unfortunately due to the pandemic,

[33:34] Brittany Nicholas: we had to close.

[33:36] Brittany Nicholas: So just to be back here on Broadway

[33:38] Brittany Nicholas: after coming back from a pandemic

[33:40] Brittany Nicholas: and the way the industry was,

[33:42] Brittany Nicholas: it's just a really feel-good moment for me.

[33:44] Nicholas Edwards: Absolutely.

[33:46] Nicholas Edwards: Well, this show is so beautiful for so many reasons.

[33:48] Nicholas Edwards: But it's also really fun because

[33:50] Nicholas Edwards: there's a lot of recognizable songs in the show.

[33:54] Nicholas Edwards: They're all pop songs.

[33:56] Nicholas Edwards: So I have a question for you.

[33:58] Nicholas Edwards: Do you have a go-to pop song that you like

[34:00] Nicholas Edwards: to just scream around your apartment or in the shower?

[34:02] Brittany Nicholas: My go-to pop song is

[34:04] Brittany Nicholas: I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston.

[34:06] Nicholas Edwards: Oh my god, so good.

[34:08] Nicholas Edwards: I would love to see that.

[34:10] Nicholas Edwards: Give us a little six-bar measure.

[34:12] Brittany Nicholas: I actually auditioned with it.

[34:14] Brittany Nicholas: I wanna dance with somebody.

[34:16] Brittany Nicholas: I wanna feel the heat with somebody.

[34:18] Brittany Nicholas: I wanna feel the heat with somebody.

[34:20] Nicholas Edwards: Oh my god, so good.

[34:22] Nicholas Edwards: Broadway star right here, obviously.

[34:24] Nicholas Edwards: Is there a song

[34:26] Nicholas Edwards: that a pop song

[34:28] Nicholas Edwards: could be a song that Max Martin wrote

[34:30] Nicholas Edwards: or just any pop song that you wish

[34:32] Nicholas Edwards: was in the show that's not in the show

[34:34] Nicholas Edwards: that you would just be like, oh my god, to perform that song on Broadway?

[34:36] Brittany Nicholas: You know,

[34:38] Brittany Nicholas: I mean, I don't know.

[34:40] Brittany Nicholas: So I'm like

[34:42] Brittany Nicholas: a Britney Spears, Backstreet Boy.

[34:44] Brittany Nicholas: I'm from that era.

[34:46] Brittany Nicholas: So all of my faves are in.

[34:48] Brittany Nicholas: So I don't know. But there's so much.

[34:50] Brittany Nicholas: I would have to have a long think about that one.

[34:52] Nicholas Edwards: Alright, well we'll come back to you at that.

[34:54] Brittany Nicholas: Yeah, for sure. Well, thank you so much.

[34:56] Brittany Nicholas: Congratulations and break a leg on the rest of your run.

[34:59] Nicholas Edwards: Thank you so much. Of course, it was so nice meeting you.

[35:01] Paulo Szot: I'm Paulo Schott and I play Lance.

[35:05] Nicholas Edwards: Yes, and he absolutely kills it.

[35:07] Nicholas Edwards: You just opened. And Juliet on Broadway.

[35:09] Nicholas Edwards: How are we feeling? A long time coming.

[35:11] Paulo Szot: Very, very excited, you know, with so many Broadway debuts here in the company.

[35:15] Paulo Szot: I remember having my

[35:17] Paulo Szot: Broadway debut 14 years ago.

[35:19] Paulo Szot: So I know how it feels.

[35:21] Paulo Szot: I know how you need to control your emotions

[35:23] Paulo Szot: because you just want to cry.

[35:25] Paulo Szot: You want to do everything

[35:27] Paulo Szot: that your body tells you

[35:29] Paulo Szot: not to do because it's very emotional.

[35:31] Paulo Szot: It's a big day for everybody

[35:33] Paulo Szot: and especially for them

[35:35] Paulo Szot: for having their Broadway debuts.

[35:37] Nicholas Edwards: So exciting for so many reasons.

[35:39] Nicholas Edwards: This show is beautiful for so many reasons

[35:41] Nicholas Edwards: and so fun because there's so much

[35:43] Nicholas Edwards: recognizable songs in the show.

[35:45] Nicholas Edwards: All pop songs.

[35:47] Nicholas Edwards: So do you have a go-to pop song

[35:49] Nicholas Edwards: that you like to sing in the shower

[35:51] Nicholas Edwards: or sing around your apartment, whatever it may be?

[35:53] Paulo Szot: Yeah, I do sing a few but I always

[35:55] Paulo Szot: like to sing Everybody

[35:57] Paulo Szot: because I have so much fun

[35:59] Paulo Szot: in this show.

[36:01] Paulo Szot: Whenever I feel blue, I go

[36:03] Paulo Szot: Everybody!

[36:05] Paulo Szot: It changes everything in my life.

[36:07] Nicholas Edwards: Is there a song that you

[36:09] Nicholas Edwards: wish was in the show, like a pop song

[36:11] Nicholas Edwards: that would be cool if this was in the show?

[36:13] Paulo Szot: Oh, we have so many great songs.

[36:15] Paulo Szot: I never thought of it because

[36:17] Paulo Szot: Max Martin wrote so many great, great tunes

[36:19] Paulo Szot: and they did a wonderful job

[36:21] Paulo Szot: selecting the best for this show.

[36:24] Nicholas Edwards: Okay, well, last question.

[36:26] Nicholas Edwards: What are your thoughts on Shakespeare?

[36:28] Paulo Szot: The first thing that comes to your head

[36:30] Paulo Szot: when you think of Shakespeare?

[36:32] Paulo Szot: Comedy.

[36:34] Paulo Szot: Extremely a sense of comedy

[36:36] Paulo Szot: and telling stories

[36:38] Paulo Szot: through comedy

[36:40] Paulo Szot: with very serious subjects.

[36:42] Nicholas Edwards: That's Shakespeare for me.

[36:44] Paulo Szot: For sure, absolutely.

[36:46] Nicholas Edwards: Well, thank you so much. Congratulations

[36:48] Nicholas Edwards: and break a leg on the rest of your run.

[36:50] Paulo Szot: I'm Stark Sands and I play William Shakespeare

[36:52] Paulo Szot: in the show.

[36:54] Nicholas Edwards: And how are we feeling? We just opened

[36:56] Nicholas Edwards: Ann Juliet on Broadway, officially.

[36:58] Stark Sands: It feels really good. We're in the right place.

[37:00] Stark Sands: Long time coming, highly anticipated.

[37:02] Nicholas Edwards: Was there added pressure because of the buzz

[37:04] Nicholas Edwards: that was kind of generated around the show?

[37:06] Stark Sands: I haven't ever felt much pressure

[37:08] Stark Sands: because I believe so much in the show

[37:10] Stark Sands: and because what we're doing,

[37:12] Stark Sands: what's generated the buzz

[37:14] Stark Sands: is we're satisfying the audience

[37:16] Stark Sands: and that's what I feel

[37:18] Stark Sands: is we deliver

[37:20] Stark Sands: the audience likes this show

[37:22] Stark Sands: this beautiful book by David Westree

[37:24] Stark Sands: these incredible songs by Max Martin

[37:26] Stark Sands: and so all we have to do is just get up and tell the story

[37:28] Stark Sands: and it seems to be working.

[37:30] Nicholas Edwards: It's absolutely stunning.

[37:32] Nicholas Edwards: The whole show is so brilliant

[37:34] Nicholas Edwards: and what you guys do up there, eight shows a week

[37:36] Nicholas Edwards: it's just incredible. It's why everyone

[37:38] Nicholas Edwards: loves the show and has a dance party

[37:40] Nicholas Edwards: in their seats. Part of the reason for that

[37:42] Nicholas Edwards: also is the wonderful pop songs

[37:44] Nicholas Edwards: that are in the show. Do you have a favorite pop song

[37:46] Nicholas Edwards: that you like to sing around

[37:49] Nicholas Edwards: in your apartment or in the shower?

[37:51] Stark Sands: You know what, I'm really getting into

[37:53] Stark Sands: the Lizzo album

[37:55] Stark Sands: and I've also gotten into the new Taylor Swift album

[37:57] Stark Sands: so I'm listening to

[37:59] Stark Sands: a couple songs

[38:01] Stark Sands: from those. When I'm driving home

[38:03] Stark Sands: at the end of the night, I'm so sick

[38:05] Stark Sands: of listening to podcasts. I just put on

[38:07] Stark Sands: a pop Pandora mix

[38:09] Stark Sands: and just listen to learn new music

[38:11] Stark Sands: and try to stay hip and cool with the kids.

[38:13] Nicholas Edwards: We're going to edit out

[38:15] Nicholas Edwards: that podcast moment because we are a podcast

[38:17] Nicholas Edwards: so I won't take any offense to it

[38:19] Nicholas Edwards: but it's fine.

[38:23] Stark Sands: Because I'm doing the show

[38:25] Stark Sands: it's reintroducing

[38:27] Stark Sands: that love of music.

[38:29] Stark Sands: You go through phases in your life

[38:31] Stark Sands: and I'm not going to stop listening to podcasts

[38:33] Stark Sands: but that's more for when I'm walking around the city.

[38:35] Nicholas Edwards: Totally, I'm just messing with you.

[38:37] Nicholas Edwards: Was there a pop song

[38:39] Nicholas Edwards: that you've just been listening to on Pandora

[38:41] Nicholas Edwards: that you wish you were like, oh my god

[38:43] Nicholas Edwards: that would be so cool if that was in the show or if you could

[38:45] Nicholas Edwards: perform that on Broadway?

[38:47] Stark Sands: None that have

[38:49] Stark Sands: jumped out as Broadway ideas

[38:51] Stark Sands: but I think I've just been so immersed in this.

[38:53] Nicholas Edwards: Alright, one last question

[38:55] Nicholas Edwards: since you play Shakespeare, give me a Shakespeare

[38:57] Nicholas Edwards: hot take. A Shakespeare hot take?

[38:59] Stark Sands: I think Shakespeare is one of the most brilliant

[39:01] Stark Sands: minds that's ever walked the planet. There's a reason

[39:03] Stark Sands: why his work has stuck around

[39:05] Stark Sands: for 400 years.

[39:07] Nicholas Edwards: It's got to be an honor to kind of

[39:09] Nicholas Edwards: represent him in that

[39:11] Nicholas Edwards: historic person. It's amazing.

[39:14] Stark Sands: It's crazy and it's also like

[39:16] Stark Sands: it's fun.

[39:18] Nicholas Edwards: Well thank you so much

[39:20] Nicholas Edwards: I really appreciate you. It's nice meeting you.

[39:22] Elena V. Maderal: My name is Elena V. Maderal

[39:24] Elena V. Maderal: and I'm a swing in the show. My name

[39:26] Elena V. Maderal: in the show is Gwen.

[39:28] Nicholas Edwards: And how do we feel? I mean, Anjuliet

[39:30] Nicholas Edwards: just opened on Broadway. What's

[39:32] Nicholas Edwards: going through your mind?

[39:34] Elena V. Maderal: Everything all at once.

[39:36] Elena V. Maderal: I feel excited, I feel overwhelmed

[39:38] Elena V. Maderal: but in the most wonderful way possible.

[39:40] Elena V. Maderal: Intense

[39:42] Elena V. Maderal: but also so grounded. I'm feeling

[39:44] Elena V. Maderal: all the things. Very emotional, very

[39:46] Elena V. Maderal: happy and I'm loving every bit of it.

[39:48] Nicholas Edwards: Yeah, so talk to me because

[39:50] Nicholas Edwards: a swing is so important to a show

[39:52] Nicholas Edwards: and just especially during these

[39:54] Nicholas Edwards: times, you know, it's very craziness.

[39:56] Nicholas Edwards: Talk to me about what it's been

[39:58] Nicholas Edwards: like, you know, during the rehearsal process

[40:00] Nicholas Edwards: and just, you know, how it works

[40:02] Nicholas Edwards: now with, you know, the protocols

[40:04] Nicholas Edwards: in place and everything like that.

[40:06] Elena V. Maderal: So I cover

[40:08] Elena V. Maderal: six roles in the show.

[40:10] Elena V. Maderal: I cover all six of them and

[40:12] Elena V. Maderal: yesterday was my

[40:14] Elena V. Maderal: Broadway debut and I did a mid-show

[40:16] Elena V. Maderal: swing on. So I

[40:18] Elena V. Maderal: went in right at intermission, right

[40:20] Elena V. Maderal: before act two and that was my

[40:22] Elena V. Maderal: debut to Broadway and my debut to the show

[40:24] Elena V. Maderal: as well. So it's quite

[40:26] Elena V. Maderal: a world to be in but honestly I

[40:28] Elena V. Maderal: love being a swing. Getting to play

[40:30] Elena V. Maderal: all the different parts, all six different

[40:32] Elena V. Maderal: characters in the show is wonderful.

[40:34] Elena V. Maderal: I can't even explain it. It's so fun.

[40:36] Nicholas Edwards: That's amazing. Well, this show is so important

[40:39] Nicholas Edwards: and so incredible for so many reasons

[40:41] Nicholas Edwards: but it's also so fun

[40:43] Nicholas Edwards: because you can come and you can literally have a dance party

[40:45] Nicholas Edwards: in your seat. So

[40:47] Nicholas Edwards: with all the pop songs, is there like

[40:49] Nicholas Edwards: a pop song that you have that's like

[40:51] Nicholas Edwards: a go-to pop song for you to like scream

[40:53] Nicholas Edwards: in the shower? It could be like a

[40:55] Nicholas Edwards: pop song in the show or just a

[40:57] Nicholas Edwards: pop song in general.

[40:59] Elena V. Maderal: Honestly, the first thing that

[41:01] Elena V. Maderal: comes to mind is Blow. It's my

[41:03] Elena V. Maderal: favorite song and

[41:05] Elena V. Maderal: dance to do in the show.

[41:07] Elena V. Maderal: That was like, as soon as you asked that question,

[41:09] Elena V. Maderal: that's like the first thing I think of. I love

[41:11] Elena V. Maderal: Blow. I just can't help

[41:13] Elena V. Maderal: myself but get up and dance. You know what I mean?

[41:15] Elena V. Maderal: I just like, yeah, that would have to be

[41:17] Elena V. Maderal: my favorite so far.

[41:19] Nicholas Edwards: Oh my god. And what about a

[41:21] Nicholas Edwards: pop song that's not in the show that you wish

[41:23] Nicholas Edwards: you could perform?

[41:25] Elena V. Maderal: That's so many.

[41:27] Elena V. Maderal: I know. Sorry. Oh, I'm

[41:29] Elena V. Maderal: thinking about like all the Ariana Grande

[41:31] Elena V. Maderal: songs but I'm just, I can't choose

[41:33] Elena V. Maderal: one. I'm thinking, oh

[41:35] Elena V. Maderal: man.

[41:37] Elena V. Maderal: Honeymoon Avenue, that's like

[41:39] Elena V. Maderal: I mean from her first album, that's

[41:41] Elena V. Maderal: like, sorry, that's the first thing that comes

[41:43] Elena V. Maderal: to my mind. I love it so much

[41:45] Elena V. Maderal: so that's why I'm, sorry, that's very like

[41:47] Elena V. Maderal: a chaotic answer.

[41:49] Nicholas Edwards: I love it, I love it.

[41:51] Nicholas Edwards: And how about, last question, you have a

[41:53] Nicholas Edwards: Shakespeare hot take?

[41:55] Elena V. Maderal: Shakespeare hot take, ooh.

[41:57] Elena V. Maderal: Wow,

[41:59] Elena V. Maderal: that's hard.

[42:01] Elena V. Maderal: What's like the first thing that comes to your mind?

[42:03] Elena V. Maderal: I was like, a Shakespeare hot take.

[42:05] Elena V. Maderal: Speaking in rhythm, that's my

[42:07] Elena V. Maderal: Shakespeare hot take.

[42:09] Elena V. Maderal: Making it work, yeah. Rhyming with

[42:11] Elena V. Maderal: everything? Rhyming, oh my god.

[42:13] Elena V. Maderal: Rhyming even when it doesn't rhyme, it still has to rhyme.

[42:17] Nicholas Edwards: Exactly, even if it doesn't rhyme, it still has to rhyme. And speaking

[42:19] Nicholas Edwards: in time, for sure. Absolutely, well that's

[42:21] Nicholas Edwards: a great one. Thank you so much, congratulations

[42:23] Nicholas Edwards: and break a leg on the rest of your run.

[42:25] Elena V. Maderal: Yes, of course, it was so nice meeting you.

[42:27] Nicholas Edwards: Thank you.

[42:19] Matt Raffi: My name is Matt Raffi and I play Gregory in & Juliet.

[42:23] Eli Tokash: Oh my god and this is the opening night of & Juliet. What is going through your head?

[42:27] Matt Raffi: Long time coming. Just talk me through your emotions. God, it feels unbelievable. I mean we've been going at this for a while now. We had the pre-run, pre-Broadway show like in Toronto for a couple months and then we were back in rehearsals here and then now the fact that like after these weeks of previews we're finally opening, we're looking at each other on stage and like it feels surreal. I can't believe we're here tonight. It feels unbelievable. It's a huge congratulations because everyone was so thrilled when they announced the transfer to Broadway, so the fact that it's here everyone is beyond excited and I can't believe, I can't imagine how you guys are feeling. I actually have a video that I can't share because it's private but I have a video of us reacting to the producers telling us you're officially going to Broadway and we were in Toronto and we all just bawled our eyes out and then we were like all right that's half hour and then we're like how am I supposed to do a show right now like I'm going to Broadway. The adrenaline that night must have been crazy.

[43:26] Eli Tokash: It was crazy and like we couldn't say anything because it had to be announced properly so it was unreal.

[43:31] Matt Raffi: Oh my god, well this show is beautiful for so many reasons. The story is incredible and then you can literally come and dance in your seat with all these incredible pop songs. Do you have a go-to pop song that you like to sing in the shower or sing around your apartment or anything?

[43:44] Matt Raffi: Honestly any song by Ariana Grande. Ariana if you're watching this, I love you. Everyone in the dressing room hates me because I keep playing her on repeat. I'm obsessed so any Ariana Grande song but I'm so happy that there's a couple of her songs in the show because like every time I'm like living backstage so yeah.

[44:02] Eli Tokash: That's actually been a popular answer tonight.

[44:10] Matt Raffi: Really? Yeah, there's a lot of Ari fans.

[44:10] Eli Tokash: They're stealing your brand.

[44:10] Matt Raffi: They're stealing her. She's mine.

[44:16] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, incredible. Last question, well I guess two questions. With all the pop songs and everything, is there a pop song that you just absolutely love that you wish was in the show and you could perform on Broadway?

[44:22] Matt Raffi: I think Bang Bang like in the show would have been unbelievable. Like the nurse and Juliette singing those three parts, come on. I need the nurse to do the whole Nicki Minaj verse like full rap and she would kill it. Mal would be unbelievable. We're gonna get a petition. Everyone sign, everyone like the video, all the things. We're gonna get it going.

[44:54] Eli Tokash: Oh my god, incredible. And then last question, do you have a Shakespeare hot take?

[44:54] Matt Raffi: I think my hot take is that Shakespeare was definitely very sexually curious. I think he was very free over there so I think he had fun back in his day.

[45:09] Eli Tokash: Yeah, that's a great answer. That's one we haven't gotten so that's a good one. Thank you so much. I hope it's appropriate. I'm sorry.

[45:13] Matt Raffi: Oh my god, of course it's appropriate. Everything's appropriate. Are you kidding me? This is great. Congratulations. Break a leg on the rest of your run. So excited.

[45:23] Justin David Sullivan: My name is Justin David Sullivan and I play Mae.

[45:30] Eli Tokash: Yes and you absolutely kill it in this show. Oh my god, your performance is just incredible. Thank you. Yeah and we're here obviously at the opening night of & Juliet. What's going through your head? How excited are you? Long time coming?

[45:39] Justin David Sullivan: I'm speechless. I'm ecstatic. Yeah, this is my Broadway debut. I'm among 15 Broadway debuts tonight and I think I just feel completely ecstatic. Over the moon. Feels like Christmas Day. I'm like overwhelmed. So incredible. So well deserved too.

[45:58] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. Yeah, no seriously. So talk to me because this show is beautiful for so many reasons but it's also so fun to attend because of all these wonderful pop songs and all the things. Is there like a go-to pop song that you like to sing around your apartment or in the shower or whatever maybe?

[46:09] Justin David Sullivan: One of my favorite pop songs is actually in the show which is Domino by Jessie J and I'm always singing that in the shower. It just kind of pumps me up and gets me going.

[46:19] Eli Tokash: Oh for sure and how about a song, a pop song that you absolutely love that you wish was in the show and you could perform on Broadway?

[46:24] Justin David Sullivan: I would have to say Bang Bang by Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj. Yes, that is one of my favorite Max Martin songs of all time. I feel like it's such a powerful girl anthem and I would love to sing that with the stars of this cast.

[46:41] Eli Tokash: How about a Shakespeare hot take? Do you have any Shakespeare hot takes?

[46:47] Justin David Sullivan: I have never read a Shakespeare play before. So this is your first like introduction to Shakespeare?

[46:53] Justin David Sullivan: A little bit. I mean in high school we did the whole Romeo and Juliet but I didn't read it. Who pays attention during those classes? Not me. Everyone's sleeping, let's be honest you guys. We're good students, we're good students. We are. Now we're Broadway stars. Who needs school anyways, no just kidding. Stay in school kids.

[47:09] Eli Tokash: So one last question for you. How important do you feel like, how important is this message that the show portrays and how important is it to be doing it right now in this day and age?

[47:17] Justin David Sullivan: This show has so much heart in it and so much representation that I feel like I've never seen before on Broadway. So I think representation is so important and for so many reasons people will resonate with this show. It doesn't matter how old you are, doesn't matter you know what your interest is. I think there's something for everyone in the show and I think that's what makes it so special.

[47:43] Eli Tokash: Well thank you, that was so cute. You have us crying on a Thursday night. What is wrong? Happy Tuesday. Well thank you so much, congratulations. Break a leg on the rest of your ride.

[47:57] Ben Jackson-Walker: My name is Ben Jackson-Walker and I play Romeo.

[48:07] Eli Tokash: Incredible, your performance is ridiculous. Oh my god, no seriously, so good. Congratulations, I mean there's a long time coming you know this opening night, it's official now on Broadway. What's going through your head?

[48:13] Ben Jackson-Walker: So many things, literally so many like so many things I can barely follow them but I am so grateful to be here. It has been a long journey and it feels like that and I feel really proud of everyone involved with the show and what we've made and that we made it here tonight.

[48:30] Eli Tokash: Yeah I mean with your incredible performance and the whole show is like it had such great buzz coming to Broadway from Toronto. Did that kind of like, what was it like to like finally transfer? Was there added pressure? Was there just more excitement? Like what was that?

[48:47] Ben Jackson-Walker: I think there's always added pressure because it's Broadway but there was excitement. I think there was also a sense of like most of us are from here and live here and so there was a sense of coming home and just knowing that like all my friends are here, my family's close by and was so excited to do it for people I know who hadn't got seen in Toronto and to bring it to audiences here. I mean it just it like levels it up that much.

[49:14] Eli Tokash: Yeah so exciting and now it's pretty cool. Crazy oh my god literally uh okay so this song this show is so beautiful for so many reasons but one of the favorite things that I love about it is that you could literally come to the show and have a dance party in your seat.

[49:29] Ben Jackson-Walker: Yeah um these pop songs are yeah no it happened a million times tonight um but you know it's it's all these pop songs. Do you have a favorite pop song that you just like scream in the shower or just like sit around your apartment? It could be like from the show or it could be like a pop song in general.

[49:45] Ben Jackson-Walker: Oh my god I mean from the show it's Since You've Been Gone for sure and then another favorite pop song what oh god I'm trying to think do you think what I've been listening I keep saying the the new Lizzo one which is also by Max Martin uh Am I Ready to Be I love that song what doesn't is he right like I mean it's just so good it's oh god musical juice by Lizzo I'm a Lizzo I'm a big Lizzo fan okay for pop music like Lizzo is it.

[50:17] Eli Tokash: Oh yeah for sure I mean you can't you can't go wrong with Lizzo songs um no it's great um so do we have a Shakespeare hot take a Shakespeare hot take what do you mean so like we've gotten like oh Shakespeare was definitely gay Shakespeare was black Shakespeare is a genius at what he did like what are what's your hot take on Shakespeare?

[50:33] Ben Jackson-Walker: Shakespeare is definitely gay Jeff I mean I don't even know if that's a hot take but he's yeah he was gay he was queer for sure um well thank you so much I mean this is amazing and congratulations on such an incredible opening you're here on Broadway crazy but yeah congratulations and break a leg on the rest of your run.

[50:58] Eli Tokash: Thank you it was good to meet you.

[51:00] Betsy Wolfe: Hi Betsy how are you? I don't know if you remember me but I was in the greatest showman readings.

[51:04] Betsy Wolfe: Yes oh my gosh yes and I was like oh my god star I haven't seen you since and now you look amazing oh my god you're starred on Broadway all the things how are we feeling we made it to opening night?

[51:19] Betsy Wolfe: I cannot believe we're finally here this is epic it was like actually like genuinely epic can you I mean this show is obviously has a ton of pop songs it's so fun to like watch because you're literally having a dance party in your seat.

[51:27] Betsy Wolfe: Oh it's a full-on dance but a meaningful dance party how often do you actually get to like leave the theater and go well I feel like better about myself after like doing that number right you know what I mean and you can do it with like 2,000 other people which is even more exciting it's like a whole community just within the show.

[51:45] Eli Tokash: Um yeah no for sure do you have a pop song that you it's like a go-to pop song that you love to sing the shower?

[51:51] Betsy Wolfe: Oh my gosh this is so personal my like go-to pop song that I sing I will refuse to tell you.

[51:58] Betsy Wolfe: Oh no I refuse to tell you um no but I will say that I was laughing earlier I was like oh all these songs are such an earworm and I was like god I can't like leave these songs from the show behind I'm like oh that's because they're number one hits yeah that's why because they are meant to do that.

[52:14] Eli Tokash: Yeah so there you go they're all iconic I need my shower song to myself.

[52:18] Betsy Wolfe: Yeah for sure well thank you so much congratulations on your opening.

[52:23] Eli Tokash: Yes of course break a leg on the rest of your road.

[52:32] Eli Tokash: So there you have it folks that is this week's um so there you have it folks oh take a bow and juliet oh my god so exciting I was actually able to cover the bows of their opening night which was really really cool um hopefully something I get to do more of to you know kind of like take a bow thing um loved that loved everything about the show y'all need to go see it it's absolutely so fun uh Stark Sands is incredible uh Betsy Wolfe is ridiculous she's hilarious she's like actually like she should be a comedic actress like I've set my mind to it um after Waitress I didn't know like what it was but like oh my god she's so good she's good at everything she does she's so she's fantastic um Betsy Wolfe you're amazing um the whole cast is incredible I was actually able to see um an understudy on when I went to see the show which is the day after opening um maybe two days after opening I think I saw it on the Saturday matinee so yeah two days after opening um I saw Rachel Webb as Angie as Juliette um she was fantastic oh my god her first uh time going on for Juliette on here on Broadway so exciting uh absolutely loved her she was fantastic she was so sweet to me on the red carpet too um so the fact that I was able to see her in the show uh was just a it was just a dream and she absolutely crushed it and to see her debut was so fun because you could tell she had family in the crowd and they were cheering her on and it was just so cute it was so great um everyone go check out & Juliet thank you all for listening to this week's episode of Take A Bow everyone enjoy their time with their family or I hope that you all already enjoyed your time with the family depending on when you're listening to this um I appreciate you all for tuning in this week especially on a holiday weekend I cannot wait to see you all next week with a bit of a normal um episode I guess you could say with like an interview portion with just like one person and it's kind of like focused on on that kind of thing and not the opening night spiel but it's been fun it's been a blast and we're gonna have a couple more of them before the end of the year just because there's so many um going on right now and they're so fun to do and such a great way to meet new people and hopefully get like uh people on for a full-length episode so um there you have it that's this week's episode 130 episodes of Take A Bow in the can uh very exciting stuff everyone happy Thanksgiving thank you all so much for listening to this week's episode as always and I cannot wait to see you all next week bye everyone have a great week.

[55:06] Eli Tokash: For this episode's curtain call I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow this podcast would not be possible without the help of Lori Berenstein, Alan Seales, Kimberly Garris and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network. Next in line to take a bow are our fabulous editors Jessica Lauren who edits the audio of the podcast that you just listened to and Tessie Tokash who edits the videos and visuals for this podcast and how about a bow for our executive producer Chris Griner and our final bow our extra special to the patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McNamara, the listeners of PCC as well as all of the other patrons for their continued support. If you're interested in becoming a patron go to patreon.com/tab.

If you enjoyed this week's episode make sure to subscribe on the platform that you are currently listening to this on or go check out our YouTube where you can watch the episode you can also subscribe, like and comment on there as well. If you're more into the regular social media and want to follow us you can do that at Take A Bow Podcast across all social media platforms. The music of this podcast was made by Nikki Torcia and Cormac Colin and the logo was created by Giselle Bustos and that wraps up this episode's curtain call thank you all again for listening to this week's episode and I can't wait to see you next week bye everyone have a great week.