Broadway news that you wanna know on custody. Starring you and your favorite rose on custody. Staying true, going with the flow on custody. What is up? Hello. I am Salisha Thomas Wise, uh, your host. And I am y'all, I am so shook. I just saw the person who we have on today, who I will be interviewing today. I saw her on stage recently, but I've seen her on stage a few times. But the the most recent one, I don't think I connected the dots of all the other shows that she's been in that I've seen. When I tell you this person does not just go on stage and sing a big note and walk off, she performs from her hoo She she shares her soul. She bares her soul with all these people who she don't know. And it comes from such a special place that every time I've seen her, I am left in chills. Let me give you a little bit. I can't give you the full rundown because she's she's done too much. When I tell you she's done too much, I mean her resume is missing Broadway credits because there's not enough space for it. Okay. Alright. Okay. So, uh, she, uh, she toured with we'll start with that. Well, she toured with Waitress and Hairspray. She's done nine Broadway shows. Nine. Like, she's starring in most of these shows. Okay? Nine Broadway shows. We got Waitress, Book of Mormon, Violet, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Carolina Change, Suf's, Hair, Tarzan. Am I missing one? Oh, currently starring in Boop, which she is phenomenal. And also Not for Nothing, and I'm not just saying that because I'm doing this interview right now. It is my new favorite Broadway show. I know those are big words because there's some big shows in the category this year in this season, but it is so incredible. Why was I sobbing? Why was I sobbing over this cartoon character show? It is it is great. Um, okay. Let's see some other things before I bring her on the stage. Uh, she's performed at every every major regional theater. Every major theater in New York City, including but not limited to Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, that's in, uh, DC, um, Radio City, Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, MetLife. Uh, she's also starred on the West End in London. What on earth? Of course, she's been at Paper Mill and The Muny. She was in the world premiere of Secret Life of Bees. She's been on TV, uh, Sex and the City two movie. My goodness, madam secretary, New Amsterdam. She also is a choreographer. Like, she's not just an actor and a singer. She's not just gonna sing down. She'd be choreographing stuff as well in a new musical called Mighty Real, which I think is coming. And, oh, yes. Of course, every daytime and late night talk show. What am I missing? What am I missing? Oh, I'm missing a lot of things. I'm missing so many things. Why don't we just bring her on? Y'all please put your hands together and help me welcome, m Stacia McCloskey. Thank you. Thank you for having me. What on earth? What? First of all, thank you for coming on. Of course. Thank you. Thank you for making time for this because I know you're busy. You literally have your show in very tonight. Um, when did you get your first Broadway show? Um, well, my first my first, I guess, like, Broadway contract was the first national tour of Hairspray. I had just graduated from the American Musical and Dramatics Academy. Um, the year was 02/2004, and, um, I was fortunate enough, uh, and and and, um, grateful to graduate with the job. So I joined that tour as a swing for about six months, and then I took over for the, uh, Shana Steel track, which was the original one of the original Dynamite's on Broadway, um, for the rest of the tour for the next, like, year and a half. So that was, like, my first show. Did you swing other shows? No. I that was the only time I've swung, and it was, like, right out the gate. I was 19 turning 20, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I talk about that all the time when I teach. Okay. Wait. Hold on. Okay. She's also a teacher. Did we hear that? She's an educator. But what I just heard you say was I swung one time when I first got out of college, and then I took over the role, and then I took over every role after that. You're hilarious. I mean, where's the lie? Where is the lie? So wait. Did that transfer did you go to the Broadway company for that one or that was just the No. I stayed on the tour and then straight from the tour, I'm made my Broadway debut in Tarzan. Oh my goodness. How many years has your, um, has your career spanned? It started in twenty two two thousand and four? '2 thousand '4. Um, I I was doing stuff like I'm originally from Nashville, Tennessee, so I was doing local theater down there, um, making, you know, a a tenth of a check as as a child does in in her small town. But, um, um, I'd like to say I was doing professional work then because I did a lot of session work for, uh, writers, Nashville's Music City USA. So you have country music, gospel music, Christian music, and I did a lot of, uh, studio session work for a lot of, um, writers. So I guess my professional career kinda started then when I was a teenager. I was five. Um, I know. But you sang with Patti Lavelle, Mariah Carey. This is this is not casual. There's nothing this just isn't casual. Were you scared to move to New York when you first did? No. No. I I knew I wanted to move to New York. I had gotten a full scholarship to Berkeley School of Music in Boston, and I turned that down to go to AMBA because I wanted to move to New York and be on Broadway. And I had to, like, pitch it to my parents, um, to let me move to New York. And at the time, what did they say? It's obviously in hindsight. They're like, she's gonna be fine. But at the time, were they scared? I think they were, but they didn't really show it. Um, it was like a three day pitch, especially to my father. I'm the only girl. I'm the youngest. Um, and so to move to the this big tiny city, but this big city, um, was gonna be a big thing. And that my mother chatted with him. They had a chat, and they were like, alright. Bette, you can go to this school. Not a three day pitch. Stacy. I vaguely remember sitting in our living room, and I had written out the why, the what I could do if I moved there. You know? I'm I'm this. I'm that. You know? It it was wild. So my my question as a performer for you is, was there ever okay. First of all, I mean, it's very possible that you've just always been great, um, since you took the stage. But do you ever remember a switch in, like, a connection that you felt to yourself or, um, just like do you ever do you ever remember a time of growth from when you used to go on stage and sing versus you go on stage and affect people? Or just have you always just affect like, do you know what I mean? Yeah. Audience, I'm covered in goosebumps watching you. In fact, specifically, and thank you. Thank you. Wow. Thank you. Um, you know what? I there was a switch in my mid thirties. Um, and I know that, like, I had had a full career by that point. And I wasn't just going on stage and performing previous to that. You know, there was some spiritual work in there for me, but I left the city. I moved away, uh, in in January, March of '20 '20 '2. And I said I booked a job at the Fifth Avenue Theater, a new musical called Afterwards. And I said, I need to leave New York for a while. It was after the pandemic. The city felt still very sad and healing from everything that that the pandemic put us all through. And, um, I said I need to change. I wanna travel. I wanna rest. And going on that journey, working at a lot of amazing regional houses, um, meeting a lot of people that I've always wanted to work with, that was the shift. And it reminded me of that 16 year old, 15 year old girl that I was that said I wanna be a storyteller. And so I kinda got back to the reason why I wanted to be on stage. It wasn't about money. It wasn't about fame. It wasn't about accolades. It was about healing people, bringing joy, and telling these stories. And so I made a pat with myself. I said, I wanna do work that's healing. So if anything comes across my desk that's not healing, I don't wanna be attached to it. And so SUVs actually brought me back to New York. I just moved back to New York in March of last year to do SUVs. And when I tell you that thing cracked me open, it cracked me open. And also to, like, tell those women's story, to be a part of their legacy, to carry on the torch in that way was such a blessing and such a gift, and it's something that I will forever be grateful for. That Shana allowed herself to be the vessel that that story came through for all of us. Um, I I grew up loving me some Nikki m James. It was incredible in that. But I also got to see HUSO go on. Yes. Oh, gosh. Yeah. Oh. Amazing. Hi. She's one of my best friends. Yeah. I love it. She's an amazing woman and and super talented. My god. Gorgeous and Just incredible. So, um, you were there on election night? Yes. So was I? Oh, wow. Baby. Yeah. How what was the backstage? What was happening backstage? Because it was a rock rock performance in the house. Mhmm. Yeah. You know, um, I I think this was that night. I I'm gonna say it was that night. I I was talking to Nikki earlier, and I was like, we need chicken because we need something that is is gonna make us feel at home because we didn't know which way it was gonna go. We knew it was gonna be a tight race. We, um, so a lot of us were eating chicken backstage. There was a lot of excitement. The audience I remember the audience being amazing and and having the audience as your your last castmate to vibe with to do that show that night. It it was phenomenal. And we were all watching, you know, iPads on phones, on laptops were open. We were we were seeing how close certain states were. Um, don't make me sweat right now. And then the our producers threw us a little gathering at, um, a restaurant where they had a big TV set up, and we were watching and watching. And so, you know, we all kinda knew what it was gonna be when we went to bed. But to come in the next day to do two shows, that's that was the thank God for those audiences because it was like we were all, um, living through that together and processing through it together. I can say that I was numb. I was numb because the hope I think being a part of stuffs, telling those ladies stories, and the hope that we had all galvanized for ourselves, um, it would it just dwindled away over in like that. So I was numb during those two shows, but that audience really fed us what we needed. I mean, it's the message of the show. Mhmm. It feels this shows is perfect for if things go your way Mhmm. And if things don't go your way. Yeah. That is, like, what one of the things that makes it timeless. When it doesn't go your way, you have to keep marching. And it's hard, and it sucks, and it did suck. Like Yeah. It was really, really hard. Yeah. Like, listening to we may never see the future that we fight for. Yep. I mean, those lyrics. My god. Come on, Shaina. Oh my gosh. But you're right. I mean and those women, they never saw that. I think about Mary and Ida all the time. They never saw that. They never got to vote. We do. We do. We do. And so to carry that torch on and I think about right now and for future generations, they're going to reap the benefits of the things and the seeds that we're sowing right now. They will reap the harvest even if we don't. And I'm okay with that. Just knowing that it's coming, it does give hope. Yeah. It does. It does. Okay. So back to your Broadway. We have to talk about before I let and we still have some time. Yeah. But you have to talk about what do you just have so many things that I have to ask about because I'm like, oh, like, West End or Broadway? Oh. You're like, baby, give me both. I mean, if I can have both, give them to me. They're so my god. They're so different. And and and as an American working over there, I mean, it it it I I felt like a queen. They take care of you in a way that is really beautiful. Um, also, I just I loved the people, um, over there. Like, it was such a lovely tight knit community. We have such a amazing tight knit community here in the Broadway community theater community as well. Um, I don't know. I the West End is amazing, but Broadway. Okay. I know. I I look at, like, Marisha Wallace's, like, the She's living. Babe is living. Baby is living. She's making West End look real yummy. I'm like, I need to go across the phone. And, you know, real talk, there's not a lot of us over there. So So you feel like a queen. Mhmm. Mhmm. Yeah. How about this? I'm Stacia. Um, your favorite cast for whatever reason. You have a lot of them. Oh, my god. Off Broadway cast that you've been in, regional cast. That's oh, wow. Um, you the archives of your mind. I I've every cast is special to me because there are people that I latch on to their experiences that happen that make the the the time with those people amazing. I'm gonna have to I'll say this. One of my most favorite shows that I got to do was Hair on Broadway. That was another turning a freeing experience that cracked me open to, like, level up in storytelling and just in life in general. Okay. So I'm not gonna say too much. And I can't say too much because I wasn't there. Did anybody who I talked to in your cast of hair, they all say the same thing. I already knew you were gonna say hair because everybody from hair is like, hair. We still have our group chat. Love them. Yeah. I'm like, y'all got close. So this is why my husband won't let me do that show. He said I'm like, I don't know what brought y'all so close, but I think it It was good. It's such a great piece. It's one of those piece that unfortunately is timeless. No matter the generation, we still talking about the same thing. So but it's freeing. So I think that's one of the things too. Out of all your shows that you've done, which one taught you the most Oh. About life, about yourself, about the business? Yeah. Oof. About the business. My god. Um, I would have to say when I when I played Celie at the Muni, that was that was kinda like Wasn't that a short process or no? It was. It was twelve days. Twelve days and it taught you the most. It taught me the most because it was such a a a big yummy role, and it's the biggest house I've ever played to. I think it's 11,000 seats. It's outside. You're dealing with weather conditions, um, and you have a week to put up a show to learn it, to get off book. You show up. You wanna show up off book, at least off music. Um, and then you you put it up really fast. But it's it it one, it reminded me of, like, doing theater in high school and college. And it also reminded me that, like, we I I'm here to serve one purpose, to tell this story. Was it? And I get to tell it under these stars. Oh my god. What do they do with the brains? They cancel the show. Oh. And I think we canceled one show. Oh. Yes. You still get paid? Mhmm. Careful, honey. Copy out there with my umbrella. I'll be like But also the Muni, like, speaking of, like, the business side, the artistic director there, um, Mike, and then the president, Kwame, they, um, they they both took me in and, um, really, um, showed me some things and taught me some things, but they also take care of you at the Muni. Like, they really they treat you like you you know your worth and that they know your worth. Mhmm. Yeah. So I think working there, I was like, oh, okay. This is how I'm gonna live life in the business, especially on the business side from now on. Mhmm. Has there ever been a time usually, I like to be a little bit more cohesive about this, but I just have so many I'm like, you you just have so much experience. And I'm like, this is my chance to learn from you, like, literally right now. So let me get these questions. Let us listen. Like, has Has there ever been a time where you had to advocate for yourself backstage of any show, any theater, and it was, like, kind of you were nervous to do that, but you did it? Yeah. Uh, when I was in waitress, I had to, and I had to advocate with a stage manager. And that was a very tense, intense sessions. Um, and and and he has since transitioned on, and we we got through that together, he and I, and we remained close and and emailed. And, you know, he he taught me a lot in that experience, um, and I learned a lot about myself, um, and and how I won't allow certain things to happen no matter who it is. Because for Waitress, they had you doing a lot of things over there. I feel like you were you did the tour. You did the live show. You did the Broadway. You did multiple roles. Like, what? What how long were you a part of that family? And how like, overall, what was your experience there? Yeah. I joined Waitress in, I think, the February, and I stayed until 02/2019, early spring, maybe January. Um, I took, I think, two leave of absences. So it was lovely because they allowed me to do that, to go do work elsewhere. Um, and that that that was a revolving door of people, but a really tight knit family. Like, we all still keep in touch. It was an amazing experience. I I came in. I replaced Charity Dawson, who's one of my dearest and honey as nurse Norma, and she replaced Kayla as, um, Becky. And then we did that, and I also covered Becky. Mhmm. You Yeah. Um, and then I went on the tour for, like and it honestly, it was only, like, two weeks because they they needed an emergency. I went out there to play Becky for two weeks, uh, which was fun. In that. Yeah. It was a blast. And then coming back after the pandemic, the show came back, and, um, I went back as nurse Norma, and then we shot the live action during that time. So it's it's it's one of those experiences where you, like, you're doing you're doing this and you're, like, you don't know where it's gonna take you, but it takes to all these amazing places. So I'm grateful for that one. Are you good at saying no to things? Yes. When did you get good at that? Um, I think that when I was 19. Mhmm. What? Yeah. Because I'm gonna tell you when I joined Hairspray, like I said, I was a queen for six months, and I knew that one of the dynamites was leaving. And so I sent an email. I didn't have an agent at the time, and I said, hey. I'm gonna leave the tour unless y'all give me this role. And I I had more tact than that in the email, but I was like, I'm gonna leave because I was like, I know I can go get a job somewhere else. And so they at the time, the the the MD on Broadway, Lonnie White, he came out. He's saying me, and he was like, okay. You got the role. And, um, Gabriel Reed Yes. Came and replaced me as the swing on the tour. And we had auditioned together initially, but Gabriel came in and replaced me as a swing, and I moved up to the dynamite. But it was in that mode because I've always had this thing where I said, even if I don't get a job in my craft, in my career, I can always go work at a grocery store. So I'm I'm just like, I I'm hungry. I'm gonna do the work, and I I think I got a little bit of talent up my sleeve. So, like, you know, let's work together. Let's play. Have you ever have you ever had enough space in between your gigs, your performance gigs, where you did have to get a different type of job or how should I say this? Like, okay. Basically, I just discovered voice over, like, yesterday. I'm like, why did no one tell me once in college? Why are they telling go get a job in the restaurant? Like, did was there ever a time where you discovered a different part when you had a break? I don't know if that makes sense. Yeah. I actually there's this company called Sawyer Haskin, and it would only hire, um, it it was owned by and run by a couple that used to be dancers, I think, at the New York City Ballet. I might have that wrong. But, um, they it's a, like, a high end sample sale, and they only hire artist performers. Because you're standing on your feet all day, but they also wanted to make sure artists are taken care of. And so a lot of us a lot of people that I met in the industry, we met there. They feed you, um, breakfast and a a lunch, and you could take something home, and you'd work all day. And, um, it was amazing. It was amazing time. And, also, uh, babysitting. I would babysit, um, for friends. I would teach every now and then. And then sometimes I would just rest. What okay. I'm sorry. I we gotta talk about boop. We have I have so many questions, but tell me about how boop is going because I was not expecting it's just not expecting. I thought it was gonna be, like, cute. And it is, but it's more it's way more than that. Yeah. Yeah. Specifically brings a lot of depth. I was sitting there thinking, why am I crying? Why am I crying? But tell me how it's going for you. It's you know, this has been an amazing ride. Um, we did a a production outside, um, of New York and Chicago in the winter fall of what was that? 02/2023. I'm like, what year is it? Um, at the CIBC Theater where it premiered, and it was received very well. People loved it. And, you know, boop is boop is that show where it it doesn't have an agenda, but I think it does in a way, and that's love. Right? It's love, it's community. It's loving yourself enough to love other people extend that out. Um, Betty comes and she reminds everyone that she meets as she's on her own journey to get back in love with yourself and the things that you wanna do for yourself. Um, the the character that I play, Carol Evans, she's an activist. She's a a campaign manager and and trying to run this campaign for this man named Raymond who's running for mayor. And she believes in the she believes in the work that she does, and she believes in this city and making it a better place. Um, and Betty comes and reminds her that, like, hey. You could actually do this. You could actually be the person. And so if It's a Raymond. Right. We don't care about him. I was like, you need to sit down. Sorry. Keep going. But, you know, it's I find it interesting too, you know, to be into shows back to back that are in full alignment with what's happening happening in our political season. You know, right now, we have a mayoral race coming up soon, and a lot of us want the mayor that we have in office, Eric Adams, out because he hasn't done enough for the the the city of New York. And, you know, I I feel like a lot of people can relate when they see whoop. They're like, oh, you know, we're living through this. And so, you know We got him out. We want him out. I am so vocal about that because, you know, he's a mess. But Boop Boop is that musical. It's it's it gives you that that Broadway traditional Broadway heart and vibe. You know? Um, it it makes you cry. It it it it brings you joy, and that's what we need right now. We need to be lifted up. We need to be encouraged. We need to take care of one another, and we need to feel a little love and joy. Yeah. We do. I think Suf's was very, like, you this is gonna be very on the nose about what's going on Mhmm. And, like, in a in a very beautiful way. And and, uh, boop is also a reflection, but it's not in it's, like, not it it's unassuming. Like, you don't Yeah. You're gonna have a good time. Yeah. No matter. Take away so much from it. You can take away so much. You can take away so much. Okay. Okay. What would you tell eight year old you? Where you are today? Uh-huh. Miss Paul, before you answer that, was were you was she this confident? Did she believe in herself? Um, I think in in certain aspects, yes. And and and and in many, no. Mm-mm. What would you tell her? What would you tell them? I would say it's all gonna work out and be okay. Just keep being you. Keep being you. Don't change. Don't don't change your weird and quirky and different self. Be that. Evolve, but don't don't lose that. Yeah. And before I let you go, is there anything else on your heart, um, that we didn't talk about or something that that means something to you that we didn't cover or a moment that changed you? Or is there anything else on your mind or your heart? Um, you know, to to any actor out there, to any artist out there that that feels blocked, that is struggling to create, remember try to remember why you wanted to be a creator, why you wanted to be an artist. I always say that we are the creation and the creator. We are put here to create, to exist, to be, to breathe life into. And so if you're creating art for others, you'll probably never get it to the point that you want it to be. But if you're creating art just for yourself and if you're creating art to heal and to to just lay it out there flat footed, then I think you'll make it. Even if only one person likes it. My dog just cosigned. She said, yeah. If you're creating art for others, you never gonna get it to where it what you want it to be. You gotta make it for you. Yeah. Because we all get these ideas. I recently read this book called, I think it's called Big Magic, and it's By Elizabeth Gilbert. Yes. And it really helped me because I I think I was telling you right before we started. I started a little, like, Instagram thing during the pandemic called hello beautiful spirits. And it was kind of, like, my calling card to myself during 2020 to get me out of bed. It became the affirmation, but then it became this thing where I was like, I have these things that come into my mind, and I think information should be free. So if you find something that works for you, I think you're supposed to share it with everyone. And so one thing she says in that book I'll get back to that. One thing she says in that book is that we all have these ideas that come through our subconscious, our superconscious, our our conscious. And we either hold on to them and give birth or they go to some another energy. They go to another vessel because the idea its energy gets flowing. So it's gonna get out there, but it might not come through you if you aren't ready to give birth to it. And so with hell of beautiful spirits, I've been sitting on a sit on. I was like, what I want this to be? Do I want it to be an educational program? Yes. One day. Do I want it to be a book? Do I want it to be? And I was like, you know what? I I did a podcast in 2020 with my brothers and myself called them three. Um, and I was like, make it a podcast and just talk. And whoever it reaches, it reaches. It's not it may not be for everybody. It may be for one person that needs to hear whatever you have to say in that moment, but get it out there. So, yeah, look for that in May of this year on all the platforms. Oh my god. Oh my god. You told me that. Incredible. You're you truly are wait. Also, what you were just saying, there's a line about that and MJ. Michael was like, if I don't do it, god's gonna get the idea of the prince. Big facts. Yes. It'd be like that. You're like, well, I thought of that first, and you see somebody else doing it. It's like, well, you weren't doing anything with the idea. So Yeah. It's a living, breathing like that. It goes it'll go somewhere. Yeah. Whatever whatever vessel will do something with it. Yep. Yep. Um, okay. I think I'm gonna let you I'm gonna let you fly off into the world because I'm like, do we need a two hour special? I will be a boob tonight. Voila. She's still on the Zoom. Just Just walking around the city with you on my phone. Right. Um, you are absolutely incredible and inspirational, and I am so grateful that you made time for this, that you came over here, share a few words with me, and, um, with us, this will be going on the podcast proper, um, and I'm just I am grateful for you. You are a wealth of knowledge, and you're young. Like, you're young. You're young. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm like, how how is she doing all this? And you are not your whole life, you have a whole life in front of you still. In fact, I do have one last question. Mhmm. Is there anything that you haven't done yet? Because you've done so much that we didn't even talk about. Like, you're all choreographed. Is there anything that you haven't done yet that you're like, man, I gotta I gotta do that? Yeah. There there are few things on the the new dreams list. I I wanna direct, um, a play. I want to A play? A play. Yeah. There's no music in those. There can be a little music, you know, moving in and out. We just talk. But I wanna direct a play. I'm I'm writing a book right now, um, that is is about, um, um, some fun interesting things. That's all you guys do. I'll say this. It's about it's about a a black woman who has ADHD and is approaching 40. Great. Uh-huh. Everybody's not like great. Right. Pretty much. Right. Um, I feel like it's something we don't talk about enough. Uh, Yeah. I wanna put on an album. Um, I wanna be a mother. Look. That's that's art. So, yeah, there are some things on the list that that I think I'll get to in this lifetime. Amen to that. Alright. Well, God Do you hear her? I know. That's right. Listen. Listen. And he is listening. Yes. He is. Listening. Yes. He is. He is. And he's using you already, and so I'm so excited to see what else is in store. So Yeah. Thank you. Enjoy your day. Thank you for having me. You're amazing. Thank you. You are. Thank you so much. Oh my goodness. What? Oh, mister Shire. I'm late. Okay. Well, I'm obsessed. This is amazing. So I'm late. So see her at the Broadhurst. Rufus playing. Follow her at anastasia How do you say it? Anastasia mccleskey dot com. Mccleskey dot com. I mean, no. The how you say your handle? Oh, anastasia mcc official. MCC official. Okay. I was like, official. No. No. Ah. Okay. That's all posted. Bye. Oh my gosh.