This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Stephanie J. Block: Hello, my name is Stephanie J. Block, and you're listening to Eleven, the official theatre podcast.

[0:16] William J Connolly: Hello, and welcome to Eleven, the official theatre podcast that brings the biggest stars and creatives together in one place to discuss life in the arts. She's the Tony Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle winner, and Broadway powerhouse that's changed the landscape of theatre with her outstanding vocals and unrivalled storytelling. She's originated some of your favourite roles in shows including Nine to Five, The Cher Show, The Boy from Oz, The Pirate Queen, and the early workshops of the now 20-year-old Wicked. That is alongside playing historic chapters in shows such as Anything Goes, Into the Woods, Falsettos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and many, many more. So here, in an exclusive conversation just days before she heads across the pond, we find out what we can all expect from these two exclusive solo shows at Cadogan Hall this October 29th.

We also celebrate some of the extraordinary leading ladies and friendships that she's shared the stage with, and why it all comes back to WWDD. That's what would Dolly do, obviously. Plus, as we celebrate that 20th anniversary of Wicked, we dive into what it was like being the original Workshop Green Girl, and experiencing Defying Gravity for the very first time. How Get Out and Stay Out will forever be an anthem for the underdog, and the power of leading with the truth. Please be upstanding for the incredible mind and talents of Stephanie J. Block, here now on this, the next episode of Eleven, the official theatre podcast. To ensure the safety of all involved in this episode of Eleven, Stephanie and I connected with this conversation digitally, so please forgive any brief moments while we wait for the internet to catch up. Enjoy.

[2:02] William J Connolly: Please help me welcome to this, the next episode of Eleven. She's the Tony winner, and one of the finest vocalists to ever tread the boards, and to people like me, the definition of what a great storyteller is all about. So, let's tell some stories together now. As I say, a huge welcome from WJC to SJB. See what I did there? It's the wonderful Stephanie J. Block. Hi, Stephanie, how are you?

[2:26] Stephanie J. Block: Hello, Middle Initial J, my fellow brother in the Js. I'm well, I'm really well. How are you?

[2:30] William J Connolly: I'm doing really well, and I'm very, very excited. I've got my shirt on, trying to look all posh for you. I'm a little bit nervous, because you are, as I sort of alluded to there, such a legend. You are like one of my favourite, favourite, favourite people, and this is a real honour. So, most importantly, before we get all silly and crazy, thank you so much for your time. It's massively appreciated.

[2:48] Stephanie J. Block: I am so honoured to be here. It's too much expectation to say that I'm fancy, but I appreciate that you appreciate my work. Thank you.

[2:54] William J Connolly: Appreciate it to be appreciated. That's exactly what I love. Well, thank you so much, once again, for agreeing to do this. And I should say that it's very exciting that I get the opportunity, not just to talk to you, but to talk about something very special, as particularly being on this side of the pond, and that is getting the opportunity to see you, A, in person, but also to hear from you, to learn from you, for you to be our teacher, for you to get to perform live here in London. I mean, before we talk about specifics, what to expect, how excited audiences are, the fact that this is nearly sold out, so get your tickets if you're going to come. For you, when they were like, hey, Stephanie, do you want to come to London? Were you like, held to the air? Or were you like, oh, kind of a big deal? Hold on a second. How did you react?

[3:31] Stephanie J. Block: Yeah, both. Usually, my knee-jerk reaction is always to say yes first, and then I sit and marinate with it for a little bit. And then I go, oh, I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm going to call my agent. Where am I going? What are the details? What's happening? How do I get there? And then we figure out logistics. But that's kind of always been my way. I always say yes, and then sit in it for a second. And then, of course, reality hits and you go, oh, there are a lot of moving parts here to actually make this happen. But no, I'm thrilled. And I'm sure you may know, and maybe your listeners don't, but this has been in the making for about four years, I think. Scheduling wise, it didn't work out. Then, of course, there was the pandemic, which I call the great parentheses.

And then I caught COVID somewhere in the middle. And I think now here we are, and hopefully it'll come to fruition. I mean, listeners, you can't see me, but I'm kind of doing like magical, sprinkly fingers because you just never know, do you? Life is wild.

[4:32] William J Connolly: Life is wild. It definitely is, but it will happen. I'm very, very, very sure of that. So positive vibes all around to make sure that you end up here on our shores singing for us. Because I feel like so many of us have had our interactions with you through cast recordings, through watching maybe Cheeky Naughty Bootlegs online, listening to the fact we've seen you on television as well. But to get the opportunity to see you live feels like such a luxury for us. So when we're sat there at Cadogan Hall, 29th of October, what does a Stephanie J. Block concert look, sound and feel like?

[5:01] Stephanie J. Block: Well, anytime I walk into a new space, or I kind of look at what the demographics are going to be, who's my audience, have they seen me perform before, I change the set list. London, when I was planning that set list, I was like, my gosh, it has been four years in the making. I've not been able to do this before for them. And the set list was ridiculous. And I don't think any vocalist, even with the magical powers and the twinkly fingers that I just did, anybody would have been able to do that, especially back to back concerts. Because I've had this extraordinary privilege of having incredible songs that quote unquote, are now married to me and I to them. But there are a lot of 11 o'clock numbers, William.

And you know, when your little vocal cords are going, we're singing 13 songs, you cannot go from defying gravity to get out and stay out to breaking down. So I called my musical director, Ben Cohn. And I just said, look, we have to make sure that we have some really wonderful moments that are signature me. But we also need to make sure that I'm not in my head the whole time going, I've got to belt the E, I've got to make sure I'm giving everybody what they want. And that I can sit in the storytelling, I can breathe into the song and the music. So we developed something which I'm very proud of. It's a brand new concert, and I am leaning into it. And it's called Mother. Recently, I've learned that the LGBTQIA community has pegged me as Mother.

And I had to look that up because I wasn't sure if it was derogatory or compliment or what that was. And I thought, oh, hell, yeah, this is fabulous. And then being so proud to be Vivian's mom. And now at a certain age, getting these roles where I am a mother figure in the narrative and the storytelling. And, you know, ode to Mother Nature, ode to Mother Earth, ode to Mother Effer, like there's a whole bunch of mother that can be explored. And once we started to put these songs together, there was a really fun thread that went all the way through the concert.

[7:14] William J Connolly: If ever there was a person that was kind of the dictionary definition or the flagpost, the person for Mother, it is Miss Stephanie J. Block. So consider yourself duly knighted that, please, Mother, as much as you want to.

[7:21] Stephanie J. Block: Thank you. Thank you. I will.

[7:28] William J Connolly: A lot of people when they do these concerts, I guess there is almost an audience expectation of what they'd like to hear. There's also what you as a performer would like to deliver as well, which I think when those two things marry is the beauty of these concerts. But also, I guess for you that you want people to explore new parts of you, but that means being very vulnerable. You want them to feel like the person that they've got in their head, as they expect, is also the person that they see. So I guess, do you like leaning into the new? Do you like leaning into the expectation? How on earth do you find a bit of ground?

[7:58] Stephanie J. Block: You were saying all the right things. Yes, yes, and yes, it is scary. But I have found that part of my strength as a performer comes from my vulnerability, comes from my show is kind of at the tip of my tongue and at the tip of my fingers. So even when I rehearse and I craft something, the day of, I guarantee you, there will be three or four songs where we will do flippity-floppity. No, let's cut that. You know what? Let's bring that back. And thank God, again, going back to my musical director, Ben Cohn, he's been with me for well over a decade. So we breathe together. He knows when I'm going to come in. He knows when I need to speed up the tempo. He knows when I'm going to banter on for another five minutes before I, you know, get into the song.

And when I feel safe and supported in that way, then I can play. When I know the boundaries, that's when I really feel like I'm at home. And I will tell you this, that I've grown into myself and I may be shooting myself in the foot. But when I walk onto the stage as me, I have come to accept and give myself grace that anything can happen. And that audience is actually there to lift, you know, lift me up to be there through it all. So if a lyric disappears, it disappears. I am me and I have to, if not now, when I have to embrace that we're in it together and you're there actually to see me sing and hear me sing me. So I just have to lean into that, as you said. And that's joy. You never know where these concerts are going to go and coming to them and buying that ticket and saying, well, let's see what she has to bring. Trust me, people. I feel the exact same way walking out on stage. I kind of shrug my shoulders, say a little prayer, believe in what I've done and go, well, let's see what happens.

[10:00] William J Connolly: But that makes it exciting, I think, from an audience perspective, I guess. Does it translate to you as a performer of like there is that possibility that something might happen that I don't know it's going to? And that's the beauty of our industry, right?

[10:08] Stephanie J. Block: I think so. I do think so. Now, of course, if you listen to a cast recording, as you made mention, or if you go see a show that's been rehearsed and we've now performed it, whether it's the 20th time or the 2000th time, that's hard to say 2000th time. But with these one offs, right, where you are specifically flying across the pond to do one or two events. Yes, I think that is the joy. I think we're on this roller coaster ride together. And if we all breathe into it together and accept each other for what it is, then that's the highest form of live entertainment and pure joy. I remember watching an interview that you did for The Cher Show, where you spoke about the fact that one of the things that you perhaps unexpectedly learn while doing that show was actually direct from Cher, which is the power of owning oneself.

And actually, yes, you do sort of need to stop waiting for other people to make you feel 100% comfortable. Or perhaps even I think you've been suggested stop looking for feeling totally comfortable because it doesn't really ever come. Does is that part of you? Does that approach now come to all of your work? Have you noticed that this is something that trickles on in the back of your mind? And I guess, how did you make the decisions and the choices through your career before that entered? Because that world is probably the before more where most of us sit, and I feel like you're in a very different position now.

[11:27] Stephanie J. Block: That is a heavy duty question, mister, and one that I still work out in therapy. But I think what I did before, before I settled into who I am, and I say that with, you know, a lot of grandeur and a lot of clarity. And yet,

[11:40] Stephanie J. Block: You know, I'm still searching just like everybody else. But I think before I would hide in my characters, if that makes sense, right? As I started in this business, believe it or not, when I was 12. And I wanted to be seen and it was my voice that allowed me to be seen as a younger person. And then when I got these wonderful opportunities in my teenage years, my early 20s and whatnot, I would disappear into the character of whatever I was cast as. And yet Stephanie would somehow be absorbed or eaten, really, by that character. I was devoured by that character. And that felt safe to me. But I also knew that I wasn't giving the full body performance that I could have been giving had I been a little braver and opened up.

And that didn't really happen until my 40s where I didn't feel like perfection needed to exist in every note, in every choice, in every breath. And I was able to make myself a little bit more messy, a little bit more acceptable, and accessible. And I think when the audience recognizes the messy in another person, or the accessibility in another person, that's when people lean in. And you're not, as a performer, having to force yourself onto them, right? You want them to come to you. And that only happens if they see themselves in the performance or in the person. And so I had to strip down. And that took me a long time. I do feel like I'm there. Now, of course, as soon as the curtain comes down, much like what I was saying before, when I say yes, that's my instinctive gut speaking.

When I do a show, it's my instinct, my gut, my heart. And then the curtain comes down and I go, Oh, you know what? I should have done that. Oh, drats. That would have been much better, right? That's when the editing takes place. 2020 hindsight, however you want to look at it. But I think once you just believe in what you're doing, and you believe in the people that are there with you, then you can allow them to lean into you. And you can just stand back a bit, much like you said with Cher.

[13:45] William J Connolly: Do you think that the younger version of yourself was an easier person to say yes to things that perhaps you now would go absolutely freaking not? Are you insane? Like, has that almost that vulnerability and desire to be seen as you mentioned there? Did it actually allow you, I guess, afford you more things that you could say yes to because you almost were trying to find something that you didn't actually know what the end result was, if that makes sense?

[14:12] Stephanie J. Block: Maybe, maybe there wasn't the chance to get in my head or to talk myself out of it, or to lay out the if you do this, then this happens. And that's the consequence. And then you get lost in your own thought, right? So perhaps, but I still will say that even today, I will say yes, first, like, let's go back to one of the craziest journeys ever was Anything Goes. So Sutton Foster is starring in Anything Goes, I think this was like 2011. They called me up, you know, Sutton's off to do a pilot for a television show. Do you think you could do this and learn it in seven to 10 days? And I say yes, not knowing that it equates like 23 hours of rehearsal. If I just don't think about it, I tend to say yes.

And it even though it's complicated in the day in day out, and the work of it all, the end result is still the yes, I should have said, right? Yeah. So maybe that young girl didn't have all of the other things like a husband that relies on her and I him, a child that relies on me, and all of those extra responsibilities. So it might have been a little easier back when I was younger. I think that voice that speaks very loudly in my gut, it resonates the same today.

[15:25] William J Connolly: Do you think that desire to be seen also sort of impacted your the fact that so many of us Yes, of course, your voice is absolutely mind blowing. But you were a storyteller, I think first, you tell stories first, and nobody could ever deny that you aren't leading with truth, but probably before your voice. Do you think that also bled into the fact that you knew that there was a message and a story? If it's fun, if it's serious, whatever it might be, that has to come first. That's where we have to begin?

[15:49] Stephanie J. Block: Yes. And you know what I attribute that to? It goes back to way the way my mother used to introduce both myself and my sister. So she would say, this is my beautiful daughter Renee, this is my talented daughter, Stephanie. So both compliments, but still labels, and still things that we wear as a badge, perhaps a badge of honour. But so I, for my entire life, never really cared about what I looked like, or perhaps maybe care too much. But in caring too much, knowing I was never going to meet the expectation, you had to release it. So that was so freeing to me. And so I was able to sit in, okay, if I'm talented, where does that lie? Yes, I have a big voice. But if you have nothing to say, no one's listening.

If you hit the high notes, and you riff, that's awesome. It's vocal fireworks. But if you don't have a message, no one cares. And I found that out really early. So yes, I find more joy in people watching me sing, rather than hearing me sing. Because the storytelling happens from the top of my head to the bottom of my toes to the tips of my fingers. And I pride myself on that. So I would encourage that, that yes, the videos are out there that like you said, the cast albums are out there, the bootlegs are out there. But I will say that my superpower does lie in standing on stage and seeing what this next translation or version of this song may be. Because it really isn't going to be the same as it is from the afternoon performance to the evening performance just isn't. And I can imagine as an artist as purely as a somebody that goes to work in this profession, what a what a wonderful way to approach a job, which is that every day, you live in truth, and you live in something that has never existed before, and will never exist again.

And I can imagine that means that my favorite saying of all time is every day is a school day, right? Oh, my gosh, yeah, we're learning with every every time we wake up. First of all, thank God we woke up. Yay, that's a victory in and of itself. And then yeah, you're off to school to learn.

[18:00] Stephanie J. Block: I agree with that. I also think that because I've done that, and this was not planned by any means, but because I've done that, and I've made myself the fool, and I've been able to be messy. And I've tried to explore all these things in front of 1000s of people and just try to work it out and see how it lands. It allowed me to never mimic a character, or perhaps a archetype with every time I've been cast. It's been a different human, it's been a different character. And I feel really lucky that that's happened. Because I find that if I were to be, if you came to my concert, and you knew exactly what you were getting, it's like a beautiful glass of milk, right? I don't want to be a beautiful glass of milk.

We know what it looks like. We know how it's going to taste. We know that we're going to fill up and be satisfied. But there's no surprise. There's no you're not going to walk out of the theater chatting about something that is a really satisfying glass of milk. I never, ever want to be that for anyone.

[18:57] William J Connolly: I love that analogy. That's such a good, that's yeah, it needs to be well done. I'm definitely stealing that one.

[19:05] Stephanie J. Block: We spoke about at the beginning about some of the use of the torch songs, the songs that people perhaps listen to regularly, the way in which they interact with your voice. But when you get so many as you have, and so many different roles that have become synonymous with you that people, you might even have originated them, they might just be roles that you've played throughout your career. Thinking most recently with Into the Woods, or obviously originating The Cher Show, or, you know, Wicked, or Nine to Five, or whatever it might be. Having those under your belt, knowing people are cheering you on, are on your side, are desperate to hear those songs, want to get lost in that world, to imagine what that performance might have been like.

For you, when you have those, are those the ones that you cherish the most? Because those are the ones, I guess, when you're younger in your career, that you, I guess you dream, you hope you have something that people remember. Are those the ones that do almost mean the most? And do you know they are special as they're evolving in real time?

[20:01] Stephanie J. Block: I think yes. I think when I first saw Defying Gravity, of course, I knew that was going to be anthemic. I knew it was going to be a game changer for American musical theatre. When I first heard Get Out and Stay Out, similarly, I knew what that was going to be to people. Even in Pirate Queen, right, the show itself was not necessary. Well, let's be honest, it was one of the top 10 flops of all time in the last century of musical theatre. But the song Woman, that is strong. I know that a lot of people are singing that in their cabarets, in audition sessions, and I take really great pride. I also like to choose songs in different ways. I like to put my stamp on it. You mentioned things that I perhaps didn't originate just recently with Into the Woods, Moments in the Woods.

I didn't go out or set out to make it so different with the purpose of just putting my stamp on it. I wanted to make sure that it still served the musical, but that it also was truthful and authentic to me, to my baker's wife. In doing so, it was a completely different interpretation and storytelling. Yes, I think that is amazing. I hope that forever is my legacy. When building a show like this though, I also have to think about taking the people, the audience, and myself on a journey that has a beginning, a middle, and an end for that moment. I don't want it to be an evening of all the greatest hits, even though I am wonderfully attached to all these songs and they represent different chapters in my life.

I don't want it to be a, oh, let's tell a little antidote about that and now let's sing the song. I'm no longer the same person I was when I first heard Defying Gravity literally 23 years ago. So much has happened in my life that I have to interpret that song differently. If it doesn't serve the show that I'm doing for London in this particular concept, sadly, I got to throw out that baby for that night. It may disappoint some, and it's a blessing and a curse. It's so great to know that I am now, as we used before, married to that song and it's in my veins, but I'm not going to do it just for doing its sake. That's not artistically gratifying for anyone.

[22:21] William J Connolly: Yeah, it's an interesting point you make, I think, because we hold ourselves to such high account personally that I think there's almost a greater expectation from you as the artist associated with said song. Almost, I imagine, than an audience member wanting to hear a cast album or recording or whatever it might be. So you're not the same person used 23 years ago as a good touch point, but you're not that person 23 years ago. You're not that person 12 months ago, but nor should you be, I would argue.

[22:43] Stephanie J. Block: I would agree with that argument. Do you know James Taylor? You may be too young to know.

[22:49] William J Connolly: I love him.

[22:53] Stephanie J. Block: I listen to his interviews and he, you know, the same thing. He does concerts still today and he's like, if I have to sing You've Got a Friend one more time, I'm going to lose it, right? If I have to sing, I'm going to lose it. But he also feels out the audience and if they are desperately wanting to hear it, depending on how he feels that night, he makes the decision in the moment. Do I give it to them or, excuse my language, or am I whoring myself out simply because I don't want to hear it?

[23:20] Stephanie J. Block: I think the most important thing is to find your own voice and to understand what that means for you. It's not just about singing; it's about expressing who you are through your art.

[23:50] Stephanie J. Block: When I was preparing for roles like Cher or Judy Bernley, I had to dig deep into my own experiences and emotions. Each character brings something unique, and I love the challenge of bringing them to life.

[24:00] Stephanie J. Block: The mantra of W.W.D.D. — What Would Dolly Do — has been a guiding light for me. Dolly Parton embodies joy and authenticity, and I strive to channel that in my performances.

[24:10] Stephanie J. Block: As Wicked celebrates its 20th anniversary, I often reflect on my time as the original workshop green girl. That experience was transformative, and singing "Defying Gravity" for the first time was a moment I’ll never forget.

[24:15] Stephanie J. Block: The power of leading with the truth in my performances is something I hold dear. It’s about being vulnerable and connecting with the audience on a deeper level.

[24:25] Stephanie J. Block: I remember the excitement and nerves of stepping into that role. It was a beautiful blend of fear and exhilaration, and I think that’s what makes live theatre so special.

[24:35] Stephanie J. Block: Each role teaches me something new, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore different facets of my artistry. It’s a journey that keeps evolving.

[24:45] Stephanie J. Block: I also love the collaborative aspect of theatre. Working with directors, choreographers, and fellow actors enriches the process and brings out the best in each performance.

[24:55] Stephanie J. Block: The relationships I’ve built through these experiences are invaluable. They inspire me to push my boundaries and strive for excellence every time I step on stage.

[25:05] Stephanie J. Block: I think it’s essential to embrace the joy of performing. That’s what keeps the passion alive, and it’s what I hope to share with audiences everywhere.

[25:15] Stephanie J. Block: As I prepare for my upcoming show at Cadogan Hall, I’m filled with anticipation. I can’t wait to connect with the London audience and share my journey through song.

[25:25] Stephanie J. Block: Each performance is a new opportunity to tell a story, and I’m excited to see how the audience responds. Their energy fuels my passion.

[25:35] Stephanie J. Block: I believe that theatre has the power to heal and inspire. It’s a privilege to be part of that world and to contribute to the magic of live performance.

[25:45] Stephanie J. Block: I’m also looking forward to exploring new material and pushing myself creatively. There’s always something new to discover in this art form.

[25:55] Stephanie J. Block: Ultimately, it’s about sharing a piece of my heart with the audience. That connection is what makes every performance worthwhile.

[26:05] Stephanie J. Block: I hope to continue growing as an artist and to take on roles that challenge me and resonate with my own experiences.

[26:15] Stephanie J. Block: The journey of an artist is never-ending, and I’m grateful for every step along the way. Each role is a chapter in my story.

[26:25] Stephanie J. Block: I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next, and I hope to inspire others to find their own voices in the process.

[26:35] Stephanie J. Block: Thank you for having me on the podcast. It’s been a pleasure to share my thoughts and experiences with you.

[26:45] Stephanie J. Block: I look forward to connecting with everyone at Cadogan Hall and beyond. Let’s keep the conversation going!

[26:55] Stephanie J. Block: Remember, always lead with your truth and embrace the joy of what you do. That’s what it’s all about.

[27:05] Stephanie J. Block: I can’t wait to see what the future holds, and I’m excited to share it with all of you.

[27:15] Stephanie J. Block: Thank you again for this opportunity. It’s been wonderful to reflect on my journey and the roles that have shaped me.

[27:25] Stephanie J. Block: Let’s keep celebrating the magic of theatre together!

[27:35] Stephanie J. Block: I appreciate your support and can’t wait to share more of my story with you all.

[27:45] Stephanie J. Block: Until next time, remember to always follow your passion and stay true to yourself.

[27:55] Stephanie J. Block: Thank you!