This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Jayke Workman: Breaking gay news out of Hollywood. I'm just being told that Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga are both releasing music within a month. This could change everything. More at 11.

[0:16] Jayke Workman: Oh my god, did you hear? Did you hear? Did you hear? Oh my god, guys. Jayke got high. I can't believe Jayke got high. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god, Oh My Pod U Guys.

[0:30] Jayke Workman: What's up everybody? My name is Jayke Workman and this is Oh My Pod U Guys, a musical theater and pop culture podcast. You guys, I am freshly off of my little stint standing by for Mary Sunshine at Chicago the Musical. And when I tell you, I mean, it's always fun to be back and to see who's there and who's on and who's off because you just never know. It's such a well-oiled machine that there's always new people going in.

[0:56] Jayke Workman: But this particular time has been a real time of changeover and there are lots of new people in the show. So it was so fun to get to know these people and get to see them work. And I have to say, shout out to the queen herself, Miss Ariana Maddox, for making her Broadway debut as Roxy Hart. But doing it, I mean, on stage and off with the utmost grace and just warmth. She is so lovely. I had nothing but wonderful things to say about her and her performance, you guys. She's killing it. You never know with a stunt cast Roxy. Sometimes it's not necessarily in their wheelhouse, but I can absolutely confirm this Miss Ariana Maddox is serving it as Roxy Hart.

[1:48] Jayke Workman: So run to grab your tickets. I mean, you guys, the show had literally its record high ticket sales week of like a non-holiday week in the show's history because of Ariana. Like it's just so exciting. And I encourage everyone to get a ticket and run to the ambassador to see Miss Maddox shine. I love her. And with that, you guys, let's dive right into this week's Broadway World Recap brought to you by my amazing friends at BroadwayWorld.com.

[2:18] Jayke Workman: First, you guys, just elephant in the room. I have to talk about the postponement of My Son's A Queer, But What Can You Do on Broadway? This show was set to open or start previews on February 27th with an opening in March. And it was just announced that the show has been pulled from this year's Broadway season and it is aiming for an opening next season, which is amazing. While I'm so excited that the show is not canceled, it is just postponed. I'm very bummed for Rob Madge, the incredible creator of this show. And this one just hit really, really close to home for many reasons and more on that later. But I'm just sending Rob all of the love in the world. This piece of art, this show that they have created is unlike anything I have ever gotten to get a glimpse at.

And I'm so, so excited for the world to get to see it. I mean, the world has already seen it. The world is already celebrating Rob Madge. But to get it to Broadway and to have Broadway audiences experience the joy and the magic of Rob, I just can't wait. So sending all my love across the pond to you, Rob, and to the team.

[3:34] Jayke Workman: Next, you guys, it was just confirmed that producer Oren Wolfe has announced that the pre-Broadway world premiere stage adaptation of Prince's legendary film and album Purple Rain will take place in Prince's hometown, Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the spring of 2025. And you guys, that's my home, too. I'm so excited. I'm like, wait, should I be like going home? Do I need to like get on a plane and go back to Minnesota? Because, girl, I want to be a part of this so bad. I love Prince. And the fact that they are going to honor him in this way with a pre-Broadway run in his hometown is just iconic. I mean, I couldn't think of a better place for this show to get its legs and to get up and running before it comes to New York. So congrats to Oren. I mean, a friend of the pod and fellow Hart grad, Oren Wolfe, you are killing it in the producing game. And I'm so excited to hear more about this amazing show.

[4:39] Jayke Workman: Next, you guys, we got the very exciting casting announcement that Todrick Hall is going to be taking on the role of Sean in the upcoming UK premiere of Burlesque the Musical. You guys, this casting is so smart. It's going to bring younger audiences who may not have even seen the movie Burlesque, which I can't even believe I'm saying because I'm old. I'm old. It's a perfect movie. This is the hill I will die on. But Todrick Hall is going to be amazing in this role. The role that was originally played by, of course, the icon himself, Stanley Tucci. I think Todrick is going to be amazing. I mean, it's so special to Todrick took to social media and shared that he's so excited because not only is he performing in it, but he is performing some of his own original songs for the show, which is so exciting and special. So congrats to Todrick and to the amazing cast of Burlesque. I cannot wait to see and hear what you guys are cooking up.

[5:44] Jayke Workman: And lastly, you guys, it was confirmed by Gregory Maguire, author of the original book Wicked, is going to release a prequel book of Wicked by October. And you guys, I love the idea that this is a prequel of a prequel because Gregory Maguire wrote Wicked as the prequel to The Wizard of Oz. So we are getting the ultimate backstory of The Witches of Oz. And I'm so excited. If you haven't read the book Wicked, it's very different than the musical, which is kind of why I'm so glad that he allowed them to make it a musical, because I think he was skeptical at first. And then, of course, now, like, look at the smash hit that's been running for 20 years. But this musical or I'm sorry, the book is dark.

This book, like within the first 30 pages or something, baby Elphaba, like bites off someone's finger. No spoilers, no spoilers, but read the book, you guys. And then I cannot wait to read this new prequel in October. This is going to be so wild. I'm like, are we going to get the prequel musical to say no? We can just let it be a book for now. But I'm very excited. So congrats, Gregory Maguire. This is going to be awesome.

[7:02] Jayke Workman: And you guys, this has been the Broadway World recap. Oh, my pod, you guys, I am so excited to introduce my next guest to the show. I've wanted to do this for so long. I'm so excited. I'm just so excited that we finally get to chit chat.

[7:17] Lili Thomas: I know. Truly. We've been at Chicago for how long now? And we're like, right. Ships in the night.

[7:22] Jayke Workman: I know you guys. Lili Thomas is here. We are having me. We are recording live coming to you from the Ambassador Theater on. What is this? The third floor, the fourth floor, right?

[7:35] Lili Thomas: They all together for me.

[7:37] Jayke Workman: Yeah, it's the third floor. We're not too high.

[7:39] Lili Thomas: Yes. Yeah. Mine is one more up. And she's a trip, honey. By the time I get up there, I'm like, well, she's never coming down. When I have to go visit the boys upstairs, I'm like.

[7:54] Jayke Workman: Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. I cannot wait to hear all about your incredible career. But first, I just want to ask you how it has been being the first Asian American woman to play Matron Mama Morton on Broadway.

[8:10] Lili Thomas: You've been here for so long.

[8:11] Jayke Workman: I know. Right. People are calling me a vet and I still feel new.

[8:14] Lili Thomas: You're like, wait, what's the line?

[8:15] Jayke Workman: Right. Tell me, what was your road to this show?

[8:20] Lili Thomas: It was so cool. You know, I got the I got like that self tape request and I called my agent. I said, I think this is a mistake. Like, they can't be wanting to see me for this. And she said, no, no, really. And I was just like, wow. Okay, that's not at all what I thought. If I was going to have any involvement with the show where I thought it would be. But like, also, yes, please. You know, a hundred percent. I was doing Dear Evan Hansen also was a completely different vibe.

[8:52] Lili Thomas: Yes, which we will get to because I cannot wait to ask you about it. I was, you know, crying eight times a week and singing in this mixy, you know, lighter place, pop place. And I just like got the material, which, of course, everybody knows the song, but just looking at it and hearing the vamps and I was like, oh, what a dream. Right. And I made a tape and I kind of I was talking to one of my friends in the cast of Dear Evan Hansen. And I just said, you know, I don't know what to do with this line and whatnot. And he was like, you know, Lili, you're not like anybody else who's played this part before. Right. So like, it kind of seems like everything's fair game. Right. Just make a choice that feels like you and doesn't necessarily feel like what you've associated with this character. Sure. And go with it.

[9:42] Lili Thomas: I will say that my audition was very like geared towards Marissa Tomei. It was influenced by Marissa Tomei and my cousin Vinny, which is just the family favorite movie. And I think I had recently watched it and something I know this takes place in Chicago. But Mama Morton is a New Yorker to me. Of course. And she's just like got that, you know, broad New York accent. So. So, yeah, I was like, I'm just going to kind of do a little bit of a of like what I would. Because I am a New Yorker, you know, like my background bringing to it with a little like punch of Marissa Tomei. So I made this ridiculous tape, which I really thought was just going to be a send it in. Everybody will laugh about it and move on situation.

And like the day before I came back from tour, they were like, great. They want to see you in person next week. Wow. I came in and Rob was in the room. I had a great audition, went back the next day and that was it. Didn't hear anything for a while other than like I did a great job. And then I was driving and my agent told me to pull over and she FaceTime me and told me. And I was just so excited. Wow. That's amazing.

[10:50] Lili Thomas: I mean, what I've spoken about it on the pod before. But the way that this show operates is so different than most because it has just I mean, it's become this phenomenon of just like it will always be here. And so you think one thing about it. Like you said, you know, you think like, OK, well, it's been done this way. I don't know why I would be considered for it in that way or the other. But then because it's so well run and because it's so established, you sort of get to like fill in all of the gaps and all the cracks.

[11:23] Jayke Workman: Well, that's why it's so successful, because they're open to this evolution and totally change and bringing different people in. I mean, the amount of different casts I've done this with in just a few months has been insane.

[11:36] Lili Thomas: Well, that's also keeps you on your toes. It keeps it fresh. And that's why the show is still interesting. We get a lot of like repeat audience members, you know, totally who have seen it. They want to come back and see it with a completely different cast. And they say it's a totally different show. I don't think I've I have seen the show so, so many times as a standby. I don't think I've ever seen the same cast do it day to day. I think it's always usually two show days means it's the same cast. But otherwise, you never fucking know who's going to be on like what's going to go down to come in and study that in and out. So that is so fun.

[12:12] Jayke Workman: So what was your like rehearsal process like for like, did you watch the show?

[12:18] Lili Thomas: I watched it once.

[12:19] Jayke Workman: Okay.

[12:20] Lili Thomas: Just once. I think. Yeah. I mean, Mama is a very isolated role, too. That's true. So I don't really do much with anybody. Like I don't talk to them. I don't. I just talk to myself.

[12:33] Lili Thomas: No, but I rehearsed with the dance captain and with the stage manager. I think it was like two weeks, but it's a really great princess track. You know when you're working, you're working, but there's a lot of sitting and watching time. So we wouldn't sometimes even use the whole rehearsal day. I'd be like, okay, that's good. You got it. See you tomorrow. It was really fun. It was good to give me a little bit of that time to sort of let what was about to happen sink in. Totally. And it was also my Broadway debut. Yeah, which talk about it. I'm kind of old. This show is mine too. Yeah, and I love that about this building too that like the show itself has such an amazing reputation that I don't have to like necessarily rely on that and they can really give opportunities to the right people for the right fit for that time.

Totally, regardless of if you have a Broadway or not. Absolutely, exactly. And so it was really exciting. This was a show I was obsessed with in seventh grade. I remember I bought the CD. I went down to like Tower Records, you know, bought the CD. I remember like the little books in the CD. Oh my god, of course, with all the lyrics. Yes, the lyrics and the pictures and looking at BB Newer than I think like it was my entire year. Mm-hmm, and oh, there we go with the heat. Um, I just was like, oh to have been alive to be in a show like that. I know, you know, and you dream about that and it's something that inspires you to do it. You never think that you're gonna actually get to be a part of that show.

Mm-hmm, because nothing runs that long. Yeah, so and you know, I've done cabaret regionally. I love Kander and Ebb. I'm also a brass player. So like I yes, play so the scores to these shows. They're so fun arrangements and the music and I just like could not believe that I was going to not only make my Broadway debut but in this and in like making history in representing, you know, the Asian theater community in a role that is, I spoke about this in my Playbill article, but it's so exciting to me because it's not just being the first but it was that I was doing this with a role that is so the opposite of what a, you know, sort of stereotype of Asian women has been in theater. Mm-hmm, you know, lots of like times where I would be called in for a role that they were open to seeing more ethnicities for, it would be for an ingenue or for somebody a little more gentle. Exactly. Yeah, and so the fact that they were opening this up to me in a role that was the antithesis of all of those qualities was so cool because I'm kind of brassy.

[15:06] Jayke Workman: Whatever do you mean?

[15:08] Lili Thomas: To be, to have the permission to be loud and to be big and not have to apologize for it, but to be celebrated for it. Yeah, was really big because you know, I'm from New York. I grew up like not even really knowing that I was Asian, sure, in a way, you know, I just never really I related to being an American and what a concept really felt much more like, oh, I, people expect me to be this way because this is how I look. I didn't feel that really until like post-college, you know, and that was kind of a pretty rude awakening. Yeah, so to kind of come full circle and have a success in staying strong and sticking to like me being confident in this is me and it's okay. Yeah, that has been the best part of this.

That has been the best part of this and I think it's such an interesting like you spoke to it a little bit but like the idea of this show being something that we've been connected to for so long because it really has been here for so long. Like it, there are people in this building who are like direct conduits to like the greatest era of musical theater ever, like Rob Bowman working with Elaine and yeah, like Cheetah passing away and everyone in this building being so affected by it because they actually knew and worked with Cheetah, right? Like it's just a different thing. It's a different beast being given the special like golden ticket into the core of like traditional musical theater, right?

And like it's proof of like, well, you see why we're still here. Yeah, it's because of this, that, and the other thing. It's because of these people and the way that they operate. It's just so cool. So for you to open the door for Asian women to be able to...

[17:34] Lili Thomas: Well, and when I came in also, I came into this company and I was the only Asian person on that stage. Yes, and now we were just walking down the stairs and Kristen said it was red and me and Cavillo and Kristen and...

[17:59] Jayke Workman: It's about damn time.

[18:02] Lili Thomas: So tell me about sort of growing up in the world that is New York City and like how did that sort of like shape you as a performer? I mean you said you're a brass player as well.

[18:10] Lili Thomas: Well, I have classical musician parents. So my parents are mostly chamber musicians and in the orchestra. My stepmother's over at the Philharmonic and my father's a cellist. My mom's a concert pianist. My stepfather is a French horn player. He was, you know, yes, and he he's the head of the brass and woodwind department at Yale right now. But they're all very accomplished classical musicians. It's a musical theater was kind of like, oh, well, I'm gonna be a rebel and I'm gonna break the rules.

[19:02] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[19:03] Lili Thomas: Your tuba, I know and I'd love the tuba like the tuba was part of the rebellion. No, I mean little side note when we gave, you know, and I guess like fourth grade you have the option of starting an instrument and you know, I went to public school and Hastings on Hudson, which is like 18 minutes from here. Yeah, but they call it up north, you know when you're in Manhattan.

[19:27] Jayke Workman: Oh, so you are from upstate.

[19:29] Lili Thomas: But you know I said I'm not gonna play cello anymore. I've been doing Suzuki and I was like, I'm not gonna play piano. I'm gonna play something that nobody else plays and I also said I want to play an instrument that no other girl plays because all the girls were doing like flute and clarinet. Yep, and I kind of like went through an instrument catalog and I was like, what's that thing? And it looked like a small tuba and my stepfather said that's it. That's a euphonium and I was like, yeah, give me that one. Looks like a tuba that I could actually carry. Yeah. And so I played the euphonium baritone horn with two very similar instruments. I played that and then when I got older, I was like, okay, this is really annoying to carry around and it's very similar to the trumpet.

So then I started really learning the trumpet which has been my favorite instrument to do like actor musician stuff with. Yeah, much more mobile. But also I love the trumpet and especially in this show like the trumpet, I'm like, why, why are we not having Mama Morton do the opening fanfare? Are you kidding? When I get my wig on and I listen to it and it's so exposed that would give me, see, I don't get nervous going on here. I'm up, but having to get your embouchure checked for that like that everybody in that audience knows and is waiting for it like pressure.

[20:50] Jayke Workman: Oh yeah, I don't know how Glenn does it.

[20:53] Lili Thomas: Yeah, sickening. Yeah, so that sort of just was always gonna be your path, you know, like my parents did classical music. So their release was jazz. So like at night we always listened to jazz. I was raised on Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald. I just, that's and that's sort of how I found my voice and started singing jazz when I was like four and doing lots of like scat with my parents and learning music kind of through games with my parents mostly with jazz. And as we all know, jazz is made a lot from these standards that are from musicals.

[21:31] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[21:31] Lili Thomas: And so like kind of just doing some research or where that song come from and then learning about the grocery. I already know that exactly like diving into Berlin and so and then I just kind of got bit by the bug watching Sound of Music as a child every day and was I'd story and you know all of the greats. So yeah, and I think my parents were just like, oh my gosh, she's so animated that she shouldn't be a musician. She like has to do something and the acting came from the music.

[22:03] Jayke Workman: Brilliant. So then when did you know that it was an actual? You were gonna make it a viable career choice for yourself? Like did you go to school college?

[22:12] Lili Thomas: Yeah, I went to NYU. Okay. I mean, I just like such a New York girl, right? Yeah. No, are you kidding? Yeah, I went to NYU. I loved it. I had a great time there and that Tish. Yeah, and I loved the fact that what I loved about NYU, I don't know where I got the dream, but I definitely had, it was I applied early. It was one of the things I was like, I really want to go in there. Yeah, I'm a young age. I don't remember what it was. But what I loved about it was that your most of your teachers are currently working actors, you know, and so people who you kind of like do all of that networking in college that a lot of people do when they come to the city after college. They're amazing programs. We all know like some of the best musical training, musical theater training is not in New York, right?

But kind of getting to like do that networking and having people know you, you know, like I had an agent before I graduated college. A lot of the casting directors knew me, right? Or and it really was you're just here to be in the room with them or like your teacher is in a show on Broadway and is like, hey, I want you to meet so-and-so, you know, right? Totally. So I loved it and I guess I knew I really wanted to do it in high school, you know, I did community theater and the school shows in middle school and then when I was in high school, I was like, this is what I'm gonna do. Yeah, like definitely and just always was always participating in some sort of show, you know, right? The school would offer one musical a year so then I did the not enough, right? And I love doing community theater because a lot of people in community theater are people who have worked professionally who have decided not to anymore.

[24:06] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[24:07] Lili Thomas: Which also we can get to because I quit the business and had a thing, had a family. I still have a, they all went away and I came back to Broadway. But you know, I have my children and I was teaching a lot and so there's this great community of performers who don't do this professionally. Yeah, and a lot of things amazing things that I've learned, I've learned in community theater when I was in high school, so I loved community theater and did a lot of that and I think that really doing those shows in the community theater was the momentum to make me realize, you know, all the things that it could be. Yeah, totally. So well, I'm very excited to ask about Dear Evan Hansen. I loved that show and I had many friends go through that show, but I would love to hear about like sort of what shifted in you as a performer to say I'm gonna take a step back, I'm gonna do the things that I want to do in on this different path and then coming back to it.

[25:06] Jayke Workman: I also, um, I love that you're a mom. It's so, it like warms my heart. I think I'm a good mom. I'm sure you are. I have really, really great kids and they think I'm a good mom. So that's period. That's what matters, right? I'm like, you think I'm doing a good job? You like me still? We're good.

[25:22] Lili Thomas: I always wanted to be a mom. My mother says that she always knew that the thing I really wanted the most was to be a mom. And the thing I really wanted next most was to be on Broadway.

[25:40] Lili Thomas: Sure. Okay. Um, which is interesting. I don't remember it that way. But she said I always had this very maternal, I'm a caretaker. I love taking care of people, helping people. And, and she said that she saw that in me really, really at a young age. And I, I always wanted a pet, but we could never have one because they were traveling musicians. Sure. I mean, it was hard enough, like for them to figure it out. But it was the most heartbreaking thing for me to not have a pet as a kid because I just wanted something to take care of.

[26:15] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[26:45] Lili Thomas: Yeah. And I never felt mature. I always felt like a mess. So that's why I think it was hard for me to understand. But you know, I look back and I see now, well, I've spent my whole childhood traveling around with classical musicians. I was an only child, so my best friends were like the youngest musician on whatever tour with my parents. So that explains a lot. Right. And, and I wasn't getting the kind of, you know, I was, I was getting good feedback. And then I kept saying, what could I have done? What can I do? And there were things I couldn't change. A lot of these things. It was a different time. She's too Asian. She's not Asian enough, because I'm half right. And so I wasn't Asian enough to actually be cast as an Asian role, but I'm Asian enough to understudy, you know, or like, then things are different now.

[28:04] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[28:34] Lili Thomas: Yeah.

[29:04] Jayke Workman: Right.

[29:05] Lili Thomas: Right.

[29:06] Lili Thomas: So like, you know, I know, she's not Asian, but that was a she was the closest idol that I had growing up, who I could really see doing what I wanted to do. And so going back to your, you know, your first question, I wasn't really like, getting the wins that I wanted. And I was having a hard time seeing myself in the industry and like, really seeing what made me who I am. I wasn't really like, getting the wins that I wanted. And I was having a hard time seeing myself in the industry and like, really seeing what made I wouldn't cast me either, you know, or, or because I didn't have.

[29:55] Jayke Workman: Counting yourself out for things.

[29:57] Lili Thomas: Yeah.

[29:58] Lili Thomas: And without that confidence, you're not going to buck.

[30:00] Jayke Workman: Of course.

[30:01] Lili Thomas: And I was a little lost as a performer doing, I was doing a lot of, I was doing cabaret. You know, I was one of the dancers and I used to be a dancer. But it was, it was so much fun. And I found out that I was pregnant. And I was like, this feels right.

[30:21] Lili Thomas: This is it. You know, kind of like, on paper, it was all wrong.

[30:26] Jayke Workman: Sure.

[30:27] Lili Thomas: You know, like, I didn't, it wasn't planned. What am I going to do?

[30:30] Jayke Workman: Yeah. And, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

[30:33] Lili Thomas: Wow. And it was very strange. I know this sounds like hoopla, but like, I knew my daughter was exactly who she is the minute that I learned I was pregnant. I knew it was a girl. I knew these like, personality traits that she has. Isn't that crazy?

[30:49] Jayke Workman: I love that.

[30:50] Lili Thomas: I mean, like, I was really ready to be proven wrong.

[30:52] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[30:53] Lili Thomas: And she just, she's like a much older soul than I am. She's incredible. She, she's taught me, by making me a mom, taught me to like embrace myself in a way that I was always trying to fit into a box, fit into here, fit into there. And the, you know, having to rise to the occasion to step up to the plate, made me really learn to love myself and say, this is who I am. And I, not for the theater, but for another human being that I'm, I have to take care of.

[31:25] Jayke Workman: Who needs you.

[31:26] Lili Thomas: Yeah.

[31:27] Lili Thomas: Yeah. So the stakes were high and it, and it, it helped me evolve. And I, I have a son too, who is incredible and they are just both the best things that ever happened to me. I left the industry because I, I was getting, I was still performing a little bit. I took Annabelle out on a, on a long regional contract when she was like 18 months and it was hard, you know, eight shows a week and living in a hotel.

[31:55] Jayke Workman: Right.

[31:56] Lili Thomas: If you're so lucky. I mean, it was great. You know, my, my ex-husband, my husband at the time, he came with us and we kind of like all moved into this really nice two bedroom suite and, and upped our life and, and moved over there and it was really fun. But sort of thinking about like the bigger picture, I said, I think I need some time off. I don't want to just stick her in, in daycare to go and audition.

[32:20] Jayke Workman: Right.

[32:21] Lili Thomas: You know, like the, the job we have to do that doesn't pay anything. If I'm going to be a mom, I'm going to be a mom.

[32:26] Jayke Workman: Exactly.

[32:27] Lili Thomas: I told my agent at the time and she said, best idea ever because I, she actually told me this before I had Jack. She said to me, if you want another child, you should do it now.

[32:42] Jayke Workman: Let's just like bang them out. Let's just get the ball rolling here.

[32:45] Lili Thomas: Let's be honest. You're not really going to do great things in your twenties anyway.

[32:49] Jayke Workman: And I was like, at the time I was like, excuse me.

[32:52] Lili Thomas: Ow! I get it. She was like, no, you are a thirties, forties. Like that's when it's going to happen for you.

[32:58] Jayke Workman: She's a brassy broad.

[32:59] Lili Thomas: Yeah.

[33:00] Lili Thomas: Yeah. Which I had no idea. But, um, I followed her instructions very well. I'm really good at listening to the rules. And I, I had Jack two years later, about two, two and a half years apart. Um, I took some time off and I said, I think when they're in full day school, then I can go and audition. I won't feel like I'm sticking them with somebody else in order for me to do this thing.

[33:22] Jayke Workman: You know what I mean?

[33:23] Lili Thomas: Right. Um, I started teaching a lot. Um, I started a vocal studio in Westchester and I love teaching kids. And I kept me very involved with the theater scenes and all of the schools there, you know, private and public. And, um, and then I, I kind of like forgot about coming back to the industry. Um, and I would go and see shows with my best mom friend and she had no idea that I like did this before.

[33:53] Jayke Workman: Sure.

[33:54] Lili Thomas: And so one day we came back and I sang something from the show and she was like, excuse me, wait, what? And I said, no, no, I used to do this. She said, why you Sue? And I didn't have an answer.

[34:03] Jayke Workman: I love that.

[34:05] Lili Thomas: And she has been a really huge supporter and champion for me. Um, really telling me like, no, if you want to do it, like you can still do it.

[34:13] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[34:14] Lili Thomas: And so, yeah, I just decided one day I was going to like audition for something and I just went in and it all started again.

[34:21] Lili Thomas: From mom to mama.

[34:22] Jayke Workman: Exactly.

[34:23] Lili Thomas: Here she is. And the last role in Dear Evan Hansen, Mama Murphy.

[34:26] Jayke Workman: Okay. So tell me about Dear Evan Hansen because that was one where I, I was particularly excited to see such diversity in casting. When I saw the show originally on Broadway, it was extremely white and that's like it, you can say what you want about like casting or like writing for a, you know, stereotypically white family or whatever.

[34:49] Lili Thomas: And writing for families is usually, is really where, um, I think the tendencies to stay white sting the most.

[35:01] Jayke Workman: Right. Well, especially in the world that we live in now because it, I feel like I don't know many people who don't have one person of color in their circle.

[35:12] Jayke Workman: I'm going to do a little name drop right now.

[35:14] Lili Thomas: Please.

[35:15] Lili Thomas: Um, so Angelina Jolie, her daughter was a huge fan of the show.

[35:21] Jayke Workman: Oh.

[35:22] Lili Thomas: And they came and saw the show so many times.

[35:24] Jayke Workman: On the road?

[35:25] Lili Thomas: On the road, yeah.

[35:26] Jayke Workman: Wow.

[35:27] Lili Thomas: They would follow us around. Oh my God. They were amazing and, and so supportive. And I was talking, they came to closing night.

[35:33] Jayke Workman: Wow.

[35:34] Lili Thomas: Really, really fun. And you were the final.

[35:36] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[35:37] Lili Thomas: You were final Cynthia.

[35:38] Jayke Workman: Final, final.

[35:39] Lili Thomas: Wow. Which was really exciting.

[35:41] Jayke Workman: That's very special.

[35:42] Lili Thomas: Yeah, yeah. That was, especially, you know, when you have these shows where you're a part of a family in the show.

[35:46] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[35:47] Lili Thomas: It really, you know, you always hear theater families.

[35:49] Jayke Workman: Totally.

[35:50] Lili Thomas: But when you're in a family in the show too.

[35:51] Jayke Workman: I'm actually the mom.

[35:52] Lili Thomas: It's like, really.

[35:53] Jayke Workman: Wow.

[35:54] Lili Thomas: Sorry, so they came to closing. And I was talking to, I was talking to Angie at dinner afterwards. And she told me that when they first saw the show in, I think it was Philly, almost a year before. She said how, how moved and inspired she was specifically by, by my role and the casting choice to put me there.

[36:17] Lili Thomas: Because our family, you know, we didn't all look like each other.

[36:23] Jayke Workman: Right.

[36:24] Lili Thomas: And her family is like that.

[36:26] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[36:27] Lili Thomas: And so it was the first time that she felt like her family dynamic was also represented on stage.

[36:32] Jayke Workman: Wow.

[36:33] Lili Thomas: And, and that it's not just like, oh, we're making this color blind because it actually happens, you know.

[36:40] Jayke Workman: Right.

[36:41] Lili Thomas: And saying just because you don't all look the same doesn't mean that you are any less of a family.

[36:45] Jayke Workman: And we don't have to comment on it.

[36:48] Lili Thomas: Exactly. It's, it is what it is.

[36:53] Jayke Workman: And people would say, well, does that mean that so-and-so is adopted?

[36:56] Lili Thomas: And it's like.

[36:57] Lili Thomas: Who cares?

[36:58] Jayke Workman: It doesn't matter.

[36:59] Lili Thomas: Doesn't matter. Maybe. Sure. But like.

[37:03] Jayke Workman: It can for you.

[37:04] Lili Thomas: It doesn't have to be about that.

[37:05] Jayke Workman: Right.

[37:06] Lili Thomas: A hundred percent. That was so cool to be a part of. And, and the, the kids waiting afterwards who, who would say, you know, I felt represented. I'm, I'm adopted.

[37:19] Jayke Workman: Right.

[37:21] Lili Thomas: My mom is, you know, Asian and my kids look very white. You know, a lot of now Annabelle's growing up to look a lot like me, but coloring wise too. I mean, they look very, very white.

[37:39] Lili Thomas: Now, like that, a lot of people don't look like their parents. My kids have no idea. You know, they, it doesn't even, they have no awareness of like that. This is my mom. They would never think, oh, interesting. They, they would just say, okay, cool. That's your mom. You know, but, but for when I grew up. Oh yeah. It's just something that you look at, you think about, you don't say, but like, that's just because we grew up in a different time. I grew up in a different time. But, but to be a part of something and to have people telling me how much that representation actually mattered and made a difference to them. In an already extremely emotional and provoking show. Was again, like these roles, it's an honor to do this.

[38:30] Jayke Workman: That's so, so cool.

[38:31] Lili Thomas: Yeah. And I mean, just what a, what a show, what a score, Pasek and Paul, like, my God. Who are the sweetest people also in the entire world. Insane. And then to work with Michael, you know, like to be directed in this. I like walked into the first day of rehearsal and, you know, he says something like, congratulations to the, to the person who was playing Evan. And he was like, congratulations. You're the new Evan Hansen. But I think the show really should be called Saving Cynthia Murphy. And he looked at me and he's like, good luck. And that's on period. And I, I laughed and he was like, no, I'm not joking. He's like, get the Kleenex. And I don't think I realized, I don't think I realized what I was in for.

[39:20] Jayke Workman: That emotional toll.

[39:22] Lili Thomas: Yeah. I didn't. And Cynthia's a very thankless part because you walk away, you're obviously Evan and Zoe, right? And then, you know, Heidi has this huge, Evan's mom has this huge 11th hour number. And, and Cynthia actually had more songs in the original that ended up getting cut or shifted into scenes. And, you know, her tracks most highlighted moments are scene work. Which for a musician like me, this was a huge opportunity to really like flex my acting chops. And, and like, I kind of was worried for a while that I would never be recognized as a serious actor because of the instruments and all that stuff, you know? And so the opportunity to really go there was amazing. But I did not remember because what he told me was that, you know, Cynthia's role in this cast of eight people, you know, it's just eight people in the show.

And the role is to be like the anchor of sorrow because there's a lot of comedy going on, right? And there's a lot of like kids and people finding out the truth at different times and people going through something difficult at different times. And, you know, my husband in the show is in denial for a lot of it. And so like Cynthia really was the first person to sit in the grief in the storyline and, and kind of like anchor that and say, this is the low, low of the show.

[40:59] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[41:00] Lili Thomas: That was so difficult. I have two kids of my own. I was on tour. So I was away from them for a long time. I was not prepared at all for what that was going to do to me.

[41:11] Jayke Workman: Well, and I mean, how could you be? How do you prepare for that?

[41:15] Lili Thomas: I mean, I guess it is a sort of a place of privilege and like, we're so lucky to not have gone through something, you know, as horrifying as like what Cynthia goes through in that show. But there's a really interesting and I think difficult balance to strike. And we talk about it a lot in like training and whatever, but it's like how, how far to the vulnerable side we're allowed to go while still being able to sing a score eight shows a week because you're crying is like death to the singing. You couldn't do something worse for your voice. So finding that I'm sure was such an amazing challenge and learning experience because now I feel like you kind of are set up to be able to do anything.

[42:01] Jayke Workman: Yeah. Well, also like as a voice teacher, there are things that I learned about my instrument technically that I wouldn't have ever been able to really learn without going through that.

[42:11] Jayke Workman: Sure. Yeah. How long were you part of that show?

[42:15] Lili Thomas: Over a year.

[42:16] Jayke Workman: Okay.

[42:16] Lili Thomas: Yeah. So it was like the show, I think we ran the show for about 12 months and then, you know, rehearse for about a month before. So 13 months we ran, we ran for like one extra month over a year.

[42:31] Jayke Workman: So did you start and finish the tour?

[42:34] Lili Thomas: This was the fourth year of the first national tour.

[42:36] Jayke Workman: Yes. Okay.

[42:37] Lili Thomas: So like, yeah, it was.

[42:38] Jayke Workman: Like sort of the final leg of that tour.

[42:40] Lili Thomas: Yes. And the cast's kind of like always changed a little bit here and there. You know, they would bring in a few new people and overlap a few new people. And so I was doing this with the other three people in my family, my two children and my husband in the family were all there the year before as well. And then I came in.

[43:05] Jayke Workman: Sure.

[43:05] Lili Thomas: And then the person who's playing Connor left and we got a new Connor. So, you know, they kind of layered people in.

[43:13] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[43:14] Lili Thomas: So it wasn't like four solid different casts. But it's a big family, you know, and I think especially with something so vulnerable and so emotional like that, you really, yeah, you stay pretty close knit. And like Christiane Noel, who did the, she did Cynthia on the tour before she came to do it on Broadway. She was so amazing and so helpful, such a great resource to have. She also grew up in the same town that my parents lived in. And like our parents knew each other because her parents are musicians, too. Really, really funny connection.

[43:50] Jayke Workman: Wow.

[43:51] Lili Thomas: And also has a child. At home. And so really gave me some great tips about how to deal with the content and the life situation.

[44:01] Jayke Workman: That's amazing.

[44:02] Lili Thomas: Simultaneously. I feel like I know so many people who did that tour like Jeffrey Cornelius and.

[44:10] Jayke Workman: Yeah, he was on my leg.

[44:11] Lili Thomas: Oh, he was Noah Kaiserman.

[44:13] Jayke Workman: Yeah, you can.

[44:18] Lili Thomas: Yeah. Just like so many like random connections who are all now like, oh, I know them. It's so fun also to be back in the city and we're all back.

[44:25] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[44:25] Lili Thomas: You're like, we're family.

[44:27] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[44:27] Lili Thomas: Oh, my gosh. I just love chatting with you, darling.

[44:30] Jayke Workman: I know we could do this for hours.

[44:31] Lili Thomas: I know. Well, before I let you go and actually prepare to do yet another show today on Broadway, I have a series of musical theater rapid fire questions, which I ask every guest. It is not trivia. These are these are opinion questions just for you. Are you ready?

[44:48] Lili Thomas: Yes.

[44:49] Jayke Workman: Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Webber?

[44:51] Lili Thomas: Sondheim.

[44:52] Jayke Workman: Sweatpants or jeans?

[44:53] Lili Thomas: Sweatpants.

[44:55] Jayke Workman: Do you have a favorite musical?

[44:58] Lili Thomas: Lots.

[45:00] Jayke Workman: Never heard of it.

[45:03] Lili Thomas: Do you have a least favorite musical?

[45:06] Lili Thomas: Just like lots.

[45:11] Jayke Workman: Would you ever like to do a Broadway play?

[45:14] Lili Thomas: Yes.

[45:15] Jayke Workman: Are you a morning person or a night owl?

[45:17] Lili Thomas: Night owl.

[45:18] Jayke Workman: I was raised by musicians.

[45:20] Lili Thomas: Come on.

[45:20] Jayke Workman: None of us know how to wake up in the morning.

[45:23] Lili Thomas: Could you think of the craziest thing a director has ever asked you to do? Either in an audition room or a rehearsal period.

[45:34] Lili Thomas: This isn't that good.

[45:35] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[45:36] Lili Thomas: Tap on cement floors.

[45:38] Jayke Workman: That's horrible.

[45:39] Lili Thomas: Horrible, right?

[45:40] Jayke Workman: I'm not naming names.

[45:41] Lili Thomas: So rude.

[45:42] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[45:42] Lili Thomas: I'm like, who? Tell.

[45:44] Jayke Workman: Right.

[45:44] Lili Thomas: Spill the beans.

[45:45] Jayke Workman: We'll just say shin splints forever, right?

[45:47] Lili Thomas: Yeah. Um, golden age or contemporary?

[45:51] Lili Thomas: Oh, 50/50.

[45:52] Jayke Workman: But me, come on, golden age.

[45:54] Lili Thomas: Come on, oldie.

[45:56] Jayke Workman: Do you have a favorite role that you've ever played?

[46:01] Lili Thomas: Well, I like a lot of my roles. I'll say that if I could return to another role.

[46:07] Jayke Workman: That's a great way to put it.

[46:09] Lili Thomas: It would be Helene in Great Comic.

[46:12] Jayke Workman: I only got to do it just at CLO.

[46:14] Lili Thomas: Pittsburgh, right?

[46:15] Jayke Workman: Yes.

[46:15] Lili Thomas: And it's one week. And it was.

[46:18] Jayke Workman: Any time we're doing a regional run of shows like that. I'm like, darling, diva, dear. I'm not trying to haul my cookies to audition for the Muni to do seven performances. I'm like, what? What are we doing?

[46:28] Lili Thomas: I know. And like, the cast are always so amazing, right?

[46:31] Jayke Workman: Yes.

[46:31] Lili Thomas: Get there and you're like, I only get one week of Broadway.

[46:34] Jayke Workman: Exactly.

[46:34] Lili Thomas: So silly. But yes, Haley.

[46:36] Jayke Workman: Oh, what a fun.

[46:38] Lili Thomas: And also don't even princess. Try.

[46:40] Jayke Workman: Oh yeah.

[46:41] Lili Thomas: Right. Um, coffee or tea?

[46:44] Lili Thomas: Coffee.

[46:45] Jayke Workman: Me too.

[46:46] Lili Thomas: I love coffee.

[46:47] Jayke Workman: What is the hardest show that you've ever done?

[46:49] Lili Thomas: Dear Evan Hansen.

[46:50] Jayke Workman: For sure.

[46:51] Lili Thomas: I mean, just emotionally. I mean, my track barely even sings, right?

[46:55] Jayke Workman: No, but.

[46:56] Lili Thomas: Just the toll.

[46:57] Jayke Workman: But when you do.

[46:57] Lili Thomas: Yeah. Also, Requiem.

[46:59] Jayke Workman: You are singing, darling.

[47:00] Lili Thomas: Yeah. Um.

[47:04] Jayke Workman: Do you have a favorite costume you've ever worn?

[47:10] Lili Thomas: Yeah, you know.

[47:12] Jayke Workman: And is it that sexy matron mama Morton?

[47:16] Lili Thomas: Pantsuit. Thank you, William Ivey Long for that. I do love the like as a, as a, you know, former dancer. I love coming in here. And it doesn't matter how I'm feeling that day. It doesn't matter what I eat. It doesn't matter if I'm bloated. I'm like this. This this suit is is never going to like.

[47:40] Jayke Workman: Exactly.

[47:41] Lili Thomas: It's never going to show any of that. I really love. I did this show called The Hello Girls, which has a very special place in my heart. I did it 50 90s, 59th. It was about five years ago. And we did it like 100th anniversary of the Armistice. And it's a show about World War One and a show about these unrecognized women who were on the front in World War One. And we had these all five of us women in the show wore the same uniform for the whole show.

[48:16] Jayke Workman: Cool.

[48:17] Lili Thomas: And it was just cool to be in uniform and everything that we were going to be bringing to our characters was what we were bringing to be you. And we all were in the same costume for the whole show. And there was something about that that was like, just gave me a lot of freedom as an artist to say, OK, it's all my choice. You know, so that was cool. I'm not necessarily like my favorite costume or flattering in any way, but but informed your experience for sure.

[48:45] Jayke Workman: Yeah, that's so cool.

[48:48] Lili Thomas: Well, my darling Lily, my last question for you is a question I ask all of my guests, which is if you could tell one thing to baby Lily, what would it be?

[48:59] Lili Thomas: Yeah, it would be to not try to fit into anybody else's box and to make your own and make your own box, everybody. Go get some cardboard, glue it together or whatever you have.

[49:11] Jayke Workman: I love that.

[49:12] Lili Thomas: Yeah. Trust yourself.

[49:14] Jayke Workman: Trust yourself. Well, thank you.

[49:16] Lili Thomas: Thank you so much for coming on this pod. I just adore you. Would you tell the listeners where they can find you on social?

[49:23] Lili Thomas: Oh, yes. I'm at the Lily Thomas on Instagram, and that's kind of it. I can only handle one thing at a time, you know?

[49:30] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[49:31] Lili Thomas: One platform at a time. I downloaded TikTok to watch my daughter's account, and I was like, this is too much for me. Delete.

[49:38] Jayke Workman: Yeah.

[49:40] Lili Thomas: I'm just gonna have to Google it.

[49:42] Jayke Workman: Well, I just adore you. Thank you so much. And now get ready for your second Broadway show of the day.

[49:48] Lili Thomas: Thank you.

[49:49] Jayke Workman: Of course.

[49:51] Jayke Workman: You guys, that's it for another episode of Oh My Pod, you guys. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe anywhere you listen to the pod. And you can follow the show on Instagram at Oh My Pod, you guys. Thank you so, so much for listening. Talk soon. Bye.