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[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello everyone and welcome to episode 213 of Take A Bow. I am your host Eli Tokash and this week we have a Take A Bow Rundown. We are doing a solo episode this week as we continue to stockpile up interviews for our near future here and also work out some plans on the near future. But we're super excited. We have a great episode for you folks this week. Obviously lots to talk about. And I'll just start out with the elephant in the room. Obviously this week has been difficult for a lot of us for a lot of different reasons. Specifically everything with the election and just everything that transpired Tuesday night and leading into Wednesday. I just want to come on here and say that I am incredibly proud to be a part of a community that did so much incredible work for, you know, to work towards this election and to advocate for voters, for young voters, for people who, you know, were undecided, etc. This Broadway community really bound together and from doing phone banks and phone calls to people and educating them on how to vote or just actual like election details and stuff like that or where they can find their local polls and things of that sort to literal Broadway stars going up to people's doors and knocking on their doors being like, hey, we're here and we are here to help and we just want to make sure that people go out and vote.

And I just want to say that I am just so proud to be a part of a community that has actively did that. The results showed that 20 million more people voted last election than in this election, which is extremely unfortunate. Obviously last year was a pandemic so people were a little less busy, but it did also like present some health, you know, risks by going out and voting. And, you know, still the people showed up and we saw what happened within the results. And then, you know, obviously this election, we didn't get as many voters, 20 million less voters in this election. It's just completely just bonkers to wrap my head around. And I just want to say, you know, again, that Broadway really came together as a community as it appears to always do, especially in times of need, in times of, you know, uncertainty and in times of just when you feel like you need a community.

And I think that that's the bottom line here. Like these next four years are not going to be easy for some people. It's not going to be what some people had hoped or envisioned, but at the end of the day, you know, we are at a point where there's nothing that we can do about it now, other than, you know, continuing to, you know, educate others and have the conversations and continue to, I don't want to use the word fight because we've been doing it for so long now. But I want to just say, like, you know, we'll continue to band together. I think that that's the most important thing is that we have to do it as a community. And, you know, there are people in this community, you know, that are facing backlash right now.

I don't know if everyone knows, but Nicole Scherzinger of the Star of Sunset Boulevard, she kind of came out and was celebrating Trump's win and, you know, to each their own. And some people are saying, oh, now we got to boycott Sunset Boulevard. Obviously, y'all are able to do whatever you want and y'all are able to handle that however you would like. At the same time, I just want to come on here and say that there are, you know, 60 other people in that cast that did cast their votes for Kamala and or shared similar beliefs to you, maybe if you feel like Nicole doesn't. And so one person hopefully shouldn't, you know, trouble the other 60 to hundreds of people that are involved in the show.

And if you boycott the show, we all know what happens. Ticket sales go down, the show closes, people are out of jobs. So it's that back and forth of where, you know, how do you handle that? And I just want everyone to be mindful of that when I think that this is a time that now more than ever, we need to use it as to be a community and come together. And I think that, you know, it's also important just to go out and have a night at the theater, just to escape and get lost in a story and, you know, celebrate the talents and work that is being done, especially in the arts over these next four years. So that's all I'll say about that. And, you know, I, again, I'm thrilled to just be a part of this community that did so much over the past year, and especially with since the start of 2024, and ramping up for all of this, just can't believe and so appreciate everyone's efforts. And I was, I was so fortunate enough to be a part of it and witness it and celebrate it and go through with them. So I love it.

[6:05] Eli Tokash: Anyways, moving on. I saw this week, Maybe Happy Ending. And so I want to talk about it. I absolutely loved Maybe Happy Ending. Okay, I went into this show being like, what is this? What is happening? I knew it was about robots. And I was just like, I don't know how this is gonna work. And obviously, you know, now that there's new works on Broadway, you know, like people are like, I don't know what it's about. So I'm gonna go see something that I know that I'm gonna like. Well, I was thrilled with the final product of this. It's still in preview. So obviously, this isn't the final product. But what I did see was absolutely perfection. Darren Criss is just unbelievable. Just his, just the subtle, you know, mannerisms and the physicality to this role is no easy task by any means.

So just to watch him do this, and Helen J. Shen is an absolute star. I'm so excited for people to see her in this role. It really is sort of like a two person show. And they steal it and you fall in love with them right away. You fall in love with these like robots that are so you know, into their own routines, and they don't usually feel emotion and they don't let on a lot of emotions yet somehow, they just pull you in. And it's so beautiful. And the music is so catchy. I've been singing the opening number like literally all day. It's been in my ear because I literally saw it last night, which is why I didn't do an episode because I wanted to talk about it today. And so it was just so brilliantly done.

And I hope that more people go check it out. Their performances alone are so worth it. But the story itself is so beautiful. And it's honestly pretty relatable. And it will actually leave you surprised, it'll leave you crying, it'll leave you happy, it'll leave you I mean, I was literally belly laughing at times. And then there were times where I had tears in my eyes, like it was just so it was everything that you could ask for in a new musical. And I don't want to give too much away because it's still so early, but I'll continue to talk about it within these next few weeks, because I just enjoyed it so much. And of course, it's opening this Monday. So hopefully we'll be able to do more content surrounding it.

I don't know if we will for sure yet. But you know, it's very exciting stuff nonetheless. And Helen and Darren are absolute stars. So definitely worth checking out just just that feeling of like being wanted and just that feeling of wanting to do good. And that really is the message of the show. And at a time that we're in right now. It's just so important to hear that message and to see that because I feel like a lot of people are going through that right now. And, you know, sometimes we get let down. But at the same time being let down opened up a brand new door that we didn't even know was there all along. And so I just really thought it was really special. And I hope I hope everyone gets a chance to see it because it's brilliant.

[10:09] Eli Tokash: Okay, moving on. So I want to talk about Gavin Creel. Gavin Creel is a legend. We've talked a lot about him on the podcast before he is he is my generation of theater. He is what a lot of people, you know, strive to be in musical theater and wanting to emulate him and just growing up listening to him and trying to sing like him all of these things. When he passed away earlier this year, this year, there was a lot of controversy because only certain amount of Broadway houses were dimming the lights to honor him. And dimming the lights is a tradition that's been around for

[10:56] Eli Tokash: Years ever since I moved to New York. That has been a tradition, and I know that it's lived on since then. I don't know when the tradition started, but I'm just giving you all it's definitely been around for the past 20 years, if not longer. So Gavin happened, right? And Gavin is a beloved member of this community, and always will be. And every human that was a part of this industry knows Gavin, or knows of him in some sort of way, or idolized him in a way. And that goes from whether you were an actor, or you were literally a stage crew or wardrobe, like you didn't even have to be an actor to just fall in love with Gavin and want to be more like Gavin. And I think that that was something that really, he left a long lasting impact on so many that I feel like all, there was a lot of scrutiny for not all the houses on Broadway honoring him in the proper way.

However, Gavin is not the only one that, you know, was getting limited Broadway houses to honor them. Several times over the past couple years, within the last two, I would say since COVID especially, you know, there's been a lot of scrutiny as to, oh, only certain houses are honoring. I know James Earl Jones, I think got all of them. But like, just there were a lot of actors within the past year that, you know, either weren't even going to get the honor until we like, the community started to like, say something and ask for it. And then sometimes it just only a couple houses. And a lot of the scrutiny was aimed at the Broadway League. And I just want to talk about the Broadway League's responsibility to this whole thing.

The Broadway League does not get a say in who's, like, which theater is dimming the lights. If anything, and this was something that was said, it would have made sense for theaters that Gavin performed in to be the only ones that dimmed. And I think that that's something that would be an even higher honor in something even cooler, where it's like you for the night know which theaters Gavin Creel, you know, you could share the same air with him in. And so I think that that could be something really cool. But that's not the case. And that's what is so unfortunate about, you know, limited theaters doing it. So the theater owners are the ones that decide whether or not they will be dimming their lights to honor someone.

So the Broadway League, therefore, works with theater owners, and they are the ones that communicate to press releases like Broadway World and Playbill, where we often find our main source of, how do I say, like our main source of, you know, that sort of news, I guess you could say. And so they were facing the scrutiny and people thought that they were the ones that were deciding like, oh, only these theaters are going to be doing that. So they were facing all this backlash that they decided to step down from announcing those. And people took that as, oh, this tradition is now over. And that's just not the case. So Broadway League is no longer associated with the tradition of dimming the lights or anything like that.

However, they will still be supporting it very much. Their office is literally in the heart of Broadway, so they will absolutely be there and be there in support of it. They just do not want to be associated with it anymore, considering these theater owners are not making the right choices in the sense of not everyone wants to honor these people in a way that we have for all of these years. And I think that that's the most disheartening thing. So I'm happy to say, and I'm tying this all to Gavin because this has been a big deal, especially with Gavin, but I'm also saying it because they will be doing a large, all of the theaters, all Broadway marquees will be dimmed for Gavin Creel on December 3rd at 6:45.

And this is going to be happening everywhere. However, they will be doing a special memorial celebration at the St. James Theater on December 2nd at 4 PM. So the day before all of the lights dim at 6:45, they will be doing a memorial celebration of his life at the St. James Theater on December 2nd at 4 PM. And this event is open to the public, so anyone can join. You do not have to be an actor. You do not have to be anything. You could be a fan. You could be a theatergoer. You could literally just be walking the street and be like, oh, what's going on? I'm going to participate. So that's happening. It's happening at the St. James Theater because that was the last theater that he performed in on Broadway.

And I know that a lot of the Broadway community will be there, will be showing their support for Gavin in the way that we only know how to. And that's literally by showing up. And that is all we can do and all we can ask for everyone who loves the arts to do as well and just show their support and honor the people that we love and the artists that we love and the art itself that we love by doing that. So everyone, come check us out at the St. James Theater. I will be there probably both days, definitely on the second to celebrate his life and be there with, you know, other performers that, you know, I know and love and have been dealing with long lasting impacts of the loss of Gavin in their life.

So I am looking forward to getting the chance to celebrate Gavin one last time over at the St. James Theater. And the Broadway League is going to be participating in all of that, but they will no longer be announcing who will be honored or what after a community member passes away. That is no longer part of their job or their expectations of them. So just an FYI on that. That does not mean that the tradition will not continue to go on. That does not mean that theater owners have come to their senses and been like, oh, we're just all going to do it the day after or the weekend of a passing or anything like that. Nope. It's still going to be up to us to decide whether or not we need to continue to raise awareness on this topic or not.

So it's going to be something interesting and something to keep our eye out for. But once again, the Broadway League is not responsible for any of this. And I just want to make sure that that is clear for everyone because I know a lot of people were attacking them and trying to get answers from them. But they really have nothing to do with it. So just wanted to let you all know what was going on there. All right. Moving on. We today got our Grammy nominees for the best musical theater album, which is super exciting. So now all of these performers in these shows are considered Grammy nominees. And of course, it showcases Broadway to such a broader audience. So very exciting stuff. No surprise here with Hell's Kitchen getting it considering, you know, Alicia Keys music we all know and love, but as well as The Outsiders, The Notebook, The Wiz, and Suffs got it.

And last but not least, Merrily We Roll Along. So I will say I'm a little surprised that The Wiz and Merrily was in the mix of this because I don't remember. Like, obviously, I know that it has happened in the past, but I don't remember the last time that two revivals were in this category at once, especially because, you know, the music already exists. It was already done. But now revivals and now it seems like every show, even not revivals or not shows that fully make it to Broadway, are doing cast albums. You only have to submit your cast album to be considered. It doesn't have to be a brand new work. It can be a completely different thing. And the fact that Merrily re-recorded their cast album with this cast, they were up to a nomination as well as The Wiz.

So very exciting stuff. Both of those cast albums are incredible and very well deserved to be in it. But as always, always hoping the new works win and, you know, the original stuff gets its props to, I guess, encourage that more and in the future. So very exciting stuff there. Congrats to all the nominees. Y'all are now Grammy nominees, which is just, you know, casual, but so cool. And yeah, so that'll be happening next year, which is crazy. Y'all, we're like at the end of the year. It's going to be happening February 2nd. We will see who becomes a Grammy winner. And obviously, you know, all that stuff has an impact on, you know, who continues to stay open and stuff like that. So at that time, it will only be The Outsiders in Hell's Kitchen, as of now, that are guaranteed to be open. The Notebook is closing. Suffs is closing before the Grammys, as well as Merrily and The Wiz are already closed. So that'll be something very interesting.

[21:54] Eli Tokash: Okay, moving on. We're already into Thanksgiving and the end of the year, so I wanted to talk about my favorite time of the year, especially during Thanksgiving, and that's the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the performances that will be happening during that. Shockingly, we only get three Broadway shows performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. That's right, so only *Death Becomes Her*, *Hell's Kitchen*, and *The Outsiders* will be performing at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. That is it. I don't remember the last time only three shows performed in the parade. I always feel like it was at least four to like six or seven, but that always also depends on how many shows are open that year.

I guess it's still at a time where we have a lot of especially the musicals that still haven't opened yet or probably going through the preview process still. I thought it was something interesting. I don't know how that works in terms of what shows get selected and why there's only three when there's usually a lot more, but something interesting to look out for. The three that are performing are obviously very exciting, and we've seen them perform before on the news or whatever it may be. It'll be interesting to see what they do, if they change it up at all, if we see something completely new, but it'll be fun. Always exciting stuff.

[23:38] Eli Tokash: A couple more things and then I'll wrap it up here. Jeremy Jordan's final performance in *The Great Gatsby* is going to be January of next year, but it's coming up unfortunately. He actually teased that we will know very soon why he's leaving, which I mean we can all take our own guesses. There's a lot of shows coming that he could be in. Obviously, he was associated with *Smash*, which is something that's happening this season, and if you ask me, I think that that might be the answer. I have no actual knowledge on whether or not that is the case or not. Either way, very excited for it, and I'm glad to see that he's leaving Gatsby. We won't see him for a while. We will be seeing him very soon.

I have no doubts about it as well as people are speculating the *Greatest Showman*. I don't know this either, but with being in the readings with him and seeing him afterwards and knowing him afterwards, I don't think he is going to want anything to do with *Greatest Showman* on Broadway. That's my perspective on the situation. I think that it was so difficult for him where he's kind of just turned the chapter from that and is good. I also think that it's not the *Greatest Showman* because the *Greatest Showman* still is not coming to Broadway for another two, three years at least. It's just now coming into development this year. Only a couple months ago that was announced. It takes time for these shows to get to Broadway.

I know it's going to be accelerated because the *Greatest Showman* is such a hit of a movie. People still talk about it. It's still beloved. It will definitely be easy to get the money and to get the performers and workshop it because it was already such a success and it was kind of already set up to be a musical in the movie, so it won't take as long as a traditional show. However, I know it will not be coming this season or probably not next either. That's my theory.

[26:18] Eli Tokash: Anyways, I think it's *MASH*. It could be something completely different. Either way, I have a good feeling that we will find out very soon because his final performance in Gatsby will be January 19th. We love Jeremy Jordan. Make sure to go see that beforehand. He is just so good in that show. Also, that show is heading out to London, which is super exciting, and that will be happening next year. That's not important.

[26:54] Eli Tokash: Anyways, that's just a little tidbit. Moving on. Shout out to Jeremy Jordan. Shout out to *Great Gatsby*. Yes, January 19th. Go see *Great Gatsby*. Keep an eye out on what Jeremy is doing next. Alright, last piece of news and then I'm going to leave you all for this week. Just a quick episode. A little rundown episode. I'm very excited because our last episode was with none other than the incredible Robin Hurter. We had a little bit of an announcement on there, and it wasn't a real announcement. It was just like something's coming and something is on the horizon. I think it was quite literally the same Monday. Over the weekend, the podcast aired, and then that Monday, maybe Tuesday, but just days after the podcast was released, it was announced that it was *Smash*.

I knew it was *Smash*. I couldn't say anything. I would never do that. But we are very excited nonetheless. Robin Hurter is literally going to be starring in a Broadway show as Ivy in *Smash*. So excited for her. She deserves it all. The rest of the Rockstar cast was announced alongside of her: Brooks Ashmankus, Christa Rodriguez, John Bellman, Christine Nielsen, Caroline Bowman. It's just an absolute stacked cast with so many more incredible people. I also want to shout out Connor McRory, who was in *Finding Neverland* with me. I'm just so pumped for the show. Obviously, *Smash* is a beloved musical theatre TV show. It's beloved in the musical theatre community for so many reasons. But I did hear the workshop happened just recently.

I did hear that there was some unhappiness with the workshop, with how things ended in the show, how they tied it all together. Obviously, it's a series, so it's like how are they going to fit it all into two and a half hours? What's the approach? What's the perspective? Obviously, they're going to be the same characters, all of that stuff. From what I'm hearing, it seems like they still need a little bit more work. Obviously, they got that time to continue to work on it. They'll go through the preview process, figure out what's working. Needless to say, I did not see the workshop, but I am so excited to see it on the stage and just see where it's at and see how they turn it into a musical and make it work.

Super pumped for *Smash*, and that's coming very, very soon. I can't believe it. Performances begin, well I guess previews begin March 11th, and the official opening will be on April 10th. It's going to be right around the corner before we know it, and I just can't wait to see it. Everyone is so deserving of their time and their star turned roles, as Robin Hurter would say. She is so pumped and she's passionate about something; it's just going to be incredible. Her performance alone is going to be worth it. I can't wait. That is all I have for this week's episode. We will be back very soon with a guest, a very special guest. I just can't wait to continue to flesh out the next stages and share it all with you very soon of *Take A Bow*.

Thank you all so much for your patience. Thanks for listening to me. I wanted to come on here this week and provide you all with just a voice, some sort of entertainment hopefully. I'm a little under the weather, so the voice may not be super entertaining right now. I wanted to come on here and be not a distraction, but just give you all a sense of a hug through a virtual hug in your ears or whatever it may be. Kind of get a familiar voice and really feel that sense of community. I'm forever appreciative of everyone that comes on here and listens and allows me and gives me the space to feel that for myself. Thank you all so much. We will see you all very soon with another episode. Until then, bye everyone. Have a great week.

[32:12] Eli Tokash: If you enjoyed this week's episode, make sure to subscribe on the platform that you are currently listening to this on or go check out our YouTube where you can watch the episode. You can also subscribe, like, and comment on there as well. If you're more into the regular social media and want to follow us, you can do that at *Take A Bow Podcast* across all social media platforms. The music of this podcast was made by Nikki Torsha and Cormac Collinan, and the logo was created by Giselle Bustos. And that wraps up this episode's Curtain Call. Thank you all again for listening to this week's episode, and I can't wait to see you next week. Bye everyone. Have a great week.