B (3:48)

It's really cool. But I also think it's interesting that, like, this is the second time in recent history that I've noticed where you finally get the ability and funds. Because there's a hundred things that have to happen in order for something like this to go down that, like, they maybe would have wanted to film this, you know, on Broadway, right? Like with the. With the company and whatnot. But then you've got, you know, all these logistics and there's a current cast and all of these things. And so, like, look at what happened with Frozen. I know that they had to film this and then there was, you know, a potential because they had reset it with the tour and then there was like a closing of the Broadway company. So then the only option was to do it in London. And, like, here you are presented with a similar thing, but it's separate. I don't know, it's just interesting to me that, like, these things take so much time. And I'm, I'm glad that all these people are coming together, but I know that that was not an easy thing to do. So I'm very excited to see it.

A (4:37)

That was not the only major story that we had on Wednesday. Grace, you and I earlier in the week talked about who could potentially be replacing Eva Noblezada as Daisy Buchanan in the Broadway production of the Great Gatsby. You theorized Lorna Courtney recently of Ann Juliet, which we both thought would make sense, but they went in a very different direction. They went not with a young, up and coming Broadway star, but they went with an established television star who has Broadway and Off Broadway roots, don't forget. But we now know that recent Off Broadway, Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors, Sarah Hyland is going to be taking over the role beginning on February 10th. She will replace Eva. Obviously, there's going to be a little bit of a gap between Eva leaves performances and when Sarah starts. But she will be joining Ryan McCarten, who is replacing Jeremy Jordan, and Terrence Mann, who is coming in to play the role of Meyer Wolfsheim. This was not on my bingo card of people Grace, that I thought would come in and do this show for a lot of different reasons, to be quite honest with you. But I texted you when I saw this. I was like, do I have to go back and see the Great Gatsby again? Because this is exciting. I missed her in Little Shop and this will be her return to Broadway since the original Broadway production of Grey Gardens when she played young Jacqueline Bouvier later Kennedy Onassis. So I think this is not the kind of casting that I would have guessed for this role, but a pretty brilliant move to pair her with with Ryan McCarten.

B (6:07)

I think it's huge. It's actually huge. Like, I love her so much, but also, like, that's not a small thing. Like, you've got two people that have had TV clout, they've got that younger audience and also, like the wider, you know, TV viewing audience, like, loves her, like, in that, like, you know, 30 to 60 range. So I think this is a real slam dunk for them.

A (6:30)

We talked about the fact that, like, Jeremy and Eva both have these, like, very distinct theater and then kind of a little theater, tangential fan bases that have really helped drive this show. Obviously the title, the Great Gatsby, as you have talked about so much with this and the Outsiders, like, that draws in audiences on their own. But I don't think that we can undersell how important Eva, and I think probably especially Jeremy's fan bases have sold this show through the first, whatever, nine months that it's been on Broadway. And I really thought that they were going to struggle to find people to replace them that had maybe not individually the same levels of fan bases, but, you know, collectively. And while Ryan probably doesn't rise to either the level of Eva or Jeremy, I think he's pretty close, maybe surpasses Eva. I don't. I don't know. But, like, Sarah, you're right. Like, she just has this huge families. I mean, Modern family was on TV for 11 years. Think of all the millions of people who have watched her on TV and loved her throughout her, you know, her adolescence and into adulthood. I think that this is, honestly, I think that probably as good of casting as they could have done from a marketing and ticket sales standpoint.

B (7:45)

I agree. I don't know what other I. Yeah, I can't think of a better casting in all those circumstances, so good job for them.

A (7:54)

Yeah. Unless they went with, like, a huge, like, pops. Unless Ariana Grande wanted to make this her Broadway return like that. This is probably about as smart as you can get. Speaking of people known for things outside of the theater world coming back to Broadway, yesterday it was announced that Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne will be returning to the Broadway production of Chicago. She had previously been in the role in early 2020, and her run was cut short due to Covid, but she will now return to the production where she will play Roxie hart beginning on January 20th. It'll just be for three weeks. It is through February 9th. And it's important to know that while she is known for reality TV, she is. She does have, like, a Billboard number one hit on the dance chart from 2007 called Roller Coaster. She is somebody who has a music background, and they've done very, very well with these types of castings over the years over at Chicago. So while I am not as up to date on my housewives Grace, I think this one probably fits really well with the folks that they are continuing to bring in over at the Ambassador Theater.

B (9:04)

Yeah. You know what? More of this. Am I sad that the last showgirl, Pamela Anderson, is not back? Of course I am. But I think that this is going to be, you know, really, really perfect for them. And, I mean, the housewives are having a moment again.

A (9:17)

Are they? I didn't know that.

B (9:20)

Yeah, I think that, like, it ebbs and flows, but I think that they are having another moment. They're all over my feed at least, so.

A (9:26)

Okay, good to know. Yeah. And Pamela Anderson's probably going to be busy during awards season, so that might be why she's not back yet. But she is certainly having a moment of her own, as you mentioned, with the Housewives. All right, Grace, another story that is not happening in New York, but it is happening both in Florida and in New Jersey. This is one that you have known about for a while. I have known about it not as long as you, but I've known about it for a little bit because it is happening first down here in Florida. And they have announced the complete cast for the upcoming multiple productions and a couple little, I guess, tour stop kind of things for the next incarnation of the Mystic Pizza musical. The big standout of this is going to be the run at the Paper Mill Playhouse. That'll be happening at the end of January on January 29, but it is actually going to kick off down at the Riverside Theater here in Florida in the first week in January. But that cast will feature Christina Alabado, who had done all of the previous versions of the show. She's going to be joined by Elena Anderson and social media star and musical theater actress Deanna Gioletti. Those two are both new to this production, but joining them will be such names as Ben Fankhauser, Vincent Michael and F. Michael Haney. So F finished a run of Frozen in Maine, came by and saw you and Robin Sparkles for a couple hours, and then flew down here to Orlando and then drove over to Rivera beach in Florida.

B (10:56)

That's exactly what happened. It was kind of insane that this worked out so well. We love Sandy Rustin and Casey Hession.

A (11:03)

Just in character, writer and director.

B (11:06)

Yeah. And I think that getting to work with these two women together is going to be very exciting. I think it's one of the first times, to my understanding, that they've worked specifically F, at least, you know, has worked with like an almost all female creative team, it seems. You know, Giancaprio on costumes and whatnot is also attached to help do costumes for Heart of Rock and Roll. So she's been in the 80s with F before. And I just, I'm. I'm thrilled that if F is just gonna book 80s shows where they sing Huey Lewis and Olaf for the next, you know, 20 years, I'm okay.

A (11:37)

Yeah, that's not a bad way to make a living. You're taking what they're given because you're working for a living. I. I've got to get you Down. We' to get you down here to see the show because Oscar Sales, who is their communications and press rep over there, has been wonderful to me and the show over the years, and he has welcomed both you and me with open arms. So we've got to figure out how to get you down here to see it, even though obviously it's coming to your backyard in New Jersey as well. But it's a lot warmer down here than New Jersey right now, Grace.

B (12:05)

I know. And things are so much cooler in summer. If you know, you know.

A (12:10)

Oh, my God.

B (12:11)

I'm sorry.

A (12:12)

You just. You just quoted Olaf. Okay, that's fine. No, no, that's fine. Totally good. Totally good. But that's actually a perfect transition because speaking of Olaf and things that are warmer than New Jersey, yesterday it was announced that Disney will open a new experience during the 2025 EPCOT International Festival for the Arts. Now, this is the thing every year where they have all these different festivals. Food and wine, flower show, all these things. But the one at the beginning of the year always welcomes Disney on Broadway stars. And they do concerts. I've talked about the different concert pairings that they're going to happen throughout this year, but they have announced some new things that are going to be happening this year, including Once upon a stage, 30 years of Disney on Broadway. It is going to be a museum type of exhibit at the Communicore hall in Epcot, and it will celebrate all of the shows that they have done through Disney Theatricals. Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, things like that. But also Aida, Newsies, hopefully. We also get Peter and the Starcatcher, which people don't realize was a Disney Theatricals production. So that will kick off with the festival that will run from January 17th through February 24th. This is where my Disney annual pass comes in very handy because I plan on seeing every single one of those concert pairings that I can. And now that I know that this event is going to be happening, this exhibit is going to be happening, I'll be making sure to check that out and report back. Who knows, Grace? Maybe there will be some. Some F. Michael Haney memorabilia or photos from the. From the Frozen tour as well there.

B (13:46)

Oh, I would like that. Who knows? I mean, listen, I'll fight a person again.

A (13:51)

Again. Is there a story I don't know here?

B (13:55)

Yeah, we'll do that off. Off the.

A (13:58)

Okay. All right. Very fair. All right, everybody, that's all that we have for today. Thanks for listening to Today on Broadway. Follow us on Facebook Twitter and Instagram. Broadway radio. You can follow me on Instagram @bww. Matt. Grace. Where can people find you?

B (14:08)

You can find me at. It's Graceaki.

A (14:09)

All right, everybody, have a wonderful Thursday, and we'll be back to talk to you tomorrow.