Grace Aki (4:26)

Yeah, I see a lot of like exciting stuff for it. You know, there could be a world where like some another young celebrity comes in to Take over Sadie Sink or something like that. But I also do want them to go out with a bang. Like I want them to be able to have like a very successful run and then like close up shop, you know what I mean? Like, I don't want it to like linger on because half of the excitement and anticipation is the fact that like they're like this is a limited thing and I want to go back again and again before it's gone. I think that's part of like one of the little bits of draw besides of how phenomenal the show is. But yeah, I agree. I think that this could be very exciting for them.

Matt Tammaneni (5:00)

What do you think about Millie Bobby Brown taking over for Sadie Sink? Can she do a good enough American accent?

Grace Aki (5:06)

I just, well, it's not even about that. I just think that like the further, the more the older that you go. Like it's harder and I don't, I don't know.

Matt Tammaneni (5:15)

Are they not the same age?

Grace Aki (5:16)

Another strange. I don't think so.

Matt Tammaneni (5:19)

No. Okay.

Grace Aki (5:20)

Am I crazy?

Matt Tammaneni (5:20)

I have no idea how old either of them are, but.

Grace Aki (5:22)

Yeah, yeah, but, but I mean like the whole thing is like the fact that you know, like you've got another Stranger Things person across the street from Stranger Things. That's pretty funny. I think it's weird that if 11 is across the street from 11, but there we go.

Matt Tammaneni (5:36)

Believe it or not, you're not going to believe it. Millie Bobby Brown is two years younger than Sadie Sink.

Grace Aki (5:42)

What an icon. She's going to be too busy. She's going to be in the Britney Spears movie and that's not something I know secretly just looks like she's going to be in the Britney Spears movie from her Instagram.

Matt Tammaneni (5:52)

So I don't know. She certainly is angling for that. But speaking of some, a little bit of changes happening to Broadway shows that are nominated for Tony awards. Yesterday it was announced that the Tony nominated star of Memphis and Hamilton in Chicago and into the Woods, Montego Glover is going to step into Gypsy for one week. She's going to take over the role of rose from Audra McDonald while she is on a one week post Tony's vacation. Audra will be out from June 30th through July 6th and that is when Montego Glover is slated two step in. It's interesting to meet Grace. Maybe you can provide some insight into the thinking on this. Maybe not about Gypsy specifically because I don't think you're in casting decisions but just on the marketing side of this. There is a standby for Rose. Tryphena Wade is the standby for Rose, who would go on if Audra, I don't know, broke her foot on the way to the theater or whatever. But it's interesting that they are bringing in, obviously not a star of the Autumn MacDonald caliber to do a vacation run, but Montego Glover is a name by, by every standard in the Broadway community. So it's interesting that they are going to pay to rehearse and market a new person when they actually already have somebody in the company whose job it is to be ready to go on. Do you have any insights on what that's all about from a marketing standpoint?

Grace Aki (7:15)

Yeah, you know, I think that, like, what we're looking at is like a really smart way, like, have a moment. Especially because it's not just two days, it's a week run that you can get that in. I've seen shows like in the past do some of these things as a test to see, like, what the market is interested in and like, if a long term, you know, like, full time thing is arising, you know, I genuinely don't know on this one, but I think that it is smart to try to figure out. You can't. It's so hard nowadays to just like announce something and then just like hope that that is going to stick and like, be something that's to pay out dividends for you as like a company. So it just, it really depends. But I know that this is a smart, like, test opportunity. I love Montego. She's a fellow Chattanooga, Tennessee person. So I was one of the, you know, it was one of my dreams to see her in Memphis and thank God I did. But, yeah, like, I'm very excited for her to be a part of the show.

Matt Tammaneni (8:15)

Yeah, I certainly thought this would be a great replacement cast if the show continues on post Audra or goes on tour. She would be a great person. But to be, to be quite honest with you, the fact that Montego Glover is old enough to be playing Rose still kind of boggles my mind. When I literally, when I got the press release, I just saw Montego Glover Gypsy, I was like, oh, as Louise? No, that's. It's still wild to me. But nonetheless, I think you're right. I think she'll do a tremendous job in this role for a week or if she does it for a week and then eventually comes back in some other run on Broadway or on tour. All right, let's take a real quick break from the news to talk about our sponsor for this week, cash app Grace you have been out for the past couple weeks, but I've been talking about my love and affection for Cash App because it is such an easy app to use. Whether you are sending money, whether you are receiving money, whether you are trying to divide up a check and make sure that everybody is paying the appropriate amounts to the person who ponied up the money in the first place, everything about Cash App is so incredibly simple. You don't have to be a tech savvy, millennial or gen zer to make it work. It has an instant setup. There's no way to get your money. There's no waiting to have that money transferred to you. It is your money. You deserve to have it. Now, Gracie, you are somebody who likes to go out and have dinner with friends. What is the best way that you have found to make sure, beyond getting 10 to 12 individual checks for your big group, to make sure that nobody is getting shortch when trying to pay, especially when you've got like fries for the table and stuff like that.

Grace Aki (9:58)

It's so funny that you're saying that because as we have been recording, I have been writing down all of my group dinner transactions for the past month and they are exorbitant. And, you know, a lot of us want those credit card points. Well, that's great, but then that also means that other people have to pay their tab. And one of the best ways to do so is by using Cash App. It's so nice to just be able to, like, log in. The setup time is so fast, but I'm able to actually, like, give out a personalized hey, this is what this person owes. This is what this person owes. Everybody's breakdown is so fast and easy. And you're not having to deal with, like, the awkward politics of, like, requesting. You're just able to do it so easily and there's no waiting. You get their money right away. I love going out, but also the divvying up can be exhausting. So make sure that you use Cash App.

Matt Tammaneni (10:44)

And for a limited time only, new Cash App users can use our exclusive code to earn some additional cash. For real? There's no catch. Just download Cash App and sign up. Use our exclusive referral code, Broadway in your profile. Send $5 to a friend within 14 days and you'll get $10 dropped right into your account. Terms apply. That's money. That's Cash App. All right, we're going to go from Broadway News over to West End News, which is, I feel, might have some Broadway intentions coming up, but we have long talked about the stage adaptation of the movie musical film Burlesque that has had like its out of London tryout already and it's going to be coming to the west and beginning performances on July 10th at the Savoy Theater. Yesterday they announced the cast and we already knew that Todd Recall who is directing and choreographing will be a part of the cast. But now we know that there's another Broadway regular who is going to joining the company and that is the one and only Orfe. She is taking on the role of Tess who was played by Cher in the original film. And what's interesting is if you follow Orfeh on social media, I think she's saying backup for Cher. Decades ago she's friends with Cher, she posts pictures with Cher occasionally whenever she's in town and doing stuff. So it does seem fairly interesting to me that somebody who has worked with Cher, is friends with Cher, is now essentially playing Cher on stage. And if you were going to ask me, other than like one of the women who has literally played Cher on Broadway, Teal Wicks, Stephanie J. Block or Michaela diamond, who would be someone that you would think would make sense for especially this show or Faye. Seems like it a pretty, pretty solid choice, doesn't it Grace?

Grace Aki (12:38)

So I'm going to reveal something which is several years ago I worked on like a pitch of some kind for this show in particular and one of the in situ's that I created did in a dream cast was Orfeh in this role. So I'm really glad that my little pea sized brain manifested this. And I'm not, I'm not obviously taking credit for her talent or anything nor did I share this with anybody. So it's not like I, you know, lent I didn't lend my, you know, information to casting or anything. But that being said, she was an immediate person to come to mind. She is such a force. She has an unbelievable voice, she has an unbelievable stage presence. She also commands everything around her and it's like in this beautiful way that that is the part like that is actually that role. So I really can't tell you how excited I was to see this announcement because I genuinely always wanted it. So there you go.

Matt Tammaneni (13:34)

I said earlier you might not necessarily know anything about casting for Montego Glover and Gypsy, but apparently you know about everything in casting like even years before it happened. So your, your special powers are far extending even what I expected them to be. Who knows, maybe you even foresaw this one happening. But back in the States over At the west side Theater downtown in Skid Row, we found out who will be the new Seymour. And I have a feeling that Robbie Roselle does not like this one because he is a very, very handsome man. His name is Graham Phillips. You might remember he co starred on Broadway with Elizabeth Gillies, who is currently playing Audrey in 13 the Musical. In addition to Graham joining the show, Elizabeth has announced that she is going to extend her run to do a run with him. They are going to both be in the show through July 17. Graham will begin performances on June 17 after the run of Milo Manheim and then some rotating understudies before Graham comes in. But a 13 reunion. I know that there are some people to whom this means a great deal, Grace. And so I imagine that throughout the summer this will be a very fun ticket to check out these two reuniting on stage after what, 15 or 15, 16, 17 years now it's a bummer.

Grace Aki (14:53)

That it's not 13.

Matt Tammaneni (14:54)

Oh, that's a good point. Very funny. When was, when was 13 on Broadway?

Grace Aki (14:59)

I don't know. I don't know. But I do know that Graham Phillips famously was in Little Mermaid Live. And that is the last thing I've seen him.

Matt Tammaneni (15:07)

Yeah, he was Prince Harry.

Grace Aki (15:08)

Lovely. Exactly. So I think this is smart and great and honestly, like the people that have come into play Seymour have done the role well, so I'm not gonna complain. And also they're keeping the show running. Like everybody's been good. The show is running. We have a consistent Off Broadway production that is excellent. Of Little Shop of Horrors. You're not gonna find me bitching about.

Matt Tammaneni (15:35)

No, not at all. But speaking of Off Broadway commercial theater, yesterday we found out that the Astor Place Theater, which is where Blue Man Group was for decades, I actually was at the Public Theater, which is right across the street from it, over the weekend before I came and saw your show, Grace. That theater is still owned by Blue Man Group, but the producing company, no Guarantees Productions, has reportedly signed a long term lease. According to the New York Times, they are going to be doing commercial shows. They're very similar to what Seaview Productions is doing with the former Tony Kaiser Theater Studio. Seaview, where Angry Allen, the John Krasinski solo show is. We've also seen other Off Broadway theaters purchased by commercial companies in the past few years. Obviously, Audible has them in Edda Lane. A24 has the cherry Lane Theater. This one should be fairly interesting. No Guarantees is currently in this season represented on Broadway as the lead producer for the Hills of California. They're also producing Goddess right across the street at the Public. They are also co producers and investors on Gypsy, Romeo and Juliet, Sunset Boulevard. So they are part of some of the best shows in New York City. And to have their own home, it just feels like another evolution in this, you know, exciting commercial Off Broadway space which to be quite honest with you, before the pandemic I wasn't sure would ever exist again.

Grace Aki (17:04)

I'm also going to throw in another thing. I think what we're also seeing is the very real example of the difference in renting and buying. And you know, how anytime you're talking about like wanting to, you know, have a home, things like that, like our generation is unable economically to own homes in the same capacity as our parents. You know what I mean? We're experiencing that in the theater world you are going to see even more small, non, you know, like these independent theater companies, these producing entities, these llc, all of these groups find that they have better success when they purchase a space or they have a standard home than they do by working with these theater owners, these four, three or four, you know, monopoly owners of these theater. And I think that it's going to continue to be a ripple effect because this is just completely unregulated and unchecked and it's becoming such a difficult venture to get the main theater owners to do xyz. And I don't think I'm speaking out of turn with that. This is not pointed, this is just genuinely factual. It's just very difficult. I think any producing entity will tell you the same thing. So I think that it's just going to become very normal for them to say, well then we're just going to have our own building because they don't have other options right now. They are unable to fulfill their investors. They're unable to, you know what I mean? It's just, it's so challenging. The space of commercial theater as it stands right now is unsustainable in its current landscape of renting and being able to put up shows with the current standing of the theater owner. So I think that this is going to come very normal.

Matt Tammaneni (18:46)

We got so used to Off Broadway being about not for profit companies and they did incredible work, some of the best work in theater around the world. So obviously we want that. But I think that to have Off Broadway be at its best, we need to also have commercial runs. And I'm excited to see what changes that means in the future. Real quick, one recommendation before I turn the show over to you to talk about To Free Mockingbird, Grace, the cast of Buena Vista Social Club did a tiny desk concert. I remember when it used to be very rare when we would get theater related tiny desks. The fact that NPR is essentially doing it for all of the best musicals and a lot of the revivals is very cool. I love this. It brings such a different vibe to these shows and also opens it up to even more audiences. We will have a link to that in the show notes. But Grace, I know from us talking and from what you've shared on social media that the last two weeks have been utterly exhausting for you. Not only because To Free a Mockingbird is a physical and emotional rollercoaster of a show that is incredibly draining, but you did everything with this show with some help from some friends. So give us the insight and the takeaways that you have from the last two weeks of doing your solo show off Broadway at the Soho Playhouse.

Grace Aki (20:03)

Yeah, I'll just keep it brief to say that like, you know, I'm so grateful to every single person that came and a lot of you that are listening did come to the show, which meant the world to me. Thank you for telling me that you listened to Today on Broadway. I really genuinely love that because I don't often get to meet or see the names of the people that are listening to the show every day. So I'm very, very grateful. And the fact that you wanted to come and support my own work is kind of insane. So thank you. But self producing, I've learned a lot. But also I've been hustling and doing this my whole life. I feel like that this was just a great opportunity and example for me to like flex all those work muscles on myself. Frankly, I kind of, I decided for the last three weeks to pretend I was my own client and it genuinely changed everything for me. So just a reminder to everyone to put yourself first sometimes, especially on personal projects that you really believe in. Does work, had lots of great partnerships. The work that the entire all my friends did on the show, whether that was like paid media, like if you got an ad for the show, that was because Dina is amazing, you know, or the, the key art by Mark J. Franklin. And if you've ever seen his work, which you definitely have, if you've ever seen Gypsy on Broadway, the, the beautiful photographs of Audra McDonald that are outside of the theater, they're done by him. And so I just, I felt so lucky to have photography done by him for the show. And all these just, just a ton of people that just Came out of the woodwork to collaborate with this project on me. I'm not taking for granted at all. So, yeah, it was an amazing experience. I'm so grateful. I'm hopeful for. I'm hopeful for another life for it because I know that I have done everything that I possibly can for it. So hoping that that happens. But also, I just can't believe I got to have an off Broadway run. Like, I got to do that. It was two weeks. I'm hoping one day for a longer so that it can be, like, eligible for things, you know, because it's like 16 weeks, right. That you have to run for like, like off Broadway type of, like, notoriety and awards, stuff like that.

Matt Tammaneni (21:56)

I think it depends. Yeah, depends on which. Which group. But.

Grace Aki (21:58)

Yeah, but all that to be said, I'm very proud. I'm very grateful. Congratulations again to the Soho Playhouse because they are an amazing group of people. And the tech teams there, Carter and Katie, everybody, it was excellent.

Matt Tammaneni (22:10)

Yeah. I was so happy that I got to see it. Not only because, you know, I wanted to be there to support you, but I think this is the third time that I seen the show. And I can honestly truthfully say, like, the work that you have put into the show, like, every time I see it, I feel like it gets better, it gets tighter, it gets funnier. The jokes you added for this run, they were perfect. It was so good. So I cannot express how incredibly moving it was to see you do that to a great off Broadway crowd and to see everything that you were able to accomplish in a very short amount of time, which is not easy to pull together for anybody, let alone somebody doing it self produced. So I hope everybody had an opportunity to see it. If not, talk to your local favorite producer and get them to jump on and do an extended run at some point in the very near future. 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. Rodwayradio. Grace, now that you are back in the land of the living, where can people find you?

Grace Aki (23:08)

You can find me at its gracethaki.

Matt Tammaneni (23:10)

All right, everybody, have a wonderful Wednesday. We'll be back to talk to you tomorrow.

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Grace Aki (23:42)

The numbers look good. Brad. You're on mute.

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