John Gallagher, Jr. is 'Swept Away! Plus 'A Beautiful Noise'.

Summary

The Broadway Show: Uncut – Episode Summary

Episode Title: John Gallagher, Jr. is 'Swept Away! Plus 'A Beautiful Noise'
Release Date: October 30, 2024
Host: Tamsen Fadal
Correspondents: Paul Wontorek, Perry Sook, Charlie Cooper

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1. Introduction to 'Swept Away' with John Gallagher, Jr. and Robert Westenberg

The episode kicks off with host Tamsen Fadal introducing two major segments: an in-depth conversation about the new musical "Swept Away," inspired by the Avett Brothers, featuring star John Gallagher, Jr., and an upcoming discussion about the national tour of "A Beautiful Noise."

John Gallagher, Jr. and Robert Westenberg engage in a detailed discussion about the creation and significance of "Swept Away."

Robert Westenberg provides an overview of the musical:

"Swept Away is a new musical with a book by John Logan and songs by the Avett Brothers. They're a roots rock band from North Carolina. It's directed by my friend Michael Mayer, who did Spring Awakening and American Idiot with me. It's a show about four sailors in the late 1800s who find themselves lost at sea on a lifeboat after their whaling vessel sinks in a storm."
(00:44 - 01:10)

2. The Genesis and Appeal of 'Swept Away'

The conversation delves into what attracted Robert and John to the project. Robert attributes his early involvement to his admiration for the creative team and his desire to embark on a new adventure after nearly a decade away from creating new musicals.

"I said yes, before there was a script. I just heard that Michael was thinking about directing it... this is a no brainer to me to get involved with people that I admire in a show that sounds like it's gonna be a big adventure."
(01:10 - 01:53)

John Gallagher, Jr. contrasts working on new musicals versus revivals, highlighting the unique freedom and personal investment involved in building characters from the ground up.

"It's interesting to have that, you know, be able to really just create and have freedom to create that all. You own that character."
(02:00 - 03:22)

3. Musical Influence: The Avett Brothers

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the Avett Brothers' impact on "Swept Away." Robert Westenberg shares his long-standing admiration for the band, detailing his journey from being a fan to collaborating with them on the musical.

"Scott and Seth Avett... are two of the most gifted songwriters that we have... Their music is unbelievably raw and honest and to the point and vulnerable."
(03:22 - 05:07)

Robert recounts his first encounter with the Avett Brothers at a folk festival, illustrating the personal and professional fulfillment that the collaboration brings him.

"I think that's what's so special about this show, the fact that it has this kind of homegrown connection for me, it's unlike anything that I've ever worked on before."
(06:55 - 07:05)

4. The Emotional and Theatrical Depth of 'Swept Away'

The hosts and guests explore how "Swept Away" blends folk music with theatrical storytelling to create a deeply emotional experience. Robert emphasizes the show's ability to take audiences on an unpredictable journey without causing disorientation.

"At the core of it, it's a really basic human story about brotherhood and family and morality and mortality... it packs a real emotional punch."
(08:39 - 10:14)

He further highlights the raw emotional intensity of the performance, noting the consistent audience engagement and enthusiastic reactions during curtain calls.

"It's probably the most raw and emotional piece of theater that I've ever worked on as a performer."
(09:00 - 09:15)

5. Behind the Scenes: Ensemble Dynamics and Personal Stories

Robert shares a lighthearted moment about the cast's camaraderie and their humorous comparison to The Beatles, underscoring the tight-knit relationships within the ensemble.

"Wayne refers to us as the Beatles, mostly just because he Likes to call himself Ringo."
(10:14 - 11:23)

This camaraderie is pivotal in creating the authentic and cohesive performance that audiences love.

6. Transition to 'A Beautiful Noise' National Tour

The episode transitions to correspondent Paul Wontorek introducing his conversation with the stars of the national tour of "A Beautiful Noise," the Neil Diamond musical.

7. Insights from the 'A Beautiful Noise' Cast

Panelists Lisa Renee Pitts, Nick Fradiani, Adrian Blake Ensco, and Hannah Jewel Cohn discuss their experiences and the unique elements of touring with this Neil Diamond tribute.

Nick Fradiani shares his long-term commitment to the show and his enthusiasm for bringing Neil Diamond's music to a broader audience.

"I love the show... I just knew these people, a lot of people just can't get into the city. So I was excited to just share, you know, his story."
(12:31 - 14:15)

Adrian Blake Ensco emphasizes the depth and emotional weight of the musical, distinguishing it from typical jukebox musicals by integrating a strong narrative arc and therapeutic elements.

"It's much more than people think it's gonna be."
(12:07 - 13:02)

Hannah Jewel Cohn expresses her excitement about embodying real-life figures in the show and the impactful storytelling involved.

"Stepping into Robyn Herter and Amber Ardolino's shoes has been an absolute dream. It's so humbling."
(15:47 - 16:15)

8. The Timeless Appeal of Neil Diamond's Music

The cast reflects on the enduring legacy of Neil Diamond's music and its seamless integration into the theatrical experience. Personal anecdotes highlight their deep connections to his songs and the universal relatability that makes the musical resonate with diverse audiences.

"His music is kind of timeless... and I think the show is still going to be sort of gonna have that kind of power."
(21:31 - 22:14)

9. Anticipation for the National Tour

As the discussion wraps up, the cast shares their hopes and excitement for the upcoming tour, emphasizing the joy and celebratory nature of the show amidst challenging times.

"I just hope it sells really well... it's such a joyful, celebratory show that I think... it's just so great to be in a show where ... they're gonna have a great experience."
(24:21 - 25:10)

10. Closing Remarks

Host Tamsen Fadal concludes the episode by inviting listeners to tune in next time for more insights with Broadway's biggest stars.

"That's going to do it for this latest episode, but join us next time for more of Broadway's biggest stars."
(26:13 - 26:21)

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Notable Quotes:

• Robert Westenberg:

  "Swept Away is a new musical with a book by John Logan and songs by the Avett Brothers."
  (00:44 - 01:10)

• John Gallagher, Jr.:

  "It's interesting to have that, you know, be able to really just create and have freedom to create that all. You own that character."
  (02:05 - 03:22)

• Robert Westenberg:

  "Scott and Seth Avett... are two of the most gifted songwriters that we have."
  (03:42 - 05:07)

• Nick Fradiani:

  "I love the show... I just knew these people, a lot of people just can't get into the city."
  (12:31 - 14:15)

• Adrian Blake Ensco:

  "It's much more than people think it's gonna be."
  (12:07 - 13:02)

• Hannah Jewel Cohn:

  "Stepping into Robyn Herter and Amber Ardolino's shoes has been an absolute dream. It's so humbling."
  (15:47 - 16:15)

---

This episode of "The Broadway Show: Uncut" offers an intimate look into the creative processes behind two significant Broadway productions, "Swept Away" and "A Beautiful Noise." Through candid conversations with key cast members, listeners gain invaluable insights into the emotional depth, musical prowess, and collaborative spirit that drive these shows, making it a must-listen for theater enthusiasts and Broadway aficionados alike.

Transcript

[Tamsen Fadal]

This is the Broadway show Uncut. I'm Tamsen Fadal, and we've got a lot to get to. A beautiful Noise, the Neil diamond musical is coming soon to a city near you. Paul Wontorek talked to four of the stars of the national tour. Nick Fradiani, Robert Westenberg, Lisa Renee Pitts, and Hannah Jewel Cohn. That's coming up in just a few minutes. But first, prepare to be swept away by the music of the Avett Brothers. The new shipwreck musical is inspired by their music and lyrics. I talked to one of the stars of Swept away, John Gallagher, Jr.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

Good to see you.

[Robert Westenberg]

It's great to see you as well.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

Well, let's start off with the question of Swept Away. What is Swept Away? For people who don't know the story.

[Robert Westenberg]

Swept Away is a new musical with a book by John Logan and songs by the Avett Brothers. They're a roots rock band from North Carolina. It's directed by my friend Michael Mayer, who did Spring Awakening and American Idiot with me. It's a show about four sailors in the late 1800s who find themselves lost at sea on a lifeboat after their whaling vessel sinks in a storm.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

What drew you to this material? Was it the material and Michael? Was it working with Michael again?

[Robert Westenberg]

Yeah, it was kind of a combination of all the factors. I got involved very early, which is something that I haven't quite done before. I said yes, before there was a script. I just heard that Michael was thinking about directing it. John Logan was maybe gonna take a pass at the script and they were gonna use songs by the Avett Brothers. And I'm such devout fans of all three of them that I just thought, well, if they're involved, I wanna get involved. I don't even really know what it's gonna be. I hadn't done a new musical in almost a decade at the time. And so it just thought like, this is a no brainer to me to get involved with people that I admire in a show that sounds like it's gonna be a big adventure.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

That's a good way to describe that. I like it. What is it like being involved in a new musical versus something that maybe is tried and true or just a little more, you know, that we know the story going into it.

[Robert Westenberg]

Yeah, I think that, like, the sense of kind of freedom, of discovery that you feel when you know that you're building something from the ground up is really extraordinary. Knowing that there will be. I mean, everyone, I think, kind of comes to everything with some sort of comparison to something else. That they've seen in the past. But just knowing that no one can stack this up against another version that they've seen or another performer that they've seen play this role. We really got to be part of building the characters, like everybody in this show, their fingerprints and DNAs all over it. It was a really personal, kind of unique experience, and I love that. I love developing new works because no matter what happens, once you give it away to people, you can always kind of sit back and rest assured that we made it. Whatever, for better or worse, it's our fault.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

We will take the blame one way or another. But I think that's interesting what you say, because as much as I try not to, you do go to something, whether it's been on Broadway before or you've seen it somewhere else or it's a movie, and you do have a perception going in there of what that character, whoever that character, big or small, is, and what so and so did it like versus this one. There's no comparison. It's interesting. It's interesting to have that, you know, be able to really just create and have freedom to create that all. You own that character.

[Robert Westenberg]

Absolutely. It really is a gift. I mean, I've worked on some revivals as well, and that is its own extraordinary challenge and celebration to kind of honor those that have gone before you. But developing a new work is really amazing.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

Avett Brothers. Let's talk a little bit about the music and how it just feeds itself and describes this story and makes this big.

[Robert Westenberg]

And yeah, I think Scott and Seth Avett, who are the Avett Brothers, are. I just think they're two of the most gifted songwriters that we have. I've been big fan of theirs since I was like about 20 years old. I had just moved to New York a few years prior. I was just getting my start working in theater in New York, and I discovered them. I saw them at a small folk festival outside of Philadelphia and I bought their CD and bought their T shirt. I was sort of want to be publicists for them. I was always telling people to check out their band. I never thought that, you know, in some 14, 15 years time I'd be working on a project with them. But they're truth tellers. Their music is unbelievably raw and honest and to the point and vulnerable. And it really kind of runs the spectrum of an emotional landscape. I mean, every single kind of moment in the human experience is in one of their songs, it seems. And so even though they don't know much about the musical theater world, their music. What surprised me was it really lends itself to the art form, even though stylistically, you might not think it, to listen to their music or to see their concert, but there is a theatricality to it because they deal in really high stakes of faith, or lack thereof, love and loss. It feels really, really potent, the music that they write.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

I love the story of your first interaction with them. I need a picture of you in that T shirt. Do you have it?

[Robert Westenberg]

I think I do. It don't fit me anymore, unfortunately, but.

[Paul Wontorek]

I think I have a picture of.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

Pictures because that's unbelievable. That's a great story.

[Robert Westenberg]

I bought. It was back in the day on a tiny little label out of North Carolina, and I went to their website, and I think they only sold one shirt because they were just getting their start. They weren't on a big. Now they're on a major label.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

How did you hear about them? How did you.

[Robert Westenberg]

I just stumbled upon their performance at, like, a folk festival that my parents took me to. They've been taking me to the Philadelphia Folk Festival since I was a kid. My parents are big folk music aficionados, and the Eva Brothers just happened to be booked. I had never heard of them. I was walking through the festival grounds, and I heard them start playing, and I thought, wow, that sounds really unique. I've never heard anything quite like what these guys are doing. I couldn't even see them. They were far away. And so I walked over to the stage and I watched their whole set. And then I became just a total fanboy from.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

That's amazing. I really love. That's a really special story. Yeah, that's really special. Where you are today, who could, you know, I mean, that's full circle.

[Robert Westenberg]

It really is. I mean, I find myself pinching myself. Like, I've been lucky enough to meet them a few times now, and they come to see the show or stop into a rehearsal, and I get starstruck. We are so spoiled. We got to announce the Broadway bow of this show at one of their concerts at the Forest Hills back in May, which is, you know, a legendary venue. We actually went out on stage and sang with them, and I barely remember it because it was just sort of emotionally overwhelming to walk out onto their stage with them.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

I can't even imagine just doing that. But more with the history that you had going into that, that's the difference.

[Robert Westenberg]

Something about this show, the fact that it has this kind of homegrown connection for me, it's unlike anything that I've ever worked on before.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

You draw inspiration from a lot of names that we all know and love. Talk a little bit about your music, your background, and the inspiration of where you've come to today.

[Robert Westenberg]

Yeah, I mean, I play my own music and write songs as well. And you? I owe a massive creative debt to Scott and Seth Avet. I mean, I've been listening to their music since I was in my early 20s. And through them, I've discovered so many other amazing songwriters and people that they've toured with. And I've seen some amazing acts and made a couple of really good friends. And. I don't know, I mean, I think the folk music, the meeting of folk and musical theater, I think that's why this project speaks to me so much, because my dad is obsessed with folk music and kind of traditional Irish, Celtic folk music. And my mom showed me Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and West side Story and Camelot when I was a kid. And she was the show tune lover and also a folk music lover. But there's something about the intersection of those two genres which is not widely represented in musical theater. You have a couple of amazing standouts. Like Hadestown truly is a show that has really mastered that. That kind of hybrid. But I think that's why I love this show so much, is because it mixes the folk music that I grew up with. Theater, which is another world that I love to operate in. So this one is just kind of a bucket list show for me.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

There's no question about it at all. When you go back to the show and talk about that a little bit with regard to just kind of the emotions involved in the show, you call it a big adventure, but there are emotional tones all throughout that that obviously the music lends itself to. But what does the audience walk away with with that? Because I think there's a lot to it, A lot of layers.

[Robert Westenberg]

Yeah, I think there's something really wild about this show in that it does. I mean, it sounds a bit hackney to call a show a ride, because everyone's like, my show's a ride. Come and take the ride. And so I'm loathe to use the terminology, but I have to, because I don't know how else to describe.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

I mean, you kind of get to use that ride.

[Robert Westenberg]

It really is a ride. It grabs you. It's really. It's energetic. It comes out of the gate swinging. You know, I think from the first five minutes that it's gonna be a unique night at the theater. It's disarming. It'll Kind of take you into moments where you think you're watching one type of show, and then five minutes later, you're in a different kind of show. And it does it somehow without giving the audience whiplash. I feel like at the core of it, it's a really basic human story about brotherhood and family and morality and mortality. And I think what we discovered from running the show at Berkeley Rep in California and at arena stage in D.C. is that it is an overwhelming experience for the audience. It's a thing where you'll be doing a show and you'll have some nights where you think, gosh, it's awfully quiet in here. I wonder if anybody's. Are people liking this? Are they connecting with it? And then you get to the curtain call, and suddenly everybody leaps to their feet. That happened just about every single night, without fail, in D.C. so it packs a real emotional punch. And, I don't know, it seems to really speak to people. I know, for me, it does. I think it's probably the most raw and emotional piece of theater that I've ever worked on as a performer. So it's nice to see that that is translating to the audiences as well.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

You're picking out your dressing room?

[Robert Westenberg]

Yeah, we're working on seeing if we can all share one again.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

Oh, really? Because you enjoyed it?

[Robert Westenberg]

I mean, that's the way that's how we've done it. Yeah.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

Okay. What do you do? Are you just looking for the spaces right now to fill them out?

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Yeah.

[Robert Westenberg]

I mean, when we did the show in Berkeley, we were at one of the smaller theaters at the Berkeley Ren Theater. So they didn't have a ton of room for the ensemble. And so they came to the four leads of the show. Myself, Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Ensco, and Wayne Duvall. I think, a little sheepishly being like, guys, I'm sorry, but you're all gonna have to share a dressing room. Thinking that we were gonna quit on site, I think we were like, are you kidding me? This is great. I don't wanna be alone. Anyway. And so we did it at Berkeley. And then when we had our east coast premiere at arena stage in D.C. the same thing happened. We got there, and they had separated us. They had put me and Wayne in one and Stark and Agent the other. And we were like, this isn't going to work. We need to be in one dressing room. So that's the way that we do it now. We just can't break up the band. You know, Wayne refers to us as the Beatles, mostly just because he Likes to call himself Ringo.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

Who are you?

[Robert Westenberg]

Who have. They're like, well, you're John, so you're John automatically.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

I guess that just Stark is Paul McCartney.

[Robert Westenberg]

Adrian is definitely George Harris. He's the George Harrison of the group. So I guess I'm the moody one. I'm the temperamental one. I'm John Lennon. I mean, it's embarrassing to say that. You heard it here first, folks.

[John Gallagher, Jr.]

I love it. We're going with it.

[Tamsen Fadal]

Now here's Paul Wontorek's chat with the stars of the national tour of A Beautiful Noise, the Neil diamond musical.

[Paul Wontorek]

Beautiful Noise. Ready to take the road?

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

Absolutely.

[Paul Wontorek]

You ready to bring this fun. I mean, this is a really fun show. You ready to bring it from city to city and.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Oh yeah, give people a party.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

Yes.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

They are going to love it and eat it up.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

Because we do in rehearsal as well.

[Paul Wontorek]

You've been doing this show for a while now. I'm trying to think about how long.

[Nick Fradiani]

How many performances have you done or hundreds. I took over as the lead in October of 23 and did it till we closed in June 30 and then I was the alternate prior to that doing a few shows a week and yeah, so I was in it. I started when we went to Boston for the, you know, pre Broadway. Right. And now taking it on the road.

[Paul Wontorek]

So I guess you like the show.

[Nick Fradiani]

I love the show.

[Paul Wontorek]

I love the show.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

I love it, absolutely love it. My wife just came today to the rehearsal. She went nuts for it.

[Robert Westenberg]

Uh huh.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah, yeah. I was thinking it must be a fun show to pull together because it's fun how the ensemble's used and the music's so much fun. What's it been like rehearsing it, bringing it together.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Electric.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

Exactly. And watching all of the pieces come together. As you said, the music and then the dancing and then the straight actors like myself, you know, it's just been magical.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

I didn't know what to expect. And of course you think jukebox musical. Right. But it's so much more than that. And the whole conceit of, you know, older Neil going through therapy and having a bookend and be the thread throughout with young Neil coming out and reliving his sessions gives it a strength and a weight and an arc that you really don't find a lot with jukebox musicals. So it delivers, I think, on the, on the concert side of things in terms of getting that full, the full power of Neil Diamond. But it's also an origin story and it's also this incredible Therapy session, discovery of self that happens throughout. That is. That is huge and dramatic. So, yeah, I think it's much more than people think it's gonna be.

[Nick Fradiani]

For me just now getting to work with Bob, as after doing it with Mark for so long, it's already taking on a different thing for me. And it's made it really special because you do get into a rhythm and you get so used to. But now we're already finding some new stuff, and it's been cool. Bob's like, so if I'm staring at you, it's because I'm trying to figure out how you walk and move. So we've just both been really.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

I want to meld a little bit so that there's a credibility factor and we get some, you know, synchronicity.

[Nick Fradiani]

Yeah, yeah. But we. Yeah. And really, in the show, we never really interact, you know, except for the end and so. Which, I mean, hopefully I didn't give away too much, but. But, yeah, it's been a blessing to be able to work with, you know, Mark, who's a legend, and now Bob, who's a legend. I'm just getting to learn from really, you know, for somebody that's new to this, it's been amazing to learn from some. Some heavy hitters.

[Paul Wontorek]

This is what's so special about this show, I think, is the structure of it. I think that's why it has so much power. Because you play Neil Diamond's therapist.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

Yes.

[Paul Wontorek]

Which is such a. Just interesting thing to even say. And it literally is like you're sitting down with older Neil Diamond, Broadway icon Robert Rustenberg, and the story sort of unfolds from that. It's so fascinating. What's it like digging into that story?

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

When I actually read the script for my audition, when I read that, I was just toked. So taken by that, because it reminded me of myself in so many ways of just talking to other people, therapy, and just looking back to move forward.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Yeah.

[Paul Wontorek]

Just happens to be a music icon.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

Absolutely.

[Paul Wontorek]

But it's a very human dynamic to the show.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

It's relatable in so many ways for everybody, you know, so.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah, yeah. Hannah, you come in in a whole different way, and you have a lot of choreography, all the choreo. Great, great choreography. Yeah. Talk about your role, your role in here, in this story.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Well, I have been on cloud nine, I'll tell you that. And just stepping into Robyn Herter and Amber Ardolino shoes has been an absolute dream. It's so humbling. It's. Yeah, it's Honestly, my dream come true.

[Paul Wontorek]

You're Marcia.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Marcia Murphy.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yes. And she's a real woman.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Yes. She's Neil Diamond's second wife. Ex wife. And she works at the Bitter End. And they were married for 25 years.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah, big part of her.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

And then divorced in 1995. Yes, big part of his life. She helped him a lot. I mean, he was going through it when she met him, and she saw in him this gift, and she didn't let him back down. She said, I know, I know. You got something in there. And even in the script, she says, and he's gonna have backup singers next time, and, you know, he's going to have more than just a guitar. Like, she really made him believe in himself. And she is like that positive light to him, which is ironic because she's been through so much in her life. She talks about, you know, she's had a really tough life and her family as well. And so to come out on the other side, she really, really encourages him to see the glass half full and not half empty. And she talks about in the script, you know, everyone has two wolves fighting inside them. And one wolf is happy and hopeful, and the other one is angry and sad and low down. And her grandma told her, it's the one that you feed is the one that, you know, is at the forefront. So he's like, interesting.

[Paul Wontorek]

And Neil is also going through it with you.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

I was just thinking that, too. He's very strong, dynamic women on both sides of the coin. Because I don't let him off the hook either. You know, I give him grace to say, okay, I understand. We'll take it slow. But then at other points, I feel like I have to push him to get to where he needs to be, help to motivate him to see his path so that he can move forward. So, yeah, we're very strong women in his life that, you know, helped him to get to where he was.

[Paul Wontorek]

I think it says a lot about him as an artist and as a human that he wanted the story told this way. Right. I mean, it's such an exposed way of telling. He's really sort of like just letting it all out and doesn't. You know, a lot of times you see celebrity documentaries or musicals, and it feels very. Just like, safe. Everything just feels like a very safe choice. And this doesn't feel that way.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

He could have had anything. Documentary, miniseries, autobiography. He could have anything. But he chose this. And when I saw the show, I knew why he chose this. Because when you're in the Theater. It is electric, and it's so moving, and it's exhilarating. You're in that theater, and the speakers are going, and the music. It is like a concert. And it made so much sense to me. I was like, this is why. Yeah.

[Paul Wontorek]

So what's up about the company? I mean, the other thing I loved about this show is how it really utilizes a great company of talents, and. And really, I felt like, you know, certain shows where you feel like every member of the ensemble shines and gets moments, and it really feels like it's built around personalities. What's it been like building the tour?

[Nick Fradiani]

Yeah, it's been crazy for me. I've been here since the first rehearsal, and, you know, obviously, I know the show, and I know it inside and out, and it's been. And at first, you know, it could be a little frustrating. I'm like, all right, don't. You know you got to go there? And I'm like, of course they don't. They're just getting here today and moving people around.

[Paul Wontorek]

Yeah.

[Nick Fradiani]

And. But the ensemble, the noise are really the glue to the entire show. They have to learn, like, what they've gone through for these last three weeks is insane. And I watched the Broadway company have to go through it, and they're kind of. They become one. That's the noise in a unit, and they have to move together, but they're also individualistic and kind of have their own. So it's like a real free show for them. But there's just so much that they have to do to. To make the show happen. You know, they really keep it all together. So it's been really cool to see, you know, some people, they're, you know, super young. You know what I mean? Like, I'm, like, feeling really old with some of the. Tell me about it. But, yeah, they're amazingly talented, and I'm excited for them to, like I said, just to feel how once they can shut their brains off and just become the show, it's just amazing, and I think they're all gonna enjoy it.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

Have you seen the show?

[Paul Wontorek]

Yes.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

So, you know how involved they are in everything. I mean, they come out of his brain. They facilitate action, narration, emotion. They're amazing.

[Paul Wontorek]

How would you describe this music catalog and why people love this music and what is it like living in this music?

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

I personally, I don't know when Neil diamond came into my life, Lisa. But I'm glad it did. I'm so glad it did, and I feel so honored to just be a part of Telling his story.

[Nick Fradiani]

Yeah, well, I lived in it for a while because my father was a huge Neil diamond fan. So I really had these amazing memories in my childhood of my dad playing Neil diamond. And to now get to, you know, obsess over it and get his phrasings and his singing down, it's been just amazing. He's got a lot of incredible music and to get to share it, I'm really excited to share it with people now all over the country. You know, I think, you know, he has a lot of fans. I mean, it's pretty crazy. I got to see it firsthand and it's pretty insane. I'm looking forward to you getting to witness it. The audiences are entertaining. They're definitely like another character at times in the show.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

Yeah, well, I fell in love with Neil diamond when I was a kid.

[Paul Wontorek]

I experienced it as it was coming out.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

I'm of a certain age that I was. That Neil diamond was hitting his peak right when I was about like 15, 16. And so I fell in love with it and. And I never understood how, you know, Neil diamond talks about this, how sometimes he was underappreciated when in his own time. But everybody loved him and his concerts sold out and his album sold out. So I think, I think his music is kind of timeless and that in 200, 300 years that the people who poo pooed him at the time, nobody's gonna know their name and Neil Diamond's still gonna be done and I think the show is still going to be sort. It's going to. It's got, I think, that kind of power.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Yeah, I remember, you know, my first experience hearing Neil Diamond's music was actually at a bar in bar mitzvah and I had it played at my bar mitzvah. But like seeing all, you know, the adults come together on the dance floor and oh my, they were like ba ba ba. Everyone was so excited and I think it's just so feel good. So catchy. So moving.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

The beats.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Yeah, the beats.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

The catchiness. The beats.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

The groove.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

You can groove to it. You can to it. It's.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Yeah, I'm moving and grooving when I'm not on stage. Like when I'm in that run through especially for Cherry Cherry. I'm on the side. Like I'm just like moving.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

It's true.

[Robert Westenberg]

It's just.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Yeah, it's awesome.

[Paul Wontorek]

Doing a national tour is fun because you get to sort of like show up in a town and you're the party, like. Right. You show up and be like, hey, come on, guys. It's like the circus or something. Then you leave and go to the next one. Everyone just has a great memory of you having showed up in the town.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

Right.

[Paul Wontorek]

It's fun.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

Yeah. I've done a couple of tours, and it has that feeling to it. Yeah.

[Paul Wontorek]

Especially this one. I feel like this is gonna be, like. Because I guess Neil diamond said this is what he's looking forward to. He's looking forward to the show, hitting the road.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

What a natural show for a tour. Do you know? I mean, he was a touring animal, and this show, I think, is gonna profit from that.

[Lisa Renee Pitts]

This is my very first tour, and people are always asking me, what cities are you most excited to go to? I'm like, all of them. 25. I cannot wait, you know, because, as we said, it's so inspirational. It's so lively and jubilant. It has its moments where it has perspective and you think about life. But at the end of the show, I mean, I'm just hearing all of the, you know, suspense with the audience, and we're all excited. So I'm looking forward to it.

[Paul Wontorek]

How would. Go ahead.

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

No, I'm stoked because I have my hometown in the schedule. Haven't done my hometown yet, and I have 60 people coming so far.

[Paul Wontorek]

What's your hometown?

[Hannah Jewel Cohn]

Detroit, Michigan.

[Paul Wontorek]

Fabulous. Okay, so what are your real hopes for the. For this run and for this tour? When you're sort of. You know, it's special when you get ready to embark on something, leave the city.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

And I just hope it sells really well. And it. I think pre. Sales are really strong right now because I want. I want to share it with people because it is such a joyful, celebratory show that I think it. Especially in these times, you know, with everything that's going on politically and otherwise with COVID and then the impact and aftermath of that, to have something like this, which is not political, which is not. It's just about. It's about identity. It's about a man finding himself, you know, and it's about the brilliance, the genius of his art and where it came from, you know, how it came forth. And I think that people. It's just so great to be in a show where, you know, they're gonna have a great experience. I can't wait to have an audience with the show.

[Robert Westenberg]

Yeah.

[Nick Fradiani]

That was my whole reason of wanting to continue. Well, one, I just felt like I wasn't done with it. Like, I just enjoyed it so much, and, you know, if it stayed on Broadway, another year I was gonna stay, like, I loved it that much and. But my big thing was always like, I know this show is gonna Torwell because I would, you know, I would do Neil diamond covers and I would, you know, there'd be thousands and thousands of people all over the country and world. Australia, you know, England, everywhere. Just saying, oh, I wanted to. Is it going to come here? Is it going to come here? When's it coming here? And I just knew I was like, these people, you know, a lot of people just can't get into the city. So I was excited to just share, you know, his story. And like you said, these timeless songs with the country. I think it's. And, you know, I think it's, you know, like Ken had mentioned, you know, this is what Neil did. He traveled and he toured constantly. He loved it. So that's, you know, it kind of makes sense for us to take this on the road and sing Sweet Caroline a billion times to everybody.

[Adrian Blake Ensco]

Have them sing it with us.

[Nick Fradiani]

Yeah, they get to sing it, too.

[Tamsen Fadal]

That's going to do it for this latest episode, but join us next time for more of Broadway's biggest stars. Until then, I'm Tamsen Fadal, and this is the Broadway show Uncut.