The Power of Seeing Yourself: Broadway, Black Voices & Breaking Barriers

Summary

---

Podcast Episode Summary

The Latest with Loren LaRosa

Episode: The Power of Seeing Yourself: Broadway, Black Voices & Breaking Barriers

Date: June 8, 2026
Host: Loren LaRosa (The Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts)

---

Overview

This episode explores the importance of representation, community, and breaking barriers for Black and Brown artists on Broadway, focusing on behind-the-scenes and on-stage voices. Loren LaRosa reflects on her own journey in media, the cultural impact of recent events like Roots Picnic and the Tony Awards, and features a heartfelt discussion with Black and Brown cast and crew members from The Outsiders musical. The episode is a celebration of visibility, belonging, and how "seeing yourself" changes lives and ambitions in the performing arts.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Loren’s Pop Culture Recap & Personal Growth (02:31–10:47)

• Roots Picnic recap: Loren highlights her experience co-hosting and covering the historic Roots Picnic, noting record attendance and memorable surprises during Jay Z’s performance.

  “This was the largest weekend in the Roots Picnic Festival history. ...To be there during the history making year is something that I will always remember.” (04:28)

• Professional Momentum: Loren shares her nonstop schedule—moving from the Roots Picnic to the first live week of The Breakfast Club on Netflix, and filming a new show in D.C., tying in themes of gratitude and stewardship.

  “...my discipline and my boundaries go hand in hand was a huge wake up call for me and something that I’ve had to really stick to in order to steward what God has given me...” (06:59)

2. The Power of Broadway & Representation (10:47–16:10)

• Significance of the Tony Awards: Loren reflects on increasing celebrity involvement in Broadway and its pop-culture relevance, noting high-profile Black performers like Tracee Ellis Ross, Kandi Burruss, Denzel Washington, and Meg Thee Stallion.

• Personal Touch: Loren describes taking her young niece to Broadway and witnessing the impact of seeing Black women on stage and behind the scenes.

  “...my niece is getting to look at two black women who are working on this huge production on Broadway and one young man that she can look at and be like, oh, they’re just like me.” (11:40)

• Meg Thee Stallion’s Tony Awards appearance:

  “This is a young black girl from Houston who has lost her mother and has been through so much publicly. Still pushing through, y’all... if they can do it, I can too.” (14:31)

3. Live Talkback: The Outsiders Cast & Crew (18:53–32:44)

Introductions & Pathways to Theater (19:19–20:08)

• Caleb (Johnny Cade): Lebanese and Indo-Caribbean background, reflects on childhood theater and the journey to Broadway.
• Renako (Ace): From Atlanta, lifelong performer, emphasizes moving to New York post-college.
• Bri (Wardrobe Crew): Broadway dresser sharing enthusiasm for being part of the production.

Theme: Community, Representation, and Seeing Yourself

• Why Representation Matters:

  “Just last night I got a message from a mom...she told me that she brought her two sons to see the show and they were just mind blown that there were so many who looked like them on stage... Seeing them see themselves reflected in a production like this just opened their eyes to what they can do, and I think I didn’t have that as a kid, so that was really important to me.” —Caleb (20:31) “I can talk to Bri about hair and things like that and she can kind of know where I’m coming from... It’s nice to have, like, a sister kind of friend that I can talk about things like that with.” —Renako (21:11)

• Crew Perspective:

  “Everyone behind the scenes is also making this show happen...I remember they all were coming down for Act 2, and I was like, oh, my God, wait. Go, black people. But it was just, like, so special getting to see people who look like me walking down the stairs....” —Bri (wardrobe) (21:52)

• The Power of 'Seeing Yourself':

  “First time I ever saw Wicked on Broadway...I was very fortunate enough to see Lilly Cooper, who was the standby at the time, and she is black. I didn’t realize how important that was until years later...” —Bri (23:11) “Watching...a brown gay character as an eight year old was really monumental for me.” —Caleb (24:06) “Seeing so many black dancers...at the highest caliber of modern dance, that really inspired me.” —Renako (24:40)

The Demanding Collaboration of Broadway (25:14–27:51)

• Teamwork On and Off Stage:

  “We have an incredible physical therapist...fight captains and our dance captains...I counted on my first day...over 120 people outside of the cast that are involved in the production. ...That’s really special.” —Caleb (25:57) “It really takes every single person in this building...sound has to take little, like air, little guns...to get the water out of our mic so that we can sing the finale.” —Renako (26:41)

• Backstage Detail:

  “On the wardrobe team...people come in every morning from like 8 to 12, and...are just pressing all the shirts. ...There’s a lot of work that goes in, just everywhere, but in costumes, there’s a lot of work.” —Bri (27:19)

Internal (Emotional) Support & Ritual (27:51–28:52)

• Circle-up Ritual & Emotional Boundaries:

  “At the beginning of each show, we have a circle up...We all try to really ground ourselves, make eye contact, take some deep breaths...we were all encouraged by the creative team to have, like, not just a physical cooldown, but also an emotional cooldown...” —Renako (28:12)

The Impact of Giving Back to Black Audiences (28:52–29:45)

• Full-Circle Moments:

  “I also do social media for this show, and it’s been really wonderful getting to capture...my experience working on a Broadway show, because I was the kid who was trying to find anything and everything about working in theater...” —Bri (29:45)

Life Outside the Theater (30:08–32:44)

• Balance and Sacrifice:

  “I try as much as I can to keep a balance. ...But also, I have to protect my voice and my body...this is my third Broadway show...I’m finally starting to understand how to fit it all in.” —Renako (30:28) “I feel like everything I eat, everything I say, it all affects what’s gonna happen in the performance...so having to say no to a lot of friends...” —Caleb (31:14) “I just try to have some grace for myself...making to do lists...being okay with that.” —Bri (31:58)

• Loren relates to the pressure of work/life balance in media, wishing the cast and crew well and applauding their dedication.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Loren’s Reflection on Boundaries:

  “Learning that my discipline and my boundaries go hand in hand was a huge wake up call for me...” (06:59)

• Caleb on Representation:

  “...seeing them see themselves reflected in a production like this just opened their eyes to what they can do…” (20:31)

• Renako on Community On and Off Stage:

  “I can talk to Bri about hair…It’s nice to have, like, a sister kind of friend…” (21:11)

• Wardrobe Crew’s “Go, black people!” moment:

  “So special getting to see people who look like me walking down the stairs and going to do this. Like, this is the highest caliber of theater that you can possibly do.” (21:52)

• Bri on Seeing Herself in Broadway:

  “For the 20th anniversary, I’m gonna be the first black Elphaba. I’m gonna graduate from college and go right into Broadway… I was 13 at the time…” (23:11)

• Renako on Alvin Ailey Inspiration:

  “That’s where I was like, oh, my goodness. Like, this is history. ...That really inspired me.” (24:40)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:31–06:59: Loren’s personal/professional update, Roots Picnic highlights
• 10:47–16:10: Broadway discussion—Tony Awards, representation, taking niece to Broadway, Meg Thee Stallion
• 18:53–20:08: Introductions (Cast & Crew of The Outsiders)
• 20:31–24:40: Discussion of representation, stories of seeing oneself on stage
• 25:14–27:51: Backstage collaboration and technical/physical demands
• 27:51–28:52: Emotional support and rituals
• 28:52–29:45: Impact of giving back to Black audiences
• 30:08–32:44: Balancing work and personal life outside theater

---

Tone & Atmosphere

Loren’s approach is energetic, personal, and deeply rooted in cultural pride, celebration, and encouragement. The tone of the cast/crew talkback is open, vulnerable, occasionally humorous, and full of gratitude for visibility and the power of representation both for themselves and for future generations.

---

Takeaway

This episode emphasizes how essential it is for Black and Brown artists and crew to be seen, heard, and supported in spaces historically lacking in representation. The stories shared here illustrate the profound, often life-altering impact of "seeing yourself" in the arts—on stage or behind the curtain. It’s a call to nurture, celebrate, and expand spaces of belonging, identity, and artistry.

---

Transcript

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Paramount is now the home of all your BET favorites.

[Ryan Seacrest]

What?

[Caleb]

Yes.

[Lauren LaRosa]

With all new episodes of Tyler Perry's Divorce Sisters you've always liked a little drama, plus a whole new world of movies like Gladiator 2. Now I will control an Empire original series like the Shy. Just make sure we protect each other. And live sports like ufc. Welcome to the history books. New home, same family. Your BET favorites are now on Paramount. Subscribe now.

[Rob Gronkowski]

Hi, this is Gronk from Dudes on Dudes. I'm here to tell you about protecting your end zone with wet, extra large flushable dude wipes. Unlike dry wiping with toilet paper, dude wipes clear instead of smear. Wetter cleans better. Goodbye dingleberries. Goodbye itch and irritation. Plus, if you take Gronk sized grumpies or as I like to call them, Gronkies baby wipes won't do. You need extra big dude wipes to handle the job. So don't fumble the ball with toilet paper. Stop being an A hole to your B hole and start using Dude Wipes. Available on Amazon and major retailers nationwide. Dude Wipes best clean, Pants down.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway for you. Save days are here now through June 23rd. Find hot deals throughout the store and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from angelsoft, Silk, All Spam, Hormel Planters and Canada Dry. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy pickup or delivery, restrictions apply. See the website for full terms and conditions.

[Rob Gronkowski]

What up, y'?

[Renako]

All?

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is DH Envy from the Breakfast Club, from Curtis, 50 Cent Jackson and the executive producers of Power Comes the Stars original series Raisin Canaan. Kanan's journey is driven by ambition and betrayal as he fights to escape the shadow of his mother, Rock, played by Tony, Grammy and NAACP award winning Patina Miller. As tensions rise, Kanan forges a dangerous alliance that sets off a war with his own blood, becoming the ruthless man he's destined to be. This final season is a must watch. Tune in when it drops and stay ahead of the spoilers. Catch the season premiere of raising Canaan June 12th only on Stars. I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody.

[Julian Edelman]

You know she don't lie about that, right?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Lauren came in hot. Hey y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa. And this is another episode of the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. Now we're getting on into a new episode and y' all know Lowriders, how we start off our episodes, we always check in behind the scenes of the grind. So I am coming off of a very long but short weekend. We still have not really stopped to take the rest that y' all know that we need. We were in, we were at the Roots Picnic. So see a lot of our content and conversations that we had and we hosted here on the podcast in collaboration with the Roots Picnic in AT T still going viral. There was a report that I saw that a local Philly, a local Philadelphia outlet did that talked about the Roots Picnic and the amount of people that came out. So there's reported 80, 000 people that came out throughout the festival weekend. I'm told that that 80, 000 was split into 40k between the two, like festival concert days. Now they did do the Roots like a, like Roots kind of like a conference surrounding the weekend. So like Friday there were live conversations, a comedy show that went down that Black thought did. I saw Dave Chappelle take the stage there. But 80, 000 people is crazy. I mean, Roots Picnic is Roots Picnic. But of course, if you got Jay Z coming somewhere, the people are going to come out. And from what I read in a report and confirmed on my own, this was the largest weekend in the Roots Picnic Festival history. And this, this festival has been going on for some time now. And again, I think it's, you know, people wanted to see Jay Z. They wanted to see him return to the stage. We had no idea what was going to happen. As you guys heard in some of the episodes here on the Latest with Lauren LaRosa, even the people on stage with him, the Roots Quest love Adam Blackstone. Like they didn't even know what was going to go down on that stage. I mean, they had practiced, but they had no idea about the afro, they had no idea about the freestyle. So there was a lot of surprises and a lot of moments that will live on in history, period. But to be there during the history making year is something that I will always remember. And if you guys want to go and check out that content, go and check out some of our previous episodes because it's all here. We got it all right here at the Latest with Lauren LaRosa, the podcast. But coming off of Roots Picnic, we Went into our first live week live on air with Netflix. The Breakfast Club has just became Netflix's first daily live show. And coming off of the Ruth's Picnic and going right into that, I feel like I barely sleep during the week anyway because I'm up trying to make sure I didn't got everything. I'm organizing everything and all of the things. Yeah, my body still hasn't caught up. And we just this weekend did we. We shot a television show in D.C. so God has been like really, really blessing me. You know, we talk about this type of stuff all the time. There was a message this morning that at my church, my pastor was also his son, who's a really good friend of mine. Jerome Lewis Jr. Gave a, gave a sermon this morning about stewardship and about making sure you take care of what God has given you so that you can get to the next steps. And I really felt like he spoke to me like, I, I promise you, I think a lot of times we can get in the motion of just like doing things just to get through not doing them at the highest level or just because you're doing so much, just kind of being like, oh my God, I'm tired. Like find ourselves complaining a bit. And I always try and correct myself, whether it's here during the behind the scenes of the grind, check in or whatever. When I'm talking about all of these things, no matter how tired I am, I'm telling myself, okay, you need to learn to prioritize, rest within all of this. But also you, you, you gotta, because you have to show up your best at all of this. Because when you show up your best, you're stewarding it correctly. If you take care of what God has already given you, there is more to come. And, and more doesn't always look like a bunch of new opportunities. More can be just for further excelling in the opportunities that you already have. You know, your ability to get rest within the opportunities that you have because you're disciplined and you're carving out time and then schedule and all those things. And I think I'm definitely getting to the point where I feel like I'm doing a lot better at all of those things, especially boundaries. That was the biggest thing for me, like learning that my discipline and my boundaries go hand in hand was a huge wake up call for me and something that I've had to like really stick to in order to steward what God has given me, you know, in, in this season of my life. So, yeah, I'm just, we're going y'.

[Wardrobe Crew Member]

All.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And and when this show that we shot in D.C. comes out, I think it will it'll touch a lot of people and you talk about stewardship and understanding what God has given you and it kind of some of the things that you've been through and why God has placed you there. That's the show that I shot this weekend speaks to that. So I'm excited for you guys to get to see that, but I can't release details now. But you know, I will keep you updated on the latest when I can. Speaking of the latest, let's get on into it.

[Julian Edelman]

This is Julian Edelman from Games With Names. As a fellow dude, do you ever get that not so fresh feeling in your butt? That's because you're probably using the dry stuff to wipe wet. Extra large flushable Dude Wipes get what toilet paper leaves behind in your behind. You wouldn't clean the tail end of your truck with dry paper towels, so why would you wipe with dry toilet paper? Wetter just cleans better. With Dude Wipes there are no more dingleberries, no more itch and irritation, just a deep down the seam confident clean. Plus, unlike baby wipes, Dude Wipes are extra big for adult hands. You're not a baby, so keep them on hand so you get nothing on your hands. And speaking of on hand, Dude Wipes come in different scents and pack sizes, including a single use on the go pack that you can take anywhere. For that home field advantage, stop being an A hole to your B hole. Drop the toilet paper. Available on Amazon and major retailers nationwide. Dude Wipes Best Clean Pants down.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway for you. Save days are here now through June 23rd. Find hot deals throughout the store and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Monster Energy Kettle Chips, Kraft Best Foods and Kellogg's. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy pickup or delivery, restrictions apply. Website for full terms and conditions.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Taco Bell's new Jalapeno Citrus Salsa adds a tangy twist to the Cantina chicken menu, a sweet and spicy, bright, citrusy burst of flavor made with real red jalapenos and guajillo chilies. Try it with a rolled quesadilla and you will absolutely be well. I don't want to give it away. You need to try it for yourself. New Jalapeno Citrus salsa, the sauce with main character energy. Get it with anything on the Cantina chicken menu for a limited time only at Taco Bell at participating locations while supplies last.

[Inner Balance Representative]

If you're feeling off fatigue, mood changes, skin shifts, yet your labs say everything's normal, you're not alone. Meet Oestra from Inner Balance, the first all in one prescription strength bioidentical hormone cream that's natural and effective and only takes one drop, 10 seconds a day. Oestra replaces five to six products women typically use to treat symptoms and is third party tested to ensure the highest quality. Visit innerbalance.com today to start feeling like yourself again.

[Lauren LaRosa]

That's innerbalance.com so the 76th Tony Awards went down, and for those of you guys who have never watched a Tony Awards award show, it is all about the theater, okay? It is all about the live performances, the theater, Broadway, the plays, the actors, the theatrics, the live performances. Now, this year, I feel like I've spent a lot of time paying attention to Broadway because there are a lot of celebrities and a lot of pop culture intertwined with Broadway, which has always historically been a thing. But I think it, like, it's happening so much this year. I know Tracee Ellis Ross is currently on Broadway. Tressa Thompson, Megdasaghian just came off Broadway. And Ziddler, I know Kandi Burns and you know Denzel Washington. They were doing everything over there with Othello, Taraji P. Henson, Taraji B. Henson, and Cedric the Entertainer currently on Broadway as well. Like, there's a lot going on. So I, I tuned into the Tony Awards this year because I recently just came off of Broadway, not singing, acting and performing, y' all. Okay? Not yet. No. Not doing that. But I hosted a live talkback conversation with some of the cast members of the Outsiders on Broadway, and it was an amazing conversation. I think one of the biggest things that you realize when you get into the arts is how much the arts and representation. Well, how much the arts represent to so many different people. Like, people from all across the world come to Broadway and it's one thing that, like, if no matter what's going on in the world unifies people, but also you realize how representation within that matters. So. So I got a chance to talk to three of the cast members of the Outsiders. Now, what was so special about this was that my niece, who was 11 years old, she came up to spend the weekend with me. She's on her summer break, and she is just, you know, beginning to kind of have a bug a bit for performance she's like, dance. She loves cheerleading. She's into, like, hair and makeup and all these things now. So taking her to Broadway, you know, was something that I've been telling her that we needed to do. Her behind was late for the play, so she did not get to actually see the Outsiders, but she did get to see the. The talk Back conversation you guys are about to take a listen to. And what was so special about it is the conversation that. That we hosted was all about, like, community and representation. And I got a chance to talk to two of. It's actually two of the cast members and one of the crew, you know, that worked backstage on wardrobing and. And, you know, some of the things. But my niece is getting to look at, you know, two black women who are working on this huge production on Broadway and. And one young man, you know, that she can look at and be like, oh, they're just like me. And there were a ton of other children and. And families in the theater as well, too. The theme of the conversation or the, like, focus of the conversation was about identity, community, storytelling, and the connections that bring people together on stage, behind stage and beyond. So, you know, as my niece gets older and she starts to kind of understand what I do for work, things that can really impact her as a person and make her, you know, not make her, but help her become morally sound. Those are the things I love to. To be able to feed into with her. And when I was watching the Tony Awards tonight and I saw Meg thee stallion come out and open with Pink, and they're celebrating lead women in Broadway, and Meg thee stallion is up there, you know, representing for the black women. I was proud of her. Let's take a listen to Meg. The theater is mother's domain. I don't know even know those guys. They were just two strangers carrying some cake. We come through with a bold set of nominees, from the new to the old Deuteronomies. Tonight, we're right where we want to be. Coming on stage and presenting an award and talking about what she learned on Broadway. This is a young black girl from Houston who has lost her mother and has been through so much publicly. Still pushing through y'. All. Like, I. I just. I mean, I. Look, anybody who has ever been on Broadway understands how impactful it is. But I think anybody who has ever wanted to do anything in life and. And remember that. You literally remember the moment where you looked up and you were like, that person is just like me. So if they can do it, I can too. You know, how special that is so, you know, in honor of the Tony Awards and all of the wins and the celebrating that the people in the arts community are doing right now, I want you guys to take a listen to this live conversation that I had on the stage of the Outsiders musical on Broadway with some of the amazing black and brown people who are involved in making that world go round over there. Get on into it.

[Rob Gronkowski]

This is Rob Gronkowski from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules and talk about a perfect partnership. I'm here to tell you about protecting your end zone with Dude Wipes. If you're still wiping with toilet paper, you need to listen up. Dude Wipes are a wet, extra large flushable wipe that leave nothing behind in your behind because they are wet and we all know wet wetter cleans better. Unlike dry wiping with toilet paper, dude wipes clear instead of smear. Goodbye dingleberries. Goodbye itch and irritation. Plus, if you take Gronk siiz, Grumpies or as I like to call them, Gronkies Baby Wipes won't do. You need extra big Dude Wipes to handle the job and they come in different scents and pack sizes, including a single use out on the go pack that you can take wherever you go for that home field advantage. So don't fumble the ball with toilet paper. Stop being an A hole to your B hole and start using Dude Wipes. Available on Amazon and major retailers nationwide. Dude Wipes Best Clean Pants down.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway for you. Save days are here now through June 23rd. Find hot deals throughout the store and earn four times the points look for in store Tags to earn on eligible items from Chobani, Vitamin Water, Jelly Belly, Nutella, Haagen, Dazs, Nestle and Outshine. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy pickup or delivery, restrictions apply. See the website for full terms and conditions.

[Inner Balance Representative]

If you're feeling off fatigue, mood changes, skin shifts, yet your labs say everything's normal. You're not alone. Meet Oestra from Inner Balance. The first all in one prescription strength bioidentical hormone cream that's natural and effective and only takes one drop, 10 seconds a day Oester replaces five to six products women typically use to treat symptoms and is third party tested to ensure the highest quality. Visit innerbalance.com today to start feeling like yourself again. That's innerbalance.com thank you for calling the Bombas Comfort line. Bombas make socks, slippers, tees, and underwear made with the highest quality materials. Press once for comfort, two for style, three for donation. You chose style. Bombas is styles for whatever you enjoy. You can run in Bombas, lounge in Bombas, dress them up, dress them down, but always give back in Bombas because with every item purchased, another is donated Bombas Comfort. Worth calling for. Go to bombas.com audio and use code audio for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O-M-B-A S.com and use code audio.

[Lauren LaRosa]

We can get right into the questions. And I want this to feel like a community conversation because I know that that's what Outsiders is all about. It's about community and conversation. So the talk back is centered around community and connection for you guys. And anyone can take this question. But wait, before we do the question, how about we do some introductions? That probably makes sense, right? All right, so you guys introduce yourself and talk a little bit about how you got involved in theater.

[Caleb]

I'm Caleb. I play Johnny Cade. And I've been doing theater since I was a kid. Middle school, high school. Some of my friends from middle school are through the night. Reina Shout out. Yeah. And went to college for musical theater and then found my way here in New York.

[Renako]

Hi, everybody. My name is Renako. Hey, Re. I played Ace in the show tonight and. Yeah, I've been dancing, singing, all of it from a very young age. After college, moved right to New York and I've been doing it ever since. Hi, I'm Bri.

[Wardrobe Crew Member]

I'm the dresser on the show. And I think that's the only question you asked, I hope.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Yes, that is the only one. All right, so let's get started. Now that we've done the introductions, we had the appetizer, let's get into entree. All right, so the talkback that we're about to to do is centered on community and connection. How important is it for you guys to have people of color and our voices and perspective represented both on stage and behind the scenes in conversations like this?

[Caleb]

I think it's crucial. Just last night I got a message from a mom. My background, I'm Lebanese and Indo Caribbean. And she told me that she brought her two sons to see the show and they were just mind blown that there was so many who looked like them on stage. And that meant a lot that she said they didn't even know this was a possibility. So seeing them see themselves reflected in A production like this just opened their eyes to what they can do, and I think I didn't have that as a kid, so that was really important to me.

[Renako]

Yeah. In terms of on stage, I also think it's extremely important, given that we're talking about a story that involves the hats and have nots.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Right.

[Renako]

We're talking about class, and I don't think we can talk about class without also talking about race. So I think it's super awesome to have that on stage. I think it makes it way more real, and it adds a lot of depth to the play. And offstage, it's so, so important. I mean, there's, like, I can talk to Bri about hair and things like that, and, like, she can kind of know where I'm coming from. And we giggle about how in the rumble, I wear a shower cap under my wig because I'm not getting this

[Lauren LaRosa]

hair wet every week.

[Renako]

I'm not doing that. So we just love to laugh about things like that. And it's nice to have, like, a sister kind of friend that I can talk about things like that with. To think of someone who is behind

[Wardrobe Crew Member]

the scenes, it's incredibly important, because at the end of the day, everyone behind the scenes is also making this show happen. And we are a support system for our actors. So it's very important. And I think on top of that, I always think about this. One memory that I had early in our run was that all of the Greasers were covered by black people. And I remember they all were coming down for Act 2, and I was like, oh, my God, wait. Go, black people. But it was just, like, so special getting to see people who look like me walking down the stairs and going to do this. Like, this is the highest caliber of fear that you can possibly do. And that was just very special.

[Lauren LaRosa]

When we talked a little bit about representation, I think for what I'm hearing from all of you guys is it's a lot about, like, seeing is believing. I brought my niece here today because I wanted her to see that as well. She probably be annoyed that I just did that, but I can remember myself my first time ever coming to Broadway, my little cousin, she was in the Lion King. And I remember feeling the same way. Like, oh, my God, not only do I know her, we're family, but, like, literally, like, she is me, and she's there. So it's possible. Do you specifically remember your first time seeing someone, whether it was on Broadway or wherever, where you were like, I can do this myself. And can you share that memory.

[Wardrobe Crew Member]

Okay, so for context, I'm a huge Wicked fan. Wicked is my favorite show of all times. I've seen it way too many times. That's not the point. But the first time I ever saw Wicked on Broadway, I was very, very fortunate enough to see Lilly Cooper, who was the standby at the time, and she is black. And I was like, oh, my God, this is so exciting. And I didn't realize how important that was until years later where I realized, like, oh, there has never been a full time black Elphaba until black Two, three years ago. Two years ago. And I was like, oh, okay, cool. I think also on top of that, like, after I saw Lilly Cooper, I immediately went to my parents and like, okay, so for the 20th anniversary, I'm gonna be the first black Elphaba. I'm gonna graduate from college and go right into Broadway. And so it's like just like things like that. I was like 13 at the time, and it was just so special getting to see someone like me doing what

[Renako]

I wanted to do.

[Caleb]

Yeah, I remember I was obsessed with Rent as a kid. I saw it way too young. My mom didn't know what it was about when I was like seven. But we went to go see it in Chicago. And I remember I haven't gotten the chance to meet him yet, but Justin Johnson was Angel on tour and on Broadway. And I just remember watching him as angel and just being so enamored by him. Like, watching it like a brown gay character as an eight year old was really monumental for me. Yeah,

[Renako]

I didn't have much access to Broadway and theater where I was from. So I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. Right outside of Atlanta. Yeah. But I do remember the first time I went away for like a summer intensive program where I just spent the whole summer dancing. And I spent it at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. And that's where I was like, oh, my goodness. Like, this is history. Like, seeing so many black dancers and. And like the highest caliber of modern dance, that really inspired me. So I think that was the first time I thought, oh, I could do this forever.

[Lauren LaRosa]

I love that. Thank y' all for sharing those personal moments now. I mean, the audience, as I mentioned, when you guys first sat down, like, you guys do a lot of work to pull up Broadway, what, like six, seven days a week? Six days a week. Eight shows. Yeah, eight shows, six days a week. A lot of rehearsals, a lot of practices, and the audience only sees a final performance. But there's so many people that are helping you guys Stay okay through all that that are helping create the energy of the show every night. Can you guys talk a little bit about what that collaboration between the cast and the crew looks like that makes the Outsiders feel so powerful live? Because it's a lot of, like, the costuming and the, you know, the dance, the moments that help us feel so close to the story on stage.

[Caleb]

Yeah. Just with. In terms of the physical, we have an incredible physical therapist, Lucy Miller, and we also have a doctor who works on the show. And we're always in and out of her PT room. She's backstage the whole show upstairs. We go to her before the show. Also our fight captains and our dance captains, everyone in charge of keeping it clean, and our company managers and our stage managers, everyone. There's so many people. I think I counted on my first day, we got a face page and There was over 120 people outside of the cast that are involved in the production. From the creative team to producers to the writers, and so, so many hands on the production. Everyone loves the show so much and cares about the show. And I think that's. That's really special that we all collectively are, like, in it together, you know?

[Renako]

Yeah. It really takes every single person in this building. I mean, after the big fight scene when we're all soaking wet, sound has to take little, like air, little guns, just to, like puff air out to get the water out of our mic so that we can sing the finale.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Otherwise, you know, our mics are clogged with water.

[Renako]

Like, there's just so many little details, right? And then hair and makeup, how Johnny has these very realistic looking cuts and bruises throughout the show as well as Dallas. And we have little blood packs backstage that we use during the fight. Like, it's truly so intricate and it's really awesome to be a part of.

[Wardrobe Crew Member]

And that's just the people who work during the show. We have people who come in, like, on the wardrobe team. We have people come in every morning from like 8 to 12, I think, and they are just pressing all of the shirts. The actors have, like multiple sets of all of their costumes. I think each of you guys has four or something like that. And they come in and they press whatever went through the rumble. The next day, it gets rotated and they do it every single day. There's a lot of work that goes in just everywhere, but in costumes, there's a lot of work.

[Lauren LaRosa]

What about. I mean, so we see the physical, right? Like all of the makeup and the costume, but what about the internal? Because there, the story of the outsiders is one. There's a lot of classism and, you know, different things that I'm sure cause conversation amongst you guys and maybe thoughts other people that also help you internally, like, mentally guide through this process as well, too, as those things are coming up and those feelings are coming up.

[Renako]

Definitely. Well, I will say at the beginning of each show, we have a circle up where we all. Right behind, you know, scrim. We're standing in a circle. We have, like, a word for the show that Emma Pittman, Cherry. She has this little, like, stack of angel cards, and there's a word. And we all try to really ground ourselves, make eye contact with each other, take some deep breaths together, because obviously, what we're about to go through is very intense. And when we started this process, we were all encouraged by the creative team to have, like, not just a physical cooldown, but also an emotional cooldown or, like, a tapping out of it so that you can stay disconnected from your character when you leave the building as much as you can.

[Lauren LaRosa]

So, yeah, good to know. Okay, well, next question. What has it meant you guys, to participate in conversations like this that are intentional about creating space for black audiences, audiences of color, to engage with Broadway in a different way? Or, you know, like you say, maybe for the first time, this is someone's first Broadway experience ever, and then they get to have a conversation with you guys who are part of the show. What has it been like being a part of these?

[Caleb]

I think it's such a blessing because growing up, I didn't have that. A lot of other people didn't have that. And I think that there's so many young artists out there who don't even know that they're artists yet. And I think that the sooner they can realize it, the longer they have to hone those skills and get started on building whatever craft that they're doing. And I feel like that's such an honor to be able to show them, like, little glimpse of what they might have in themselves that they don't even see it.

[Wardrobe Crew Member]

I also do social media for this show, and it's been really wonderful getting to capture, like, my experience working on a Broadway show, because I was the kid who was, like, trying to find anything and everything about working in theater. And so getting to be that person for people who look like me is just been so full circle, and it just. It's really special.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, I mean, I know for me, watching you guys on stage, one of the things that I'm always thinking about is what you guys are Your characters are so big. You guys have such big personalities to get the characters when you're auditioning. What is your life like outside of here? Like, once you take a real break and maybe you get that one day off, what do you guys do in your free time? Oh, my goodness.

[Renako]

Well, it's a limited amount of time because you have to do your life stuff, like your laundry, and you gotta clean and dish, all those things. But then also, you want to see your friends, you know, other people that are special to you in your life. So I try as much as I can to keep a balance. I try to see friends throughout the week, whether it's for a quick coffee or for a quick bite after a show. But also, I have to protect my voice and my body. Right. So I have. I can't talk too much after a show, and I have to make sure that I'm, you know, doing my Pilates classes, whatever it takes so that I don't get injured. Like, it's truly never enough time. But I feel like this is my third Broadway show, and I think I'm finally starting to. To understand how to fit it all in and how to make it all work.

[Caleb]

Yeah, I'm struggling with that. I think it's hard just because at least you're honest. Yeah, it's every. I feel like everything I eat, everything I say, it all affects what's gonna happen in the performance. So it's a lot of, like, saying right now, it's like being too afraid to hang out. So having to say no to a lot of friends and not having that much of a social life, It's a sacrifice that you have to make. My mom always says that she feels like her son is like, a monk or something because, like, I can't talk. Like, we'll FaceTime, and I'll just be staring at her, like, nodding, like, things like that. Because, like, my voice, like, we're trained to sing, so we don't lose our voice singing, but I lose my voice talking a lot, like, outside of the show. So that's scary to navigate. Yeah,

[Wardrobe Crew Member]

I just try to have some grace for myself. Like, I. I'm a very busy person, just in general. Oh, I'm not in the show, but all right. I try to have grace for myself where it's like, there. I make to do lists. I'm really big on this. So, like, making sure, like, these are the things I have to get done. I'm making sure I do these things in order in that way. And then sometimes there are days where I'm like, okay, I need to do all these things, but do I really have to do all these things right now? Or can I spread them out through the week? And if I end up spreading them out through the week, I really just patient with myself, like, today's a raw day, and that's just what's gonna have to be. I'm being okay with that.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Well, listen, I can identify, like, there's a lot happening really fast over on the radio side of things for me, and I can feel it where you're like, you want to go out, you want to have a life.

[Renako]

You're young.

[Lauren LaRosa]

It's a great experience. But you also are protecting what your workspace looks like. But you guys are doing a heck of a job at it, right? They're doing amazing. So congratulations to you guys. Another successful show. So many more to go. That concludes our conversation. Thank you guys for being in conversation. Let me get in your business a little bit. I'm Lauren Therosa. I work with a show again called the Breakfast Club here in New York on Power 151. And we're also on Netflix. We're the first daily live show now, so you can check us out daily. And yeah, y' all are doing it. Congratulations again. That has been another conversation is guaranteed to shake the room. Okay, here on the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. I'm your host, Lauren LaRosa, and I tell you guys every single episode. Y' all could be anywhere with any old body having all of these conversations, but y' all choose to be right here with me, my lowriders. I appreciate you guys, and I'll catch you in my next one. You're listening to a podcast, so you're doing something else too, like maybe scrolling home listings on Redfin, saving places you like without thinking you'll get them, because that's what house hunting has become. But Redfin isn't built for endless browsing. It's built to help you find and own a home. Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents, which means when you find a place you love, you've got a real shot at getting it. Redfin helps turn saved listings into real addresses. Get [e-mail]. own the dream. What's up, cousin?

[Julian Edelman]

I want a new phone. Have you seen any good deals?

[Lauren LaRosa]

Everyone has free phones. But when I switched to T mobile, I got more value and so much

[Wardrobe Crew Member]

more live streaming included and travel benefits.

[Lauren LaRosa]

And the best part, the price of your talk text and data is guaranteed for five years. Get more benefits and more value.

[Julian Edelman]

AT T Mobile Family Save and get a 5 year price guarantee. Switch now@t mobile.com Qualifying plan requires price guarantee on DOC tax and theta exclusions

[Lauren LaRosa]

like taxes and fees apply.

[Rob Gronkowski]

Ctmobile.com 250 years ago, America made a

[Julian Edelman]

promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Since 1903, Harley Davidson has been living it out on the open road at the next exit ramp with old friends, new ones and the next generation of riders.

[Lauren LaRosa]

Because the best part of any promise

[Julian Edelman]

is keeping it Harley Davidson Motorcycles Ride. This is Julian Edelman from Games With Names. As a fellow dude, do you ever get that not so fresh feeling in your butt? That's because you're probably using the dry stuff to wipe wet. Extra large flushable dude Wipes get what toilet paper leaves behind in your behind. You wouldn't clean the tail end of your truck with dry paper towels, so why would you wipe with dry toilet paper? Wetter just cleans better. There are no more dingleberries, no more itch and irritation, just a deep down the seam. Confident clean so don't fumble the ball with toilet paper. Stop being an A hole to your B hole. Drop the toilet paper. Available on Amazon and major retailers nationwide. Dude Wipes Best clean Pants down.

[Lauren LaRosa]

This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.