
Stephanie Hsu (Rocky Horror Show on Broadway, Everything Everywhere All at Once) joins her Rocky cast mate Rachel to discuss all of the luck and omens along the way that led to her acting career. Plus, apparently having a Pisces moon in your chart comes with a great deal of emotions!
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Hello, sweetie.
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Hello, sweetie. Irene. Oh, boy. This is a real get. As we say in the biz. I'm very excited to have star of stage and screen and my current co star on Broadway, Stephanie Hsu is with us. Hi, Stephanie. Woo woo. Hi, Woo woo. Stephanie is currently starring in the Rocky Horror show alongside one Ms. Ardrach. We are on stage, actually. The sad thing is we're not on stage together at all. Except in the curtain call and in the warp. Which is what?
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But I'm not allowed to look at you.
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The time where. Yeah, I'm kind of in my own bubble. You're right.
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I'm not allowed to perceive your existence, actually.
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Well, then I was gonna say, yeah, there's a lot of parts. We're almost together.
B
Yes, yes, yes.
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But the main joy of the show is when I'm next to Stephanie in the curtain call and she pelvic thrusts me every night. Now that I've said it, I've ruined it. I've ruined it. But she always comes up with new
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and interesting ways to thrust upon you.
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Give me the pelvic thrust. But you gotta go see her in Rocky Horror. And might I say, here we go. She was just nominated for the Tony for Rocky Horror. And she was. Okay.
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Wow.
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And Irene, yours is on the way.
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Oh, yes, it is.
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But also Oscar nominated.
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Yes.
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I think you might be our first Oscar nominee. Is that true, Irene? Yes, I think so. That is true for Everything Everywhere, all around.
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First one. First one.
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Before we get into your woo woo and all that and background and all that stuff, we have a kind of a story that Irene and I were at south by Southwest for the premiere of Everything Everywhere all at once.
C
Yes.
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There's a catch. I take it you were there for that.
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I was.
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So we might have, like walked by each other on the street. Here's the catch. Irene and I had just flown in and they're like. Cause I was there with a movie. And they were like, here you have tickets to the premiere movie. But Irene and I just landed and we were really hungry. So we made the foolish choice to skip the movie and go chow down. I'm like, we ordered so much food because we were so hungry.
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Ravenous.
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And then cut to the movie wins the Oscar. So clearly we should have chosen seeing the movie premiere instead of the wings,
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instead of feeding our faces. Yes.
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So anyway, we might have crossed paths here. Okay, so where do we begin with Stephanie? Usually I talk a little like theater talk before we go Woo. Woo. So just by way of finding out more about you for the listeners, I'm curious too. I know you went to NYU and with Sam Pinkleton, our director.
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We did.
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Oh, no, different times.
B
We went, we overlapped, but we didn't. We knew each other very peripherally in college. We had a lot of friends, but community.
A
But I know you said you were in the sketch group there.
B
I was.
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So I'm kind of curious about, like, you and comedy and then also just acting and all that. Like, how, like, what was your path of going into acting and all that? Like, were you, like, outgoing kid? Were you shy kid? All that stuff.
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Okay, well, I'll start with sketch group. But yeah, I was in Hammer Cats and there was another great name improv called Danger Box. And Matt Rogers, Bowen Yang, Sudie Green. You know, I was with basically a huge chunk of SNL ers, actually. And I really loved comedy so much. And I always say that the hours were just too late for me. I just, like, could not stay up so late. I was like, I can't pursue this because I can't stay awake this late.
C
Yeah, okay.
A
That's so funny because I've always been nocturnal. Like, even when I was a kid, I was, like, staying up late watching us. But I've never thought of that as, like a job requirement. But you're right, I guess if you're not nocturnal, that's gonna get in the way a little bit.
B
Yeah, exactly.
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Well, clearly everything worked out. But go on, go on.
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But I did have so much fun. And I. And I, you know, love just being. I love doing dumb stuff and being funny. But I started, you know, when I was growing up, there were not a lot of people who looked like me on stage or screen. And, you know, I grew up with a single mom and I remember being. I always tell this story when I was in, like, second grade at my school, I was chosen to do like, a lemonade ad for the student body, which basically meant we were in the multipurpose room and someone held a cardboard sign that said, like, lemonade, 50 cents, come get it now. And I was chosen to, like, say that in front of the entire student body. It must have been younger than second grade because I hope we were doing more advanced things by then.
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Actually, I don't know, but.
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But I remember in that moment, standing in front of my whole class, I was like, wow, this is really fun. I think I could really do this, but I should probably think of something more practical to do. And so from a very, very early age, I really loved performing and singing, but I just really didn't see a path forward for me. And so, and I got really into basketball. I played a lot of basketball. Grew up outside of la, so the Lakers. I like grew up in the Lakers heyday with Phil Jackson, you know, Shaquille o', Neal, Kobe Bryant, et cetera, et cetera. Anyway, so I was playing a lot of basketball and then in high school, someone came up to me and they were like, I think you should audition for, you know, Drama one advanced. Which basically means like, if you audition, you get in and kind of from there. I always say that people just kept opening doors for me that I didn't even know existed. People were like, you should do the play, do the musical. Someone came up to me, my, you know, sophomore, junior year and said, you should really think about studying this in college. I was like, you can go to college for acting. And pretty much up until this point, it's always, it's always been like that. You know, I've never been a very goal oriented person. I think I very much follow, you know, this is one of my woos is like follow the omens or follow, follow the path that feels like it's calling you and the synchronicities that come along the way that tell you to go in that direction. So yeah, here we are.
A
Love that. I was just saying this to. I was doing this little interview this morning. I was just saying a very similar thing, but I learned it much later, I think. Like it sounds like you had that attitude for, from, for a while. But I started like, I've come to a point where I just, I liken it to a stream. Like I just like floating down the stream. Like triple pots, please. There you go.
C
Big fish.
A
Like what's. Oh, right, the water. But like what's floating next to me in the stream. I think it's just a very, it's like a much more happy way of going about. But I like you had that seems like you had that from way back, which we'll discuss.
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Well, I think in a way, when there's like no one. When there, when there aren't a lot of people who are swimming in your stream that are like your kind of fish, your expectations for yourself are actually kind of low.
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Yeah, yeah.
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So in a way, I mean, I think it is one of the gifts of, you know, carving your own path, which is that like you, you don't expect anything to be given to you and so you have to continue to find back doors and inventive ways. To get to make the things that you want to make. And you know, as both of you know, nothing in the industry is promised. And I feel like what keeps people going is that like creative fire and like trust that whatever story you have to tell you, you just find a way to do it. No one's getting like a golden ticket, you know?
A
Yes.
B
You have to be like agile and like creative in even the how.
C
Yeah, I love it.
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I was applying to, like, liberal arts stuff and also some BFA programs. But I really, like, I'm pretty nerdy, you know, I'm coming to finally admit, like, I really, I really wanted to take classes that were outside of just performing. That felt really important to me. And I think at the time, I also, you know, really wasn't fully convinced that I would get to be an actor. And so for me, I've always wanted to write and make and direct and things like that. And I think I just wanted to be able to take classes that were feeding into my imaginary imagination as opposed to just like, how do you. How do you be the best? You know? Yeah, right.
C
But they're mutually beneficial. They support each other. So that's a great thing.
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Yeah, I've always, yeah, I've always said that, you know, the artists that I love the most are people who have many curiosities outside of whatever their medium is. Yeah.
A
Yes.
B
You gotta.
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Wow. Your. Your story is like, just very similar to mine and in your, in your attitude, like, I, like, I could have. I identify a lot, but like, not really knowing how, but having this little dream and then like, well, I don't know. And then just gravitating towards things you like doing so well.
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That makes sense because I never did that. When I found out you were gonna be in Rocky Horror, I freaked out. So I do think, and as I told you already, at opening night, all my friends, which I feel like they self identified as like a queer little butterfly garden amidst a sea of like, power. Gaze of Broadway. Oh, yeah. But all my little butterfly friends were like Rachel Durant.
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Oh, my gosh, that's very kind. You're too kind. I'm gonna throw Rocky Horror lines in here. Wait, now I. Oh, so NYU sketch. La la la. And then like, what was your, you know, for lack of a better word, like, big break. I know it's like, takes time and, you know, it's not just like you're sitting in a coffee shop and like, we'd like you to star in this film. But what was your either gradual breaks, like gradual, you know, successes, or what was like, the big thing where you were like, this is it.
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Yeah.
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How did it work for you?
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I mean, it is Kind of interesting, like, along with, again, these guardian angels who kept opening doors. I was like a downtown girly. Like, I was like performing in basements, experimental theater, only I didn't want an agent. I was just like working at a bar and, you know, at Dixon Place and La Mama and all. All these places. The mentor that Sam and I share, a mentor which Chris Kukle and anitaj also worked with very closely, this woman, Liz Suedos. And she. She kind of, from a very early moment, taught me what she believed art should be, which is like a way to communicate and push boundaries. And she was very like, anti commercial. And I think I believed that and also didn't think there was a true place for me to be all of me in a commercial world. And so I thought, at least downtown I can truly be an artist. And I went to Williamstown Theater Festival. I was in their non EC company. And this. They used to have a fellowship company which was 10 actors who devise a new musical and a new play over the summer, which was like, for me, like creamy McCreamy.
A
Totally. I mean, like, Williamstown, that's prestigious for anyone that doesn't know, like, when you're starting out as an actor.
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Totally.
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That was like a. Oh, my God. That was a coup. Yeah.
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And at the end, there was a showcase, and NYU didn't have a showcase, and we were like, kind of required to do the showcase for casting directors and theater professionals. And I said to someone who was the head of the program at the time, Laura Savia, I was like, you know, Laura, like, I'm a downtown girl. I don't really need or want an agent. Like, I think that's not for me. And she pulled me aside and she was like, you have to do this. I think it's gonna be really good for you. And from that little showcase, I was put into the first ever table read of what would maybe one day become the spongebob musical. And that was like a non union. They just needed extra voices to read through a script, like a potential script for the musical. And that ended up being the path to my first Broadway show, which was spongebob. That was five years. So basically, like, I did this reading and they just kept asking me back year after year to do workshops and development. So me, Ethan Slater, who played spongebob, and Danny Skinner who played Patrick, we were the three, like, original people who were there from beginning to end. And it was kind of like one of those things that one day I got a call after all these years that was like, hey, we Got a theater. Do you want to come to Broadway? And I was like, okay, yeah. So I think that was kind of the beginning of a certain kind of stability. There was one other person along the way who I used to do a lot of commercials. And my first ever commercial was I did the first ever, ever national commercial for Nest Thermostat. That. That was like 100 million years ago. But I did their first commercial, and I had no idea what a national commercial could do in terms of stability or anything. And on the set of that, the director pulled me aside and he was like, hey, I just want you to know I think you're really great. I'm doing another commercial and it's casting next week, and so just know you're gonna get a call for it, and it's because I'm requesting you. And he ended up booking me for that as well. So back to back, I got these commercials, which helped me transition into being a full time actor. I was, like, working at a wood shop at the time and, like, bars and stuff. And. Yeah, just a very, like, community effort of, like, continuing to help support a young person who doesn't know what's possible, like, what other income streams are possible and things like that. It's like cobbling together a life, you know? I mean, I think following the woo. So after spongebob, I was in another Broadway show called Be More Chill, back to back. And after Be More Chill, well, during Be More Chill, I was. This is so actor y. It's part of the woo a little.
A
It's part of the woo. Following your dream. So I was in the show.
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I was in the show Be More Chill, which was like, we did it in New Jersey five years prior, and it became. And recorded a cast album. And it became like a dark web Internet sensation for musical theater young people. And that power of their love for this album, having never seen a production kind of brought the show back to life, and we got to do it again on Broadway. And during that time, everyone kept reaching out to me, being like, there's this show. Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. They're looking for this character. It has to be you. And I was like, I'm in tech. I don't have any time. There's no way. Um, but long story short, they, like, they ended up making it work. And so I was doing Maisel and Be More Chill at the same time. So I was doing eight shows a week, and on Mondays, I would film for Maisel. This is right before COVID And when both of those ended at the Same time Maisel rapped. Be more chill. Closed. Bowen Yang. This is pretty full circle. It is like this, you know. Bowen Yang was still just a writer for snl. He wasn't on air yet, and he was doing this show with Awkwafina Norman Nora, who I hadn't also known for a long time from this show called Girl Code. And they were doing a show on Comedy Central. And I thought to myself, like, oh, they're doing, like, there's definitely something silly for me to do on that show. Like, I was ready to leave New York, but I was like, before I leave New York, I feel like I should just find something fun to do on that show if they'll have me. I ended up booking an episode that was a weird one off episode. And the directors were the Daniels, who directed everything everywhere. And we fell in love, like on this one week shoot. It was so weird and random. Like we had so much fun. And after we wrapped, I fell so deeply in love with them. I was like, I think I'm ready to go to la. Not because I want to climb any ladder, but I was like, there's so many more collaborators I've never met before and I feel ready to. To meet more people like the Daniels. And so I followed them out to la, slept on my friend's couch, and within a week of me getting to la, I got a call from them being like, hey, are you interested in movies by any chance? And I was like, I love movies. And, you know, I knew them from their more experimental stuff. So I was like, yeah, I'll do your, like, Vimeo film, you know, but it ended up being the journey to everything everywhere. So quite quickly I went through the audition process of that and suddenly was making that film. And we wrapped the day that Covid shut everything down. I mean, it was very. It was very woo, actually, that whole thing.
A
Then it wins Best Picture.
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Yes.
A
Two years later and you're nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
B
It's pretty crazy, but it's incredible. That was, I mean, you know, anyway, very woo.
A
I mean, and also a lot of hard work too. Yeah, let's. I mean, like in all the woo. And then I'm hearing you say this, the woo has to happen and the hard work and the developing the woomph and the woomp and the woo. The woomp and the woo. All right, so you do everything everywhere. You go to the Oscars and then, well, how did Rocky Horror come about for you? I know there's a few years in between there, but, well, okay, so one
B
of my core tenets of woo. I've been really excited to be asked to do this because as I feel like I really downplay my woo publicly
A
and so do I.
C
No, you do come out.
A
Well, I mean, I do. When I say I do this, I always tend to be like, man, I'm not woo woo. And now I just have to be like, you know what I am woo woo. So deal with it. But okay.
B
I guess it's interesting because I feel like before I was more public facing, I was like very known to be like hard witch, you know what I mean? And I think it's easier to when you're kind of like in your invisible bubble to be like, ooh, yes, this is how witchy I am. And then suddenly like when it's in the public sphere and how, you know, I think that is can be like co opted in a way. I was like, I think I need to like shrink my woo a little bit. Yes. But it is true that I, I, I do admit that I'm pretty woo woo. And like a lot of core tenants of my life are around the concept of synchronicity or like when the, when I was coming up during this time like the Alchemist was like my, one of my favorite favorite books. And one of the main things he talks about in that book is Follow the Omens. And when I think about like the, everything everywhere, when I think about, honestly even the journey to Rocky Horror, a lot of it for me is like omen based and synchronicity based. And you know, the night before, truly the night before, Sam Pinkleton called me. I was just talking to my agent and I was like, you know, I would do O Mary. And he said, if you do O Mary, I would want you to play Abraham Lincoln. And I was like, ooh, I like that. And maybe can be like a really lesbian take on O Mary. And the next day Sam Pinkleton called me and I picked up the phone and I said to him, I was like, I know why you're calling me. He's like, oh, really? And I was like, yeah, you want me to be your Abraham Lincoln?
A
And he was like, what are you talking about?
B
So that was kind of like off woo a little bit. Like, you know, I was a little one click off. But there was something about it that was like, oh man, he's in my orbit right now. His he we're in some sort of like, yes, telepathy. Yes, we're trying to find each other. So that was one of the reasons why I Said yes.
A
Yeah, I love that about the Alchemist. Just to go back to that. Yeah, because I read that way back when I forgot all about it. But the thing I remember from the Alchemist is the. Oh, no, that's Four Agreements. Shit, Sorry.
B
What's the Four Agreements thing?
A
Four Agreements was? One of them was don't take anything personally. And I always remember that. Did you ever read Four Agreements stuff?
B
No, I've never read it.
A
Oh. Oh, well, it reminds me of the Alchemist, but I don't know why. Maybe they have the similar covers. But okay, Four Agreements. I forget the other three, but I remember, don't take anything personally because everyone's in their own movie. So if you trip up, if you in quotes, if you represent something to someone else and they're mad at you, then okay, that's their movie. Don't take it personally.
C
Right. I like that.
A
But anyway, it doesn't clear you of all wrongdoing, but it's just a good thing to remember. But for a group. I mean, Alchemist, I read long ago and I don't remember. I've got to reread it because I don't remember this thing about the omens, but I love that because I always try to be open to the omens and the little synchronicities, like you say, You know, here on the pod, from time to time we talk about remedies, we talk about exploring taking charge of your own health. I mean, gosh, go back and listen to Irene's episode for a big dose of that. But that's why I'm excited to talk about our next sponsor, because it ties into a lot of things we discuss on the show. This podcast is sponsored by Veracity and Ali Egan, who's Veracity's founder, she's the CEO and a certified hormonal health coach. Well, she experienced the effects of compromised metabolic health firsthand because for years she was struggling with undiagnosed Hashimoto's, which is an autoimmune disease that impacts the thyroid, key metabolic gland there. Well, she was desperate and she found functional medicine which treated her underlying root causes and allowed her to finally take her health back into her own hands. Veracity was born so that people have access to the holistic solutions and optimal health they deserve. So important. I mean, just ask Irene. With Veracity and their most popular product, metabolism ignite, you get an all natural way to slim down, get energized and sharpen your focus. Verasity is revolutionizing health by tackling the root cause of so many issues metabolism and with their drug free, clinically proven and doctor formulated solutions, you can support your body's need to live your healthiest life. I started metabolism at night. Just take two capsules with breakfast. Makes me feel energized and focused all day. I really have energy back that I kind of forgot I had lost. But I really feel like myself again, the young spring chicken that I am. What's in Veracity? It's a unique blend of lemon, verbena and hibiscus extracts, green coffee, bean extract and magnesium. Oh, and if you're on GLP1 medications, veracity is safe to take along with them to aid in boosting your metabolism and appetite control. So learn from Allie and make the switch to veracity. Head to veracityhealth.com and use code WOO for up to 65% off your order. Once again, that's V E R A C I t y health.com for up to 65% off. And make sure you use my promo code Woo. So they know I sent you.
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C
Yeah.
B
So pretty early on. Having been on Broadway before, I know anytime you have two days off, which is very rare, you gotta seize it, you gotta get out of town, you gotta go on a drive, go on a train, go away. Because you're never gonna get that. I mean, Rachel, I feel like you're learning it in real time right now, but you're just never gonna get that time again.
A
Yeah. Yeah.
B
So on our first two days off, I went upstate and just like wanted to get into the woods a little bit. And I was going to a, like a antique mall that someone had recommended me. And right across on this highway, right across from the antique mall was this tiny blue shack. And it said records and. And we went in. And the moment that I went in, it's like, I'm telling you, it is a shack on the side of a highway upstate New York. I walk in, and right at the entrance, there's a huge, like, photo book. And it's opened to a photo of Tim Curry as Frank N. Furter and Richard o'. Brien. And I was like, oh, my gosh, this is crazy. Like, this is so crazy. I looked at the title of the book and it said rock. It wasn't even like a Rocky Horror book. It was just a rock and roll book. And I said to the owner, I was like, I'm so sorry. This is like, I'm freaking out because I'm actually doing this show on Broadway. We just started rehearsals a few weeks ago, and your book is just opened to this page. And he's like, oh, yeah, that's crazy. I was the lead drummer of the Scissor Sisters, and that's why I have that book, is because we're in that book. And it turns out when he left the Scissor Sisters, he opened up this record shop upstate. But the Scissor Sisters did, like a Rocky Horror concert run, or maybe it was like a one night only thing. And he played Rocky, which I think is funny now, but so he's like a big Rocky Horror buff. And it was just wild because that book could have been opened to any page, you know, any page of, like, rock and roll stars. And it just so happened to be open to that one. And that was like, one of those moments where it's less of a synchronicity of, like, turn left. But it was a very affirming thing of, like, you were doing exactly what you need to be doing, you know?
A
I also love that it was just this, like, a blue shack. It's like, almost like a vision that you would have on, like, if you were doing some sort of vision quest or something, you would see this thing or a dream. How often do we see a little record shack by the side of the road? It just makes it even more sort of mystical, I think.
B
Totally cool. So that's.
A
I love little signs like that.
C
I love that your whole. It seems like your whole career is exactly following synchronicity, which means you are in tune, sister. I'll be guessing your sign later.
B
Oh, my gosh.
A
To guess signs.
B
Oh, my God.
A
Irene likes to guess signs.
B
Wow.
A
She already has a guess.
B
I do. Two guesses for you. I'm not sure yet, though.
A
Oh, for Irene. Ooh, interesting. A double. We've never had the guest guest back. I see o the guest guesses and turns the tables. I love. I Love it. Okay. What other woo things? Yeah.
B
Wow.
C
Very inspirational this is.
B
I feel like Irene will appreciate this. I'm not well versed enough to guess your moon in rising, but I've been like. I used to love astrology. I still do love astrology, but again, I'm just like. Yeah, I'm shy now, but I do love astrology and what I've always said about astrology and tarot, all these things, pendulums. Hey, hey, hey, hey. I actually think that these, you know, whether. I don't think it's a question of whether or not you believe it. Right. Like, I think people asking that question, that's not really maybe the most useful question. I think that astrology and tarot and these modalities were old school ways of a kind of therapy of like.
C
Yes.
B
Holding up a mirror and letting you understand what resonates with you for you to like, continue on your path.
C
I love that. Yes.
B
You know what I mean?
A
Yeah.
C
It's a tool.
B
Beautiful. Yeah, it's. It's a mirror. And so one of my favorite current obsessions is there are. Okay, so wait, do you want to guess what you think? I am.
A
Sure.
B
Yeah.
C
I'll dive. Going for it now. I'm just going for it because I'm getting this vibe. And again, I don't know if this is going to be in your moving moon or your rising, but I'm just getting a lot of Aries from you.
B
Interesting. Interesting.
C
What's up with that? I mean, it sounds like you're not an Aries, but I'm getting a lot of. That's a polite way of saying bitch you wrong. Anyway. But, but, but I'm getting a lot of Aries from you.
B
You're getting fire. Yeah, for sure. Okay.
C
I'm getting the fire. Okay. I always give myself twice because I'm of course, really not as. Okay, let's see. I. I might be getting a little bit of either Gemini or Scorpio.
B
Okay. I am a Scorpio Cusp, Depending on who you ask. But I'm. I'm a Sagittarius.
A
Are you a sad. I think you are.
C
Sorry, I didn't mean to scream. Yes.
B
Okay, wait, When's your birthday?
C
December 13th.
B
Okay. November 25th.
C
Ooh, that's right. You're on the cusp.
B
So this is the thing I'm obsessed with. So when I. When I was a freshman, I got my. My roommate at the time gifted me an astrology reading and it really actually changed my life.
A
What?
B
And the reason it changed my life Specifically, is because I found out my moon is in Pisces and my current obsession. So, as we know, Rachel. Josh. What is it? A Stellarium. A Stellarium.
A
A stellium. A stellium.
B
A triple Pisces.
A
Everything.
C
Everything'.
A
It's like. There's, like, eight things in Pisces. Anyways.
C
Everything.
B
So nuts. And you are so.
A
I can't function as a human.
B
I don't know. Your lamp seems like in a very, like, normal place.
A
That's a normal. That's a normal lamp. Yeah.
B
Okay. So I found out. So when I. This person who read my. The first person who ever read my chart, they were like, your moon is in Pisces. Pisces is the oldest sign in the astrological chart. And your moon sign, you know, is related to your. Your emotional life and your experience of others. So because Pisces is one of the oldest signs, they say that a Pisces moon is one of the close. It is the closest to the collective unconsciousness, that there's, like, an ability to be empathic beyond just, like. Like, friends and neighbors, but you can, like, touch the. The vibrations of the collective. And that saved my life because I moved to New York City, and I would sit on a subway train, and someone on the other side of the subway would be crying, and I would be, like, shaken for days. Like, I would not be able to, like, release it from my body. And it wasn't just like a, oh, I feel sorry for you. But it would, like, reach something deeper that I didn't know how to let go of. But when I was mirrored, that. From this astrologer, I started my journey on being able to, like, really harness that and use it as a. As a way to connect or understand, but be able to also put up a boundary to not, like, hold it on onto my body. But what's crazy is there are so many Moon and Pisces in our Rocky Horror cast. And I know that makes sense. I know it's crazy.
C
Ooh, that makes sense.
B
There's Rachel, there's me, Amber Gray, Paul Swallow. One other person I'm forgetting. And Cherry on top, Sam Pinkleton. And I haven't even asked everybody. This is just, like, randomly volunteered.
C
Wow. That interest in astrology is very sag. Actually, if you let in with that, I might have, like, the interest in sag. Like, I feel like every Sagittarius that I know has, like, this, like, deep interest in astrology or signs and all the things that you're mentioning right now. Yeah, that's incredible, though.
A
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A
When you said the thing about the being, like, overly empathetic or whatever, you reminded me this is why. But maybe everyone's experiencing this and this isn't a Pisces thing, but this is why, like, the news right now is really. I know it's messing everyone up, but do you ever. Does everyone do this where, like, if you read an article about something really sad that happens, you kind of, like, put yourself in the position of the person and then you, like, feel everything? Does that happen to you?
C
It happens to me.
A
And I'm not an everyone thing. Well, that's what I'm wondering. Maybe it's an everyone thing we don't talk about.
C
Rachel, you really do feel things on a very. It's like. It's like you said, you know, there's sympathy, and then what you were explaining was empathy. There's a deep level where you can't really shake it off. And, Rachel, I think you have that. You really do. And.
A
But maybe everyone does right now. That's what. I don't know. But when I heard you saying maybe
B
everybody does is actually you doing the thing. Does everybody do this? You know, like, becoming everybody else?
A
Yes, Becoming everyone in the dad's story. But that's why I have to limit my. I made. I made a solemn oath with Paul from our cast last night. I said I was gonna not be on my phone at night because I need to readjust my mental health.
C
Oh, my God. Please do that.
A
So we made a package. So then. So last night, we. It was like, AA sponsor. We both didn't look at our phones, and we checked in this morning. So we're calling it. We're calling it Solemn promises.
C
And I thought you were ignoring me, sweetie. I was hurt. Thank you for bringing this.
A
No, I'm still text. Texting is what, Open season. I'm not putting it in a box somewhere. I'm just not looking at news or social media.
C
Wow.
A
Wait, Back to everything.
B
But what I think is really cool about the moon in Pisces and the presence of that in our particular cast and show is that I think that there is something about our cast that, you know, our show, Rocky Horror has. There's a lot of, like, fire, youthful, like, you know, very, like, feral energy. But there's a very old soul, I think, amongst us, which is. I think, why. There is something. I mean, I'm biased. I'm inside of it, and I'm in love with you all. But I do think that there is something special to this production because there is. It's not just earnestness, but there is, like, a past, present, future, like humanity, meaninglessness. And yet we love you. Welcome to it. That, to me, feels like something kind of unspeakable and beyond the mind. It's, like, very fluid. It's very. Water. It's like, you know. Yeah. Of. Of water. 70% water in our bodies. Ocean skies. I'm just saying things.
C
No, no.
B
You're ocean, sky, flower, potato chip. That's what I see performing.
A
No, but I sign off to that, too, because everyone is. There's just, like, from the minute we started, there's just good vibes. And it's a very varied group of people. They come from all different parts of the theater world.
C
Drachi was telling me that from the very beginning, starting with Sam. Like, she said, that he was just so wonderful and open and that he had the space blessed. And as an outsider watching the show, I can see that just in the performance, there's this, like, level of, you know, synchronicity and unity. And, you know, that's what makes a performance ignite, that very thing. But the fact that the. Can I just say something about the Pisces moon? When you're a Pisces moon, you're actually more Pisces than if you are just Pisces sign. Like, your moon really is your deepest, innest thoughts and who you really, truly are. It's the moon. It reflects who you really are, just like the moon reflects who you are. So it's interesting that the whole cast has that in Pisces.
B
That's crazy.
A
That's crazy.
B
Yeah. I mean, do you. Rachel Dratch. We don't know each other like this quite yet, but, I mean, I feel like. Do you get sad?
A
Oh, gosh, yes.
B
I know. We. We can get the sads.
A
We can get the sads. I think. I think now that I'm. Now that I'm older, I feel a little more even. Like, my highs. Well, I still have the high highs. I don't think I have as low lows as I used to when I was, like, in my 30s. I think it used to be more. I used to go to the sads. More. And I feel like I just kind of naturally regulated over the years. Much more. But of course I get the sads. I'm not like, yeah, comedy all the time. Yeah, for sure. Do you. Do you get the sad?
B
Definitely.
A
A lot.
B
Definitely. But, like. But I think when I learned again, this moon in Pisces thing, like, helping to work against it, you know, I'm like, oh, I'm getting swallowed into the sea. I need to really get, like, I need to touch ground a little bit.
A
I feel like knowing that helps you get to sort of observer mode of yourself. Like, oh, this is what's happening.
B
Yeah.
A
So just let it pass and know that this is. Sometimes that sort of observer mode absolutely helps a lot for energy.
B
What is your moon in Rising?
C
Okay, so.
B
Well, I was gonna. I feel a little. Guess I feel the presence of Capricorn or Cancer.
C
Okay, good one, sweetie. Not just another pretty face. I am a Capricorn moon.
B
Interesting
C
moon. Capricorn moon.
B
Okay.
C
Okay.
A
Okay, go ahead. I don't want to interrupt, but then I have a question.
C
Sweetie, you're upstaging me.
A
I have a question.
B
When you're done. It's too intense. It's too intense. What's your rising?
A
Actually, no, just take a stab.
C
Take a stab, because you're good at this, actually.
B
Libra.
C
No, not Libra, but that's. I think that's a fair guess. And I think that might be the sag vibe that you're getting with Libra, but you know what I mean. So I see where you're going with this. Taurus. Taurus rising. Yeah.
B
I definitely feel Earth in you, you know?
C
Yeah. And you're right.
A
I love that you've not even known Irene that long. A couple minutes.
C
I'm guessing myself.
A
And you're guessing this, and you're like, I feel Earth, but that's the vibe.
B
Well, I feel like you and I are like. And Irene's like, yes. You know?
A
Well, sometimes that happens if I know the person. Well, of course, then, like, if Irene knows the person, then she takes the devil's reign. That's another line from the show. Come see Rocky Horror on Broadway to see me say the devil's reigns. Okay, wait, I was going to ask you. Oh, wait. Capricorn. So Irene, like, I think of Capricorn. We have a friend, good friend, who's a Capricorn. I think of Capricorn is really, like, straight, laced and, like, rigid and, like, ambitious.
C
Yeah, they are ambitious.
A
But what made you say Capricorn about Irene?
C
Yeah. Why?
B
Well, I Actually feel one of my best friends is a Capricorn. I've dated a Capricorn and I feel
C
like we all sages always do. They date Capricorns all the time. We need to stay away from them, by the way.
B
Well, I think it's because it's like the goat who will get to the top of the mountain and it's less like ambition, but there's like a certain kind of steady persistence or like steady continuation that is very about like is different than a Taurus, you know, like a Taurus, I feel like, can get distracted by the like deliciousness along the way and kind of like, like buck their way through. But a Capricorn has a kind of slow and steady and eye on the top of the hill and I don't know, it's just kind of getting that.
A
I love that.
C
Wow.
A
That's what that makes me think of Irene, my cousin Elkie, who's a Capricorn and literally walks up mountains. So you just said the goat, she literally walks. She's the athletic one in my family tree. She's the one. No, there's like three of them and they're on a different branch. Also known as classic. He walks. My cousin Cuzzles, she'll walk up mountains and stuff. So she is the goat.
C
Anyway, sorry, but let me just say one thing. Have you ever seen when, when I talk to a Capricorn, I'm like, this is who you are. You've seen the picture of the goat sideways, literally defying gravity up on a mountain sideways. So that's, that's, that's true.
B
Like I love that.
A
Sideways, sideways view.
C
Sideways view. And I will be sending that picture to both of you.
B
I love it.
A
I can't wait to know. Have you ever gone to a psychic or anything like that? Or do you mess with that or.
B
Yeah.
A
What's been your experience?
B
It's funny. Like I. So I used to get readings a lot and I think when I was in my 20s, you know, I was so lost and like just wanted to know what was going to happen. And I think I started, though I wasn't conscious of it or like trying. I was actively trying not to do this. I think I was, you know, being referred to some like deep cut, like astrologers like in India, you know. And it was starting to make me almost try to like calculate my own fate in a way that I was able to see. It was not useful for the unknowingness of life. And so I had to, I had to stop. I Made a promise to myself that I wouldn't get a reading until I was, like, 35 or over, because I just feel like I started to. You know what I mean? When you're like. And as someone who sees signs, I think I would hear some things reflected to me, and then I would start to be like, is that the sign? Is that the sign? Is that the sign?
A
Or when you get someone saying something that's not good or that isn't what you want to hear, it can color your sort of outlook and derail.
C
Yes.
B
Okay. And here's one thing, actually. So I had a reading where this person said a lot of things that were true and, like, things about my childhood that I was like, how could you possibly know that? You know? And he also said that. And this was before everything everywhere happened, he said, you know, you're always going to have, you know, work is going to come easy to you, but the acting thing is not going to be your end all. Be all. Which I, like, have always known because I. I, you know, I would like to do other parts of this job. But he was like that. The. The pivot won't come until you're later in life, but in a few years, your whole life is going to change in a way that is, like, imperceptible. So, you know, just keep doing what you're doing. But. But the part of me that, like, latched. What I latched onto was, you're not gonna like that. You're not gonna be an actor. And I think with my history of, you know, just being an Asian person in the media, I was already like, I felt imposter syndrome. My whole life and every opportunity I got, I always felt like I snuck in through the back door. And so I was very in denial of the fact that I was even pursuing the right thing. Pretty much up until I was nominated for an Oscar. Like, even when I was on Broadway and shooting a TV show at the same time, I was like, this is. I'm just lucky. And I never could have perceived being nominated for an Oscar. And it wasn't until that movie, which is like, so much of my own artistic DNA, the fact that it was so affirmed not only by the Academy, but just by, like, the masses and. And people my age them seeing me for something that was very true to me made me feel like, you can't. I. I don't know why I'm an actor. I don't know. Like, nothing in my upbringing brought me to this point, but for whatever reason, I am being asked to like, be a part of storytelling and be in communication to the world. But up until that point, I think I had been so in denial, and because this astrologer was so right about so many things, I was just like, yeah. The other big part of me is I'm a huge agriculture buff. And there's always been this push and pull of Stephanie the public facing person, versus Stephanie, the crunchy girl who is a farmer. And so these two parts of me were always combating each other. And I kept trying to run from my career because I was like, well, it's not even for me anyway. So I think after that whole journey and then, you know, getting to have the whirlwind of everything everywhere, I was like, I really need to be careful because I'm witnessing how I glom on to some messages sometimes that are actually feeding my own personal insecurity that I haven't healed through yet. And part of life is like going on healing it and. And letting the unknown reveal itself to you. So I'm detoxing from readings I'm giving. The winded walls break. Well, that's circuitous.
A
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C
also reaffirms your path, but your personal insecurity. Like you were saying.
A
But what I like is about that is it makes it almost like a divine thing. Like it's like, yes, you're putting the work in and you're reaching goals, but also at the same time, like something out there is also telling you, like, this is, we need you. We need you to be doing this. And I like that.
C
And I love that you called it storytelling. You know what it sounds like? It sounds like everything everywhere all at once, you know, like, it's like this, like all these little versions of you that you're feeling certain things but then they culminate into your path. That is. Is really, like Rachel said, there's like a sense of divinity there, you know, that you're supposed. You're right on target. Yeah. Amazing.
B
It's funny. Like, I don't. No, I don't. I definitely don't believe in God in like a singular kind of way.
C
Right.
B
But it's interesting, like when you follow the threads of synchronicity or the cosmos. My favorite thing is when like science or physics actually proves or backs up theories of like, collective unconsciousness or like spirit or tele. I don't know if you guys listen to the telepathy tapes.
C
You know, we love it. We had her on. Yeah.
B
Oh my God, that's amazing. Yeah. But yeah, I mean, and she talks about it in the podcast, but like there, it does feel like there's just some other currents at play that I don't think are designed by a hand necessarily, but that are a part of a. Yeah. Like a part of a, A timeline or like a quantum skill that. Yeah, yeah. That our, our own choice is a part of, but that there's something else that pulls us through. It's.
C
It's right.
A
I love that. I love that.
C
And, and then again that's making me think of everything everywhere at all, at once. That love above all like, like it. It causes a ripple effect that can change the outcome of so many lives. We don't understand our power with a thought because the thought is so powerful. Anyway. That's amazing. I love what you just said.
B
I'm glad I made process.
A
I'm processing what you said.
B
So nervous. I'm like, oh, am I just so. Woo.
A
No, I love it.
C
Philosophical.
B
I love it sometimes when I talk. Well yeah, please.
A
No, I also like it. I've just been thinking about this lately. Like, I don't know, being in the public eye and all that. I like just thinking like it's not about the public eye. It's about, I don't know, sharing joy, I guess.
B
Yeah.
A
Or sharing feelings, empathy. Being some sort of like. I don't know, I don't want to overdo it, but.
C
No, you're not over.
A
I just like that sort of thing that it's like, here's what you're supposed to be doing because this is what seems to be working for you.
C
Joy that you do so much of. Sweet Rachel.
A
Well, we don't need to go there. You do.
C
I love you. I'm. I'm gonna express my love for you, sweetie. And you will never stop me.
B
We're obsessed with you.
C
Uh huh.
A
Oh, ladies. Thank you.
B
It's. I mean. What? What? Yeah, I mean I'm seeing you make a lot of faces of, of resonating. And I'm curious like your current relationship to being public or being an actor or being a comedian.
A
Yeah.
B
And, and what? Feels like it keeps pulling you forth.
A
Ooh. I know. I. Sometimes I wish we did this on video because whenever people are talking I'm going like, yes, yes. And like pointing like. I don't know. I guess it's just been on my mind of. Huh. I mean, when you first get into this, you might be like, look at me, I'm funny. You know, and then that kind of, that kind of burns off. And then it's just about sort of especially doing theater right now, connecting with the audience. Especially like right now. People are really psyched to have a little escape moment. And so it feels kind of more elevated. Like, not to make what we do sound like like we're freaking, you know, doing the Lord's work, but right now it feels a little like you can see joy in people's faces. And that actually makes me feel like, okay, I can't control this, that, and this all going on in the world. There's so much I can't control, but I can control or at least try to provide some levity or escape or something. So I've just been thinking about comedy as a little more sort of. I don't know. I don't want to say important, because it sounds all like what I do is important, but I just mean, even for me, consuming comedy, other people's performance, other people's music, performances, like art, right now just feels like getting in touch with humanity and community.
B
So when you said that, I mean, the, like, sort of longer version of how I got to Rocky Horror was the morning after the last election results. I woke up. I was living. I still do live in California. Technically, I split my time. But I woke up the morning after the election results in California, and I could not get out of bed. And I just had this clear. I'm pretty waffly. I speak in circles, and circuitously. I just said two versions of circles back to back. Me, too.
C
I didn't notice Sagittarius.
A
Yeah.
B
Yes. Totally the same thing.
C
Yeah.
B
But I had this clear. Clear as a bell thought in my head, which was, I have to get back to New York. I have to get back with the freaks. And so later that, the following year, like, a few months later, I decided to start splitting time in New York again. Because I was like, especially what's happening with, you know, technology and corporatization of media. I was like, I need to be in a subway and hear a poet speak. I need to be a person who speaks a poem. I need the immediacy of, like, live bodies and theater and process. And I. I don't know what else I have in my toolbox other than to give my all, to be in conversation with people. You know, whether that's as an actor, as, like a. I mean, performer or whatever.
A
Yeah.
B
And that's the gift. I have to say. What's so special about Rocky is that I actually don't find it to be. I mean, it's very fun, but it's not escapist. It's like actually posing a world that feels. That could be more expansive than the one we have. And it is. Is such a gift to be, like, every night. I can't fix it all, but I can give my all to this story that I deeply believe in and deeply trust in its power. And that can be my, like, one good deed, at least for this time, you know? Yes.
C
100%. I love that.
B
Yes.
A
Mic drop.
C
That was the microphone drop right there.
A
I mean, we can't top that. That was perfection. Pendulum reading, anyone? That was awesome.
C
That was perfection.
A
And I love the depth of what you just said.
C
You are perfection. Sweetie.
A
I'm sitting here talking about making the Yuk Yucks, and you're talking about opening on their world. No, but it's part of it. But I love what you just said. It is part of it. I love what you just said about. This is the thing I can do that makes me excited. I mean, I'm always psyched to go do this show, but that makes me even more psyched to go do this show. Like, we're doing. We are doing the Lord's work. You know what? But we are, like, doing our. Trying to do our part.
B
We're trying to do our part.
A
So many people are in so many different ways, but you can get really overwhelmed by. Oh, yeah, the world right now and the bullshit not so out there. Okay, pendulum. Pendulum reading.
B
I'm so excited.
C
Okay, so you are deeply philosophical, sweetie, which is 100%. I feel like a satisfaction.
B
Well, do you know what my rising sign is?
C
Okay, wait, wait. No, no. I said I feeling air for you, for your rising sign, though. Am I wrong? It looks like I'm wrong again.
B
No, you're not.
C
I'm not. Okay. I'm getting either Aquarius or a Gemini for you.
B
My rising is Aquarius.
C
I knew it.
B
What?
A
You're on a real roll.
C
Well, sweetie, sometimes I hit them. Sometimes you really get to bed.
A
But you really honed it. Your record has really been improving. I'm gonna say,
C
sweetie, you see no wrong in me, though sometimes I. I'm literally striking out.
A
Okay, I know, but you've gotten the last few, right? You're too. You got them on the first try. So something's working for you.
C
Well, something, maybe.
A
I got the magic. I am untangling this thing. Okay. Now, I've been letting Irene do the pendulum because she's the expert, and sometimes we get different answers, but okay. And don't.
C
Don't tell us out loud what you're.
A
What you're asking, and then you're gonna ask it later. And we always say, don't ask anything that's gonna make you sad. If it gives you an answer.
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
A
Okay. All right. Are you ready, Irene?
B
Yeah.
A
Okay. Do you want to go first? Okay. Yeah. Think on it. Think on it.
B
Okay.
A
I don't know.
C
All right, let me.
A
I'm getting a very strong. I'm getting strong. Swinging wildly. Yes. Wild. Yes.
B
Resounding.
A
Yes.
C
Sweetie, what was it?
A
What was your question?
B
Am I going to live outside of this country?
C
Well, guess what?
B
Okay. Okay, I'll ask one more. Okay, I'll ask one more.
A
Okay, tell me when you're ready.
B
Ready?
A
Okay, I have an answer.
C
I got an answer, too. This one also is.
A
I got a yes again.
C
Yes again. Both of us got yes. What is it?
B
I said, am I going to live in Scandinavia?
C
Well, guess what?
A
Pack your bags. In 10 years, Irene and I are gonna visit.
C
We'll be there. We'll be there.
A
Why did you say that? Is that something you've had your eye on?
B
I do love it there, but it's very hard to immigrate to.
A
Oh, which country in particular?
B
We'll see. I mean, I've only been to Copenhagen, and I've been to one town in Sweden as well. Oh, my God. Do you like swimming?
A
Yeah.
B
Oh, my gosh. I mean, talk about water. It's. The whole city is built around the ocean, so they have, like, free lap pools throughout the entire city. So it's like a normal thing to ride your bike and then go swim in the ocean and then, like, hop back on your bike to, like, go
A
to your nine to five.
B
It's nuts.
A
Stephanie, thank you. So this was so fun. And not just fun. It was like. I don't know. I feel like I just went to some, like, retreat seminar. Yeah. I feel like I'm. I feel like I'm a better woman for having talked to you.
B
I feel like I'm so intense.
A
It's good intense. No, but that's just. All the topics are perfect.
B
I am.
A
I am.
B
Am I right?
C
You are who you are.
A
You are who you are. Like, we talk about all this stuff here, so this is the place for it. So it didn't even seem intense to me. It wasn't a good way. In a good way.
C
It was like. It was. It was just. It was a beautiful reminder of everything that's important.
A
Oh, my gosh. The signs. It's.
C
Everything that you said was beautiful. Seriously, very philosophical.
B
I think I'm gonna do a very magical year for Rachel. Josh. Yay. Oh, I said that to you before, and I'm not gonna get into this. You're not gonna.
A
Okay.
B
I'm really feeling. Yeah, just you've got some sparklies coming your way. I mean you already have just latch.
C
I know.
A
Crazy.
B
What what a mirror to be holding up to you of like showing you how extraordinary you are. It's not. It is truly like the exterior around you shining back to what you shine out.
C
Absolutely. Yes.
A
Thank you. I'm gobsmacked. Stephanie, thank you so much for doing the show. Come see Rocky Horror with Stephanie and me up there. Pelvic thrusting in the curtain call. Pelvic thrusting at each other. No, it's so much more than the pelvic thrust. It's also a jump to the left and a step to the right. All right, Stephanie, thank you so much. I'll see you tonight. See you tonight on Broadway. And you can find me on Instagram at Raydratch. That's R A e Dratch. And you can find Irene at Irenebremis. That's B R E m mis Bremis. And thanks for listening. Thanks for joining me on this journey into the world of woo Woo. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
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Podcast: Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch
Episode: Stephanie Hsu: Follow The Omens
Date: May 13, 2026
Guests: Stephanie Hsu (actor), Irene Bremis (cohost)
Host: Rachel Dratch
In this episode of Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch, comedian and Broadway actor Rachel Dratch is joined by co-host Irene Bremis and special guest Stephanie Hsu. Together, they dive into stories of the unexplained, synchronicity, astrology, and the creative journey—with plenty of laughter and honest reflection. Hsu, currently starring alongside Dratch in Broadway’s Rocky Horror, discusses how omens and intuition have shaped her life and career, weaving in tales of breakthrough moments, artistic philosophies, and the mystical power of being open to life’s signs.
"I really loved comedy so much. And I always say that the hours were just too late for me." (06:01)
"I just like floating down the stream . . . what's floating next to me in the stream." – Rachel (09:43)
"I was a downtown girly ... didn't want an agent . . . just working at a bar and performing experimental theater." (15:57)
“A lot of core tenants of my life are around the concept of synchronicity or ... Follow the Omens.” (24:33)
“I walk in, and right at the entrance, there's a huge, like, photo book. And it's opened to a photo of Tim Curry as Frank N. Furter and Richard O'Brien . . . just so happened to be open to that one.” (31:09)
“Pisces is the oldest sign ... your moon sign is related to your emotional life ... closest to the collective unconsciousness.” (37:01)
“I would sit on a subway train, and someone on the other side ... would be crying, and I would be, like, shaken for days.” (38:52)
"There's a very old soul, I think, amongst us ... past, present, future, like, humanity, meaninglessness. And yet we love you. Welcome to it." – Stephanie (45:23)
“I was already like, I felt imposter syndrome my whole life and every opportunity I got, I always felt like I snuck in through the back door.” (53:32)
“I can't control this, that, and this all going on in the world ... but I can ... provide some levity or escape or something.” (62:22)
“I have to get back with the freaks ... I need the immediacy of, like, live bodies and theater and process. ... I can give my all to this story that I deeply believe in and deeply trust in its power. And that can be my, like, one good deed, at least for this time.” (64:24–66:03)
“Am I going to live outside of this country?” (68:27) “Am I going to live in Scandinavia?” (68:50)
“What a mirror to be holding up to you ... showing you how extraordinary you are. It is truly like the exterior around you shining back to what you shine out.” – Stephanie (70:44)
“You've got some sparklies coming your way.” (70:32)
This conversation is rich in behind-the-scenes stories, practical insights for creatives, and inspiring reminders about embracing the unknown. If you’re curious about intuition, astrology, or the spiritual side of showbiz—or just want a dose of honest, joyous camaraderie—this episode delivers, with plenty of laughs and heart.
Next Steps:
See Rocky Horror on Broadway (and look for the famous pelvic thrust at curtain call).
Follow Rachel (@raedratch) and Irene (@irenebremis) on Instagram.
Stay a little more open to the omens… you might be more “woo woo” than you think!