September 20, 2024 • 56 mins
On this episode of On the Rocks, we have a lively chat with the Charmed Ones of Broadway, Tony Award Winner Marissa Jaret Winokur and Tony nominees Kerry Butler and Laura Bell Bundy as we talk motherhood, their early careers on Broadway, the magic of Hairspray the musical, supporting your peers, the power of friendship, and a behind the scenes look at their new show, Mama I’m A Big Girl Now!, with guest co-host Broadway guru Michael Ferrera and your sassy host with the sassy most, Alexander Rodriguez. Raise a glass, it's On the Rocks!
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Straw Media.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hello on the Rockers Tonight, you can't stop the beat
while we teasee our hair and celebrate over twenty years
of Hairspray the Musical with original stars, the Broadway Charmed Ones,
Tony Award winner Marissa Jarrett Whittaker, Tony nominees, Carry Butler
and Laurabelle Bundy. An Embarrassment of Riches with my guest
co host, Broadway Guru Michael Ferreira and me your favorite
host with the sassy most raise a glass that the
(00:23):
drinks begin.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
It's on the Rocks.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (00:32):
Life is a banquet and most four suckers are starving
to death. I'd like to propose a toast.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
This is on the Rocks, Alexander, where I drink with
your favorite celebrities as you talk about fashion, entertainment, all culture,
reality TV and well that's about it. So pop a
core course, lean back and raise the glasses. On the Rocks,
(01:00):
Lord have Mercy, buns and bows and panty. Host on
the Rocks podcast The Place where We're Too glam to
give it am. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at
on the Rocks on Aaron on Facebook. On the Rocks
Radio show.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Send me an email.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Book me for a Pride wedding funeral Quin Siniera, Brits.
I don't care, I'll show up. Info at On the
Rocks radioshow dot com. Send us your comments, your guest
requests and your guest questions. The show's presented by Strahut Media.
You can watch and now are listening to over three
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Speaker 3 (01:32):
Why Boston, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
They love us. We proudly tape at ubn GOO Studios.
You're one stop place for podcasting. All right, let's get
the show in the Roe because we've a lot to
talk about. We've got a little time returning to On
the Rocks. Michael Ferrara, my guest co host, over twenty
years of experience working with LGBTQ plus nonprofit community, and
having just attended the Paris Summer Olympics. He is currently
spearheading a new organization, the Out Athlete Fund, that will
help support LGBTQ plus elite athletes as they trained for collegiate, national,
(01:57):
and international competitions, while providing a safe and inclusive space
for the athletes and fans together and experience with competitions live.
Michael had an early career in the theater from the
age of seven and has continued his love and support
for theater by keeping it central in both his personal
and professional lives. He truly credits the performing arts for
saving his life in his teens and twenties, and he
has seen literally every Broadway show ever, maybe he missed
(02:20):
one or two. Over the last decade, he has rubbed
elbows and maybe other body parts with numerous personalities for
musical theater. Please welcome back Michael Ferreira.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yes, I'm so excited about today.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Like we're like little girls for like I know, I'm
so nervous. I mean, I don't think I've been awake
since noon before this. Can you believe har Spry is
over twenty years old?
Speaker 5 (02:39):
No?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
I can. That's seems some postos that means we're our age.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Okay, but why do we? Why do we age? And
then the Charmed ones a Broadway out.
Speaker 6 (02:46):
I know they do not look a day older than
when I've seen them on stage. I've seen them all
live on stage absolutely at least several times.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yes, yes, all right, Well we're going to deep dive
right in. There's a new show celebrating the twentieth anniversary
of the original Broadway musical Hairspray, reuniting three of its stars,
that will play Beverly Hills at the Wallace for one
night only September twenty sixth. Then it moves to off
Broadway at New World Stages November two to December ninth. Mama,
I'm a big girl now, I was saying that.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
When I was a little kid. By the way us.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Starring Marissa Carrie Butler and Laura Bell Bundy, and it's
an evening of songs and storytelling. It will feature numbers
from Hairspray as well as a variety of songs associated
with the Charmed Ones. With sixteen Broadway shows and over
two hundred television episodes, this trio has indeed done it all,
from Beetlejuice to Big Brother, Mean Girls, to legally Blonde,
Dancing with the Stars, to Beauting the beast Wicket, to
(03:34):
Gypsy even a little country music in there.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
By the way, Let's.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Take a look at their return courtesy of Broadway dot Com.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Real Fast.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Hands us from to for me cushion. They caut me
(04:22):
to pay a new pots.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
And can tell you to let me be at want.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Girl.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Now we were everything.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
To a Big.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Girl back.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
The Trifecta Broadway. Everybody, what I loved is this clip
hit just like a day or two ago and it's
gone viral. And what I love to see is all
the comments comments from young, older generations. People have done
the show in high school, people have done the show
in Broadway. Everybody loves the show. So, ladies, we're talking
two thousand and two opening night on Broadway. You're sharing
(05:23):
a dressing room. What is going through your minds? A
few minutes before?
Speaker 4 (05:27):
I wasn't sharing. I want to just set the record straight,
but go back to your question. But they were sharing
addressing on my.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Head my own diva diva, mamma big diva. Now, yes,
but what is going through your minds for this new
musical based on a John Waters film? People were like,
what how is this going to work? What was going
through your mind is if you can remember.
Speaker 7 (05:55):
You know a few minutes before curtain, well, we'd already
done the seattle out of Town.
Speaker 8 (06:01):
Tryout, and you know, whenever you're in a new show,
like you don't.
Speaker 7 (06:04):
Know how it's gonna take off. And after Good Morning Baltimore, our.
Speaker 8 (06:11):
First number, we got a standing ovation there and then
we all were like.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Oh my gosh, we're in a hit. Yeah, it was definitely.
I mean for me, I had done theater in New
York and off Broadway, but this was my very first
Broadway show, So I mean that feeling of like, oh
my gosh, it's opening night on Broadway. It was incredible.
I'll tell you. The one for me though, more than
Opening Night was our invited dress in New York. Yeah,
(06:41):
that really felt like the first time I was on
a Broadway stage with our audience and they were crazy,
and so was our first preview. It was nuts and
it just continued to be nuts. So by the time
we got like a few weeks later and it was
opening night, we were like we got you know, but
there was something very special we knew for the first thing.
And I remember I was little, I was eight years old,
(07:04):
and in one of the times I was living in
New York and what I call the rat hole, but
that's a whole story. I used to watch I used
to watch the John Waters hair Spray movie every day
at lunch with my TV dinner crazy. And I loved
John Waters. I loved cry Baby. I loved all of
his movies. My mother let me watch them. She didn't
(07:24):
realize what was happening that I was like a gay
man trapped in the body of John and I loved it.
And keeps who My favorite character was Amber von Hustle.
Speaker 7 (07:35):
So where is this?
Speaker 4 (07:36):
So when this.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Audition came about, which was a couple of years prior
for the reading, and you're saying like this John, I
was like so excited about it and just hearing the music,
it was instant. It was like, of course, this is
going to be amazing. So there's no question that this
weird John Waters movie was gonna be a big, fat hit,
because for me it was so when I was eight.
(08:01):
But anyway, I know Marissa from Marissa it was a
big night. I'm going to pass the batona, but I
mean it was a big night for all of us.
It wasn't just a big night for me.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
I mean I think I was the most surprised by
about successful and exciting.
Speaker 9 (08:19):
It was like in Seattle, I was like, are we crazy?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Do. I just think this is something I love, Like
the whole process leading up to it.
Speaker 6 (08:28):
You know.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
I was living in Los Angeles at the time, and
my agents were like, don't do hairspray, Like, don't go
to a Broadway show.
Speaker 9 (08:34):
You're like doing TV and film, Like it's like, what's
it gonna be like?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
And I was like, no, Broadway's my dream and like,
when am I ever going to get the lead in
an original Broadway show.
Speaker 9 (08:44):
I'm gonna go do this.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
So I kept thinking, like I think it's great, but
will they think it's great? And then so when we
were in Seattle, I was like, well, do they just
think it's great because it's Seattle?
Speaker 9 (08:53):
And they I don't know, they're just excited for.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Sea, you know. So we opened. I agree with Laura,
it was our invited dress where we were like, oh
my gosh, like New York even likes it. Not to
say anything bad about Seattle, you guys, I love Seattle.
I'm just saying like, something's like, you know, I can
do a little show somewhere and a lot of people
love it. I go to New York and they don't care,
you know, So I don't know.
Speaker 9 (09:15):
But I was so excited in that.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
In that in the first dress rehearsal that where everybody
came the invited dress, which is like the Broadway community comes,
and if the Broadway community loves you, you're like, because
we're a jaded old community. I mean, nobody goes to
it like an invited dress to love it. They go
to be like, I wonder how cool this show's you know,
like they're ready to be like we hear people love it.
Speaker 9 (09:41):
I don't know, and they were fricking loving it.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
And I remember like Opening night being like so you know,
I'd start the show in the bed so my leg
I would be in my dressing room by myself, hiding
from everybody, and then I would walk down at five
minutes to places and I would get put in the bed.
Speaker 9 (09:57):
I'd get like bul Rude locked into the supporting vaults.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
More bad, and I can hear the cast behind me
doing like the circle prayer and sharing for each other
with excitement, but I'm like trapped in the bed like
five minutes of like anxiety all by myself, and my
dresser at the time would stay there.
Speaker 9 (10:12):
And like pat my hand and give me water because
I was like buy.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Myself in the bed, you know, and I remember my
heart just like stopping as the music started and I
and it was so the curtain rose and I'm like, well,
here we go, you know, and it's just like and
then and then it was over, you know, like it
was like shot out of a cannon. And it's taken
me this long to want to go back to New
(10:37):
York and do a show because Hairspray was so perfect
and it and for me, it was everything I ever
wanted in my life. So they kind of can't beat it,
you know. So it's been very hard for me to
do any other show when and then you know, the
first ten years people asked me to do a million
shows and then they stopped asking. So excited to join
(11:00):
go back to New York with my girlfriends, and this will.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Be your first time back on New York stage, right, Yeah,
that's a little pressure, even though we know, you know,
the big Tony Award winner, we've seen you on TV,
but even that special moment that has a lot of
pressure to it. Thanks thanks for putting You're welcome, just
in case you weren't feeling that.
Speaker 9 (11:22):
You know, it is funny, I actually don't feel stressed.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
And now maybe I will. Thanks. I don't because I
would because I'm with Lauren Carry and honestly, like they'll
tell you, sometimes I completely go into the white the
white room where I forget every word and I don't
know what I'm doing, and I look at them and
they're just, i mean, not helping me, just laughing with me.
(11:46):
I know, I'm safe and in a really great place.
So actually I'm I'm I don't feel stressed. Maybe you'll
be ringing in my ear right before I welcome, but no,
my girls got my back.
Speaker 9 (11:58):
It took it took Carry and.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
And their love and their friendship and to bring my
childhood dreams and goals back on the forefront. So it's
really sweet for the.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Three of you.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
What I love is, you know, when the show kind
of when you guys announced the show, and you've done
it and again with the press release and the videos
that have come out, so many women and so many
young girls attribute the three of you, each one of
you for being such an inspiration not only for their
own career but for their lives. And I know, Laura,
(12:32):
female empowerment is very very important to you. From the
three of you. What does it mean to have so
many people credit you for being an inspiration and are
like you know, Michael, we've talked about theater literally does
save lives. So how do you respond to that knowing
you know, all of you started young and you know,
hitting the stage and all of the ups and downs
(12:53):
of the career. What does that mean to you having
a place as a role model.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
Well, I certainly remember the people who and the women
who inspired me, and they still inspire me today and
keep you going. And I think you know, this career
isn't a trajectory that's straight up. It's up and down
and up again and down and back up again. And
I think it's really wonderful to feel as if you've
(13:21):
made an impact, because if you can make an impact
on one person's life, then it's all worth it. Because yes,
we do this because we love it, and we get
to play in the playground longer than most people do
in life, and that's just such a joy. But we
also work our butts off and sometimes it's not the
(13:44):
result we want it to be, but when we can go,
oh my gosh, I am making an impact in people's lives,
and especially for women and for women feeling empowered, and
I really care about that. So it's an honor. It's
an honor and a pleasure, and I take pride in
it and I hope to continue it. And uh and
I love every one of those women that that came
(14:06):
to that show and felt inspired by the character this
that I played.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
And I think Glora, you inspired not just through hairspray though,
like I mean blonde, I think, like not to say
we all didn't want to be Amber von Kussel, but
maybe she's not the role model that you'd want to.
I was like, I wasn't blying.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
To be an Amber.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
That's all I got to say.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Okay, there's like lots of Ambers, but I'm just saying,
like I was inspired by you and legally blonde like me,
like you inspired me and legally blonde. It's it's so funny.
And then I'm sorry, Cary, didn't mean to jump over you,
but like both these women, it's so great when listen,
we did our press, our little press junket, and the
people that were interviewing us at that moment were, you know,
(14:54):
a bunch of women, Like there were a bunch of
women there and a lot of amazing gay men.
Speaker 9 (14:58):
Let's say clear, I think we inspired both, but you know,
she's a.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Lot of women say to me, like, my gosh, what
it was like, What was it like twenty years ago
to be like a plus sized role model? You were
like there was there wasn't Instagram like feel good about
your body, There wasn't any of that. It was me
and me of Ardlas like she was doing big tach
Greek wedding. I was doing hairspray, and it was like
and I of course like at the time, was like
people would say to me, oh my gosh, there's such
(15:26):
a great plus what's it like to be a plus
size role model? And let me tell you, when when
you're young and you don't understand what any of that means,
you're just like did you just call me? Fast? Like
why are you saying that to me? Like I remember
being on like the morning news and like a newscaster
being like, go, where do you get all your confidence from?
Speaker 9 (15:43):
And I'm like, because I'm fucking awesome.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Me, you know what I mean? Like it was such
a so weird to me. It never I like, never,
it never occurred to me that like where what do
you mean? Where did I get my confidence? Fun? Would
you ever ask like Reese Witherspoon, Where did she get
would I mean you, I didn't ask that, but why
are you asking me that? But as I got older,
I was able to look back at that and be like,
oh my gosh, like I'm so happy that they were
(16:09):
asking those questions and I answered them correctly by the way,
I didn't say what was going on in my head.
Speaker 9 (16:14):
I was like and love, you know, And the truth
was I loved being able to be a role model.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
But now going back and meeting these women twenty years
later and there, you know, and even like when I
talked to like I did like Beauty and the Beast,
so that I was both Rebel Wilson and she was
like I came in sire spray and I was like, wait,
I want to do this. I can do this, you know,
because she loves musical theater and you know, it's like
so many people were inspired by hairspraying, and I remember,
(16:39):
even when we were doing it, thinking, oh my gosh,
these girls are going to this is going to get
to do it at high school. Like when I was
in high school, I didn't get to be the star
because I wasn't even though let's be clear, I was
so much more talented than the people that were getting
to be the stars.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
But I want you to spit the car.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
You know I was I should have been Brizzo and
I Rizzo, but you know what I mean.
Speaker 9 (17:02):
Like, so I was so happy.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
And now I'm so happy meeting these women again. And
so many of them were like I want to bring
Like so many women are like, oh my god, I.
Speaker 9 (17:14):
Saw you twenty two years ago.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
You changed my life, all of us. The show changed
my life. Same with our hold the gay communities, like
it changed our lives. And and now I can't wait
to bring my children and to show you or my
friend that never got to see it, or like to
come to our show and also feel what they felt.
So it's really beautiful. But what I was going to
say about Carrie is like I've been watching Carrie's career
(17:38):
my whole life, obviously, and I'm like, I've always been
so inspired by her because once my son was born,
I was like, well, I can never go back to
Broadway because it's too hard to be a mom, Like
it's too hard. And I always watched her. I'm like,
how does she do it? Show after show with children?
And I was always so inspired by her, just her
being a mom and do it and just like the
(17:59):
building everything that she loved and dreamed. You know, I
took the easy route, like much easier to be a
mom and do a TV show, much easier than to
do a Broadway show. So Harry inspired me, and Laurie
inspires me to come back because of how strong they are,
So they inspire me now Harry what they like to
(18:20):
be a role model.
Speaker 8 (18:21):
So it's I.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
Kind of didn't didn't really think about it that much,
you know, honestly, Like I just love performing so much
that I would always think, like, I'm so lucky that
I get to perform. And you know, I know that
I do touch people and I've gotten like amazing letters.
But I feel like it's all changed in social media,
and now.
Speaker 8 (18:42):
I am very aware of it.
Speaker 7 (18:44):
So when we were growing up, you know, we would
idolize our Pilotpone or you know, Berna Peters, but we
couldn't actually like see.
Speaker 8 (18:51):
What their daily life is like or feel like they
get we get to know them.
Speaker 7 (18:55):
But now people have that, and so now I do
feel a real responsiblity especial just since a lot of
my followers are like tweens, you know from Aime Girls
and Beetlejuice, and both of those shows draw people with
some you know going through like mental problems because it's
they connect with it because they feel seen. So I
do feel a real responsibility to be present and make
(19:20):
sure I kind of stay the right thing or you know,
keep boundaries. Also, I'm inspired, Yeah, continue to inspire life happy.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
And I think when now we kind of approach it
a little bit like we're moms now and so so
we have to take responsibility and how that we uh
influence young people and take them and their issues and
their dreams seriously as seriously as we take our own kids.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
I want to talk about your roles as mothers. You know,
being a parent completely from what I understand, can totally
change your life. But as artists, being a mom, what
kind of texture, what kind of sensibility does that bring to.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Your art, to your music?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
How did that all change when you became am I
thought you want to.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Go no, I was just gonna say.
Speaker 9 (20:06):
I was like, well, I guess I'm never going to
work again.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
I'm like I used to. I remember driving with them
and being like like he was being like my son,
who's now sixteen, and he'd be being a total asshole
and I would be in parpool late and I was like,
oh my god, I used to.
Speaker 9 (20:22):
Beat somebody to do fun things.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
And I got to the point where at one point
my son yelled at me. He's like, why don't you
just go back to New York? And I was like,
oh shit, I must have been saying the wrong thing
long enough that he knows I'm gamp up New York.
So my mother, my mothering maybe is not as good
(20:47):
as my friend scarabot him. But it's interesting being obsessed
with something so much that you forget about yourself. I
make jokes that I gave up my entire career for
my son. I didn't. I'm joking, that's it's a fun
little bit, but I but I would, and I would
do it again all the same way. Like I I've
(21:08):
never loved anything more than myself like this, it's it's
my cell's single. When he's in the room, like I'm
one hundred percent like I get. I always say, I'm
like I need energy, Just give me energy like his
his his his being makes me feel like I have
a bigger purpose. And I think I spent my whole
life being like, it's about me. My life is about me,
(21:30):
and my husband is awesome, but he knows my life
is about me and it's me first. And then then
the MIKI came and I was like, whatever he wants,
I'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Do ye authentic.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
I think that's how it changed for me too.
Speaker 7 (21:46):
You know, like we even joke about during Hairspray, how
Harvey had this pick thing on the wall where like
you you know, this was old school and you did
not miss a show. And so Harvey would like X
people out if they took off for a show, if
they got sick, anything like that, and so I made
it they were off the island off.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
He would literally put our headshots up and process likes,
miss one show. That's the reality show that I want to.
Speaker 7 (22:17):
So I would never miss shows, and you know, I
learned Parvy was my role model to Glitesta was my
role model who also.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Never shows and so that.
Speaker 8 (22:23):
But then once I had kids, I was like, oh,
this is like I never see them, and so I would.
Speaker 7 (22:30):
Start negoti like for XANDU, I negotiated my contract to
only have Sundays off, and so it's like your priorities shift,
and now I have my daughter in college, so now
it's like, how can I make money?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I can't believe I'm a daughter in college.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Behind I look at the three of you and I'm
just amazed, Like, you know, you just look just the same.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
It's like a lorel commercial, like a dogs in Care commercial.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Little take it like Laura is the one though, Like
I keep looking at it. Her son just turned five,
and I'm like, I want you to know, Laura, I
wouldn't be like when she when it's like like so
far like today she's like I'm gonna hop off because
I got to take up the bus and I'm like, yeah,
girl'll go. But I I look at her and go, Laura,
I wouldn't have done this when Zev was five. So
it's it's incredible that she wants to hang out with
(23:17):
us and play in the sandbox. Well, her son is
also in the sandbox.
Speaker 9 (23:20):
But do you think what has changed the most for you?
Speaker 5 (23:25):
Well, I mean, like you, I began to take someone
before myself. Uh but and again my husband also knows
it's about me too, So say, having a child just
changed my priorities. I I you know, I just was
(23:46):
overwhelmed when I had him with how I loved this
little being and I barely knew him, but I loved
him more than anything, and I would I would take
him before anything else. And so that has shifted my priorities.
I say no a lot more. I really look at
(24:07):
it is this job that I'm auditioning for going to
take me away, and I don't audition for it any Yeah,
you know, I just really am much more selective and
much more thoughtful about my time because it's not just
you know, leaving him if I get the job, it's
the amount of time it's going to take me to
try to get the job that also takes away from
my kid. I do things very differently now. I prioritize
(24:30):
my family. I prioritize my son and h and I
prioritize my energy, you know. I trim the fat, you know,
meaning I do less things to take my energy away.
I'm with less people that take my energy away because
there is only so much energy to do it all,
and we're trying to do it all, right, so which
(24:51):
want to you know, and we're not going to do
it all. Well, there's kind of be's gonna be days
where you know, I was up all night because I
had a sick kid, and I'm not going to sound
that great for that show the next day, but you
know what, it was worth it for my kids, So
I you know, there are sacrifices that you make, and
I would make them willingly. I definitely think that my
(25:12):
well of emotion, my heart was ripped right open that
we say no, you know, you don't understand.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
We can rehear just in like a rehearsal, like in
my dressing room. We could literally just be rehearsing a
moment like walking walking through the words, walking through the words,
the speed reading, and we look over and Laura's falling
doing this.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
It's like we're just talking about it.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
I look over, Laura's got like a gear coming down.
Garry and I are like, oh my gosh, like three
times from the show every time, like I'm like, you
know what this is.
Speaker 9 (25:52):
I can't even repeat you any.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
I say Laura.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
Laura's saying like she transmit fat, she's doing less. I
don't how she could possibly do more. So when she
says she's doing less, I don't know where she was
what she was doing, because Laura's literally the busiest human
I know most like has so much, Like our schedule
is so freaking packed, and I look at her every
day and I'm like, you inspire me to do more
(26:18):
than I'm doing, Like, how could you possibly do more? Laura?
Speaker 9 (26:21):
But that's why, Laura, that you used to do more.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Well, what I'm saying is, I'm not saying yes to
the crap, right, just because I have time to say
yes to it. And it's not just it's crap to me,
It's not crape. It's just it's and if it's not
a hell yes, it's a hell no.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Right.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
So there's just I'm just a much more selective into
the jobs I'm taking into how it, you know, And
what I'll say in terms of the well of emotion
that's been uh, you know, kind of rip me open,
is that as an actress, I have a deeper well.
Now I am able to access things in a way
that I, you know, would kind of I was scratching
(27:00):
the surface of. But then it just, you know, the
water fall came and and I just in connection points
and understanding, you know, becoming a mom, you really do
get tapped into understanding really what it's like for so
many women in the world. To have the experience of
being a mother, so you become better storytellers because you're you,
you are aware of so many more. Uh, you know
(27:27):
the experience of a mother's When you have a character
that's a mom, you get it right where youh didn't
get it before for family or complications or double standards
around women and men. I mean I certainly think that,
you know, I was already raw raw female independence and feminism,
But until I became a mom and I realized what
was expected of a woman as a parent versus a man,
(27:49):
I was, oh my god, yeah, I mean.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
That is well also having sons, Like I know that
when my son was born, I was like, my first
instinct was, and I say this not proudly, my first
instinct was like, oh, I'm glad it's a boy because
his life will be easier than my life. And as
a woman, as a girl and then raising a son,
I know, like our joke is, I'm like, you need
(28:14):
to have a girl sign a letder of consent, Like
when you go into kiss you need to be like
is it okay, I'm kiss.
Speaker 9 (28:20):
You, I'm now going to kiss you.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
And I'm like literally, like I was teaching and inappropriately,
probably teaching him that at a way too early age.
But I was like to understand, like because like, you know,
just the levity of like consent and you know, making
sure you do everything like don't don't you know, you know.
Speaker 9 (28:39):
Some no means no, and you know all those things
like raising a boy like not.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
You know, it's just not that you know, you don't
have to tell girls that too, But I definitely thought
about raising a sum that way. And and it's funny
thoughcause I have so many friends that have chosen to
not be moms and I and it's so interesting because
I'm like, oh, yeah, if you don't have the one
percent like I need to do this, yeah, don't do it. Don't.
It's really fucking hard, you know. And I have so
(29:04):
many girlfriends that are like, I'm turning forty here, I'm
forty three, and I like never have the like buck
to have a kid, and is there like and I'm like, yeah,
if you're animal, if that didn't happen, it's biology, animal instincts.
Speaker 9 (29:16):
Kid a kick in and we're all frickin' animals.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
And it's like some of us wake up and we're like,
I'm I mean, I was like I must have a child,
like my brain, my body, everything about me. And I
have so many friends that are like, yeah, I don't
want that, and I'm like, yeah, then don't do it
because you have to be a hundred percent in you know,
it's like right, and it's like and I like have
so many wonderful girlfriends that don't have kids and are like,
(29:39):
I am like living my best life. So I think
it is that like, it's not. It isn't for everybody.
But but if if you wake up and you're like,
I gotta have a kid, well the only thing that's
going to work is to have the kid.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
You know, I'm gonna say one thing besides the fact
that also, Marissa, if Huck is like priced to you know,
spot my butt playfully, I said, did you ask for
my consent? Yes, Mommy, do you consent?
Speaker 4 (30:05):
And you're like, yes, I do.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
Do it more, do it more.
Speaker 6 (30:11):
I'm actually just I'm so struck by the three of
you because I think if we were having this conversation
ten or twenty years ago, I'd be interesting to hear
Berniette Peters or Patty LuPone talk about the choices that
were available to them. And I just am so struck
by how all of your the way you're expressing yourselves
is so empowered. And I think, you know, gay men
(30:31):
pick up on that because you know, we've had our
experience of being devalued because less than men, and so
we kind of understand it on that level. And that's
why we love our women so much and we see
and so I'm celebrating that right now hearing you all
say talk about your choices and talk about how you're
determining your lives and that you have the power to
negotiate to make sure you have Sundays off. I mean,
(30:52):
and you're taking that power and I just really respect
you all for that so much.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
We'll add to it. We're doing a show together that
we created together, that we wrote together, that we directed together,
that we're producing together, that we star in together. And
guess what, we're all moms together. And you know what,
we're not doing eight goes a week together. We are
doing five because we are moms, yeah, and because we
(31:22):
have other things that we need to be focused on
in doing, and we also are like, let's take care
of our bodies and our voices. And you have to
audience audiences get the best of us, and our families
get the best of us and not half asking everything,
And I think it's so unrealistic. It's very hard when
you're trying to raise a child and also do be
an actor. You know, there are these downtimes that are wonderful.
(31:44):
You're not doing anything right and so you're completely available
to your family, but you're also freaking out about when
your next job is, you know, the whole entire time,
and then you have this job and you're like, wow,
I can't do bedtimes for six months, and then that's like, oh,
but what this schedule is really wonderful because we have
two shows Saturday, two shows Sunday and one show Monday night.
And and what's been wonderful about touring around like we're
(32:06):
doing the Wallace Show is well we're there for one
night only, one night only, and we're doing two shows,
so we're packing it.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
All and you know, yeah, we got we gotta tell
you about the Wallace Show for one second because it
is in LA. That's our literally gonna be. That's like
I joke that we get to we're doing their La.
We have two shows in La, once at seven, once
at nine thirty. I want to tell your audience that
I to come to the nine thirty one because I
think the seven o'clock is sold out, So get your
(32:33):
tickets to the nine thirty because it's going to be
the fun show. You know we're gonna I think I
actually was like, oh, that might be our like gay
boy show, because we are going to want to come
to the early show. Or it's the mom show, the
pool moms that are like putting my kid to bad
having dinner and going to a show after the kids
go to sleep, right, But like I kind of think
it's the Gay Boy Show, and let's like it can
be like a little more off Gilter and there's nothing
(32:54):
Laura Bell wants to do more than an off filter show.
So true, but I think like on the Wallace Show
for us on the on September twenty sixth at the
Wallace Annenberg Stages in Beverly Hills, get your tickets right now.
Speaker 9 (33:11):
But the Wallace Show is our show, is kind of
our out of town try.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
It's the it's the la people.
Speaker 5 (33:19):
Get to see us.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
That's our show right before we go to open on
Off Broadway. So that's gonna be that might be telling
to things that we do it might like we might
be like, oh that work, that didn't work. We're gonna change,
We're gonna like play with like. So I'm really excited
to do it for the in LA with like with
our like theater crowd or like Los Angeles theater crowd.
So I'm excited for those two shows. And and yeah,
(33:42):
we like scheduled it around. You know, Carrie's daughter went
and went off to college, and Laura's son started kindergarten.
Speaker 9 (33:48):
And my son had a massive tennis match, so.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
It was like, this is the date it's working, you know.
So that again has been so empowering to be and
I like people coming and seeing the show and knowing
that we like literally like the.
Speaker 9 (34:03):
Strike happened, and we did this for ourselves, and no
one wrote it.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Like people are writing shows obviously and are like, come
be in our show, but like, no one was writing
a show for us, So we wrote a show for ourselves.
And and honestly, like it's been really beautiful and awesome
and working with such strong women and look, we all
have such strong opinions, but I trust both of their
opinions probably more than my own. Sometimes I'm like, Laura,
(34:28):
tell me what's to do that's funny? Okay?
Speaker 7 (34:30):
God?
Speaker 4 (34:30):
You know, or like I'm like Carrie, what's that beat?
Speaker 9 (34:32):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Got it? You know, it's like we're very like I
trust these two. I don't feel like I have to
carry the show. I don't feel like it's on my shoulders.
I'm not like, all right, let's go, I got I
gotta sell this dru. I'm like, I got two other
women here who are going to sell it more than
I am. So let's just go and have some fun.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
You know, so you're co directing too on top of
everything else.
Speaker 5 (34:53):
Yes, you should see us working out bits together.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
All of you can answer this question.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
But like Kerry, I wanted to sort it because I
loved Zamado so much when I thought it was so fun,
and you know, I think I was sort of snobby
when I went to see it.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
You know, I was like, it was supposed to be
a flop.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
It was that really was, and it wasn't.
Speaker 6 (35:17):
And sort of like, I think as somebody who did
a lot of shows when I was younger, more regional
and community and all that stuff, so I never originated
a role and I think and all of you have,
and you know, and a couple of you, multiple ones,
and I think, what's Yeah, I think that's an amazing opportunity.
And so when you did something like Xanadu, and I
am thinking of it, like you really had to capture
the camp to make that work. And so I just,
(35:39):
you know, wondered if you could talk a little bit
about the difference between your process and originating a role
versus taking on a role that's been done.
Speaker 7 (35:47):
Sure, So I don't, Well, first of all, like I
grew up loving a living noon John, so she like
I tried this thing like her. You know, I was
in Greece all that stuff. I loved living in John.
And so when I had done all the readings for
Douglas Carter Bean before and really the script really really transformed,
(36:08):
and then fun Facts, they did a workshop and they
offered it to Jane Krakowski because they did it with
Cheyenna and Jane Krakowski because they wanted a star to
sell the show. And then Jane had to drop out.
So then they came back to me like would you
do it? I'm like yeah, and they were like can
you skate? I'm like yeah, And my husband's like, did
(36:31):
you just tell them you I'm like, yeah, I's like
we've been together for you know, however, our entire lives,
and I've never seen you together. It was like, well,
when I was ten, I used to go to roller
disco birthdays all the time.
Speaker 4 (36:44):
So reading.
Speaker 7 (36:47):
Back to your question, so I don't watch the movies.
I mean with Oliviya and John, I kind of just knew,
you know. I try and think of what my version
of them is, and then once I have my own
version of the character, then go back and watch this show.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
So I went back and watched.
Speaker 7 (37:02):
Olivia and John, and I really kind of thought, oh, what,
what will the audience love, you know? And then I
find it more once I'm in front of the audience,
Like That's how I found out that they loved the
way I was pronouncing certain words with the Australian accent,
like I must guy and like the more I and
so then every time I would do it, it was
(37:24):
or like, you know, the breathy thing.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
Like all that stuff.
Speaker 7 (37:28):
I found out when I'm from watching it, I'm think like, oh,
I wonder if that would work, and then I do
in front of the audience, and the audience kind of
gives me the information.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
The three of you obviously have so much chemistry. We
know in the entertainment business sometimes it's very backstabby. We
know in the drag and the gay world, it's very
full of jealousy. But the three of you have really
bonded and over the course of decades. What is the
difference between your friendships and kind of other friendships that
happen in the entertainment business. What is it about the
other person or the other the other two that builds
(37:58):
this chemistry, this bar this trust, dishonesty because this is very,
i have to say, unusual in an industry where the
three of you have fought for stage TV roles, you know,
but you're supporting each other.
Speaker 9 (38:12):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
We're kind of like the new Golden Girls. We've decided,
you know, like basically know how we are. So for me,
I don't I don't know what their answer is, But
for me, it's just kind of been respect of their
who they are as people, respect of who they are
as talent. Respect I've like, I respect these women so much,
(38:36):
and yeah, like we probably all have been up for
the same roles. But if you're gonna hire me, you're
not gonna hire her. You're not gonna hire Carrie. Like,
if you're gonna hire carry, you have no interest in
me like it, you know what I mean? Like I
think there's like I think that that's like like the
girls hear me say this a lot because I like
to say this to like young girls and young actors.
Speaker 9 (38:54):
Or maybe I'll say it to the drag world as well.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
Yes, please, there can be I'm.
Speaker 4 (38:58):
Gonna say to the drag world just so you guys knows,
there can be more than one shiny penny.
Speaker 9 (39:03):
There can be three shiny pennies on stage together.
Speaker 4 (39:06):
Like and when you put yourself with more talented people,
you only look better. So when if you want a
director a director, is that like I want to fire
one talented person and then reason four talented people. So
if you're putting on a drag show, you've got a.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Good fucking drag brunch.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
Right, Yes, you want to be four of the you
want to be like I want Nina West and and
you know, like you know, I want all of them.
Speaker 5 (39:32):
I want the four best drag.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
Queens standing next to me. I don't want Lemon Lemon
and then I'm a star.
Speaker 5 (39:39):
You can be you.
Speaker 4 (39:41):
It raises your talent to be with talent, you know,
like like Bianca del Rio, she doesn't want to work
with like shit. She might she might want to just
be the star, but I'm just you know what I mean.
So I think, like I want to be I want
to be with them because they only make me better.
So I think that for the for my drag friends
out there, you put four amazing drag queens and a
(40:03):
drag brunch, I'm going to be there much faster than
if it's just one.
Speaker 5 (40:06):
Yeah, And you know what we learn from each other,
like I've learned from both of them, timing things throughout
the years, like just you know, you when you're around
the talent, you sort of do, you know, take it
on like osmosis. And it's then because as actors you
are observers. And I'll say, you know, we Carrie and
(40:26):
I have had some stories. We used to go, we
used to be in our dressing room that we shared together.
We both get scripted the same the same audition, and
we'd read it with each other.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
Also with you and you with me.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
It's insane.
Speaker 4 (40:40):
I wouldn't I wouldn't do that, just to be clear, too.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
Far, but here's what learned we did it differently. We
both have a different recipe, a different comedic recipe. Even
though we both have time comedic timing, we kind of
stress different things and it's very natural to us. And
even you know, we have this funny moment in the
show where I sing illegally blonde Medley and Carrie goes,
(41:06):
what does that sound? That's true because I did all
of the demos and here's the thing that happens. But
the thing is the at the end of the day,
I called Carrie when I got those demos. Carrie, I'm
going to say, to these demos, want sound amazing?
Speaker 4 (41:36):
Get it?
Speaker 5 (41:37):
Because you know, listen, when we shared a dressing room,
everything was an open book. We were so excited for
each other to get because we love each other as people,
and we also know whoever is meant to get the
role is meant to get the role that's their life trajectories.
And we're very spiritual people as well, and so you know,
we kind of are like, I want I want my
(42:00):
friend to win, and just because my friend wins doesn't
mean I lose. There's something there, There's some other trophy
here for me, and I need to turn this way
and go find it, you know.
Speaker 9 (42:13):
That's that's kind of how it is.
Speaker 5 (42:15):
So I really do believe that you get you get
the parts, and you get the jobs you're meant to
get are and your worst enemy is yourself. Yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
I always tell young actresses that it has nothing to
do with them getting you know, if you don't get
the part, it has nothing to do with them. Like it.
There's so many variables that lead up to getting a job.
You could literally just look like someone's aunt who they hate,
like that's why you don't get it, you know, or
like like the funniest person sometimes doesn't get the role.
Like there's been times that I've watched people's auditions through
(42:49):
my husband and I'm like, that person's the funniest, but
it's like she doesn't.
Speaker 9 (42:52):
Fit the job, you know. So it's like you go in,
do your best job, move on.
Speaker 6 (42:56):
You know.
Speaker 4 (42:56):
Now, if you get the job, it's all because of you.
And I would say too our friendship. You know, we.
Speaker 7 (43:05):
We had already worked, but doing Hairspring was such a
magical experience and having that time together and we were
together like twenty four to seven because we did so
much press and so much extra stuff. So we just
all got so close and everybody in the whole cast
is a family. We show up for each other and
(43:26):
we like even when we don't see each other, we
just like love each other and have this special place
in our hearts for everyone who was involved in that
original show.
Speaker 4 (43:36):
Yeah, the the friendship through everyone. I mean like Matthew
Morrison and Corey they all like when I move. I
moved to la first, and then everybody sort of came
and crashed at my house. I was like the halfway house,
the success.
Speaker 3 (43:47):
I've heard that from.
Speaker 4 (43:49):
Yeah, yeah, it's true, Like so many people like that,
and my house isn't big enough everything. Like these girls
are like when they come to do the Wallace, they're like, oh,
you know, we're staying at a hotel. But like a
s couple, they're coming in a couple of nights earlier,
and they both have been like, we stay at your house.
I'm like, yeah, you can both stay. It's not gonna
be very comfortable, but can you room, Like one of
(44:10):
you will be in my son's bag because he's at
Boarding Skull, which is fantastic, and will be in the
guest room.
Speaker 9 (44:17):
Do you know, just my dog's better now. But but
our friendship was so strong because also the magic about.
Speaker 4 (44:24):
Hairspray was even though like, even though it was like
you know, a Tracy story, it was such an ensemble
cast everybody had. There was no competition or jealousy between
us because everybody had their reasons, their moments. It wasn't
like like you know, like the Musical nine, where like
(44:46):
everyone has one one song and they're all up against
each other my jokes only like I was actually the
straight one to carry. Carrie had the jokes, Laura had
the jokes. I would just stare blindly wait for them
to get their loves and keep the engine running, you know.
But I remember doing it and being like, because I
was always the sidekick, you know, I'm the sidekick, and
(45:07):
to be in a show where I was I was
the straight woman. Tracy was the straight woman, you know.
Speaker 9 (45:10):
She just kind of keeps the story going moving forward.
Speaker 4 (45:14):
But I like when I remember Carrie's laughs, Like I
remember the first time when we would like run across
the stage together and she would have a joke, and
I remember like freezing.
Speaker 8 (45:24):
I was like, I can't chew my gum and run
at the same time, right, isn't it that.
Speaker 9 (45:29):
It's like it's like holding her hand.
Speaker 4 (45:31):
And I remember that in my mind, waiting for their
laugh to be over and her being like they get
it and keep going, you know.
Speaker 9 (45:38):
And it was never about like like oh theay, like
my laugh.
Speaker 4 (45:40):
Because because my it was, it was Carrie's laugh and
then Amber would you know, be in my face and
I'd be like, they are loving work. It was like
so magical because we all the characters were so defined
and I always said that it was like a fish
bowl where we came in one day and said, Okay,
(46:01):
I'm the lead, I'm the entre new I'm the sidekick.
I'm that Like nobody's parts really made that much sense,
you know, like so it were I mean, Laura, you Amber,
Let's be honest, but you know what I mean, like
like everybody could have like I you know, in a
different yeah, but in a different in a different world.
(46:22):
We all could have played different parts because they were
all everybody. I mean even to our ensemble. Girl, you know,
it's like came out of our ensemble. Shashana Beans came
out of our ensemble. You know, John Gambitiees like came
out of our ensemble. You're just like John Amil, You're
like what these people are. So everybody was a star
and everybody had a moment, so there was no competition
(46:43):
between us, so we all were able to continue our
friendship and relish in each other's success.
Speaker 5 (46:49):
To this day, we go see each other in shows,
we watch each other's things. We vote for Marissa about
one hundred thousand times, and chancing with the stars or brothers.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Yeah, I figures got hired.
Speaker 5 (47:04):
For real. We are we truly are a family that
supports each other. And uh, it's beautiful. It really is
a beautiful thing. It's a special thing. It's a different thing.
It's not it doesn't always happen. And you know, I
ran into Scott Whitman last night and he said that
to me. He goes, you know, this doesn't always happen.
Speaker 3 (47:22):
It doesn't.
Speaker 8 (47:22):
And we look at what yep, Oh, it's just going.
Speaker 9 (47:25):
To say that the wall is just to make sure
everybody hears this and comes to the walls.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
The wallis dot org for tickets, wallis dot org for tickets.
Speaker 4 (47:32):
Thank you, it's the nine Show. But like I just
like made a blanket call and reached out to a
bunch of the original cast members and were like, hey,
you guys want to come and jump up on stage
to the end for like you can't stop the beat?
Now that's an inside surprise.
Speaker 2 (47:47):
Yes, girl, And we have to say when we look
at Hairspray, it challenged Broadway that musical was based on
a movie can work. It also challenged what diversity looks
like on stage with it being part of the whole
picture rather than like stuck casting. You know, Murse, I
know you went through some of those interviews that were
a little uncomfortable, but look, we have all different body types,
we have all different colors, we have all different genders
that are now playing. We're having non binary people in Oklahoma.
(48:11):
And the conversation now is not only leading just leading
with that headline. Now we're looking at the at the
show as a whole. I think Hairspray and a lot to.
Speaker 4 (48:17):
Do with yes. Yes, I just I just got chills
when you said that. Yeah, I remember, Yeah, there's been
so much more, is it? Inclusivity is not the right word.
Am I using it correctly? But then there had been
on Broadway prior, and I do I do think that
Hairspray did change some role models and did change some
(48:37):
you know, things. I think that there's still a long
way for us to go. And I and I love
And it's funny because whenever we talk about how far
we've come, it like goes back to the Hairspray song,
but like I know where I've been, but it's like
I know where I'm going, and I think that that's
still so it's like where we are, you know, not
to get political, it's like we came so far and
then we went backwards, and now we need to go.
(49:00):
We need to push forward again. And it's like you
can never just be, you can never close your eyes.
And so as far as we're coming on Broadway or
in you know, in the trans community, we're moving. But
you have to keep moving forward. You have to keep
pushing for who's not just for your underdog. It wasn't
just for Tracy, like Tracy represented when John Waters. I
asked John Waters, you know, like when he would talk
(49:21):
about Tracy Turnblag, he would say, the person who gets
picked on the most in high school is the overweight,
fat girl. And he said, and that's why he wrote Hairspray,
because because he's.
Speaker 9 (49:32):
Like even even a gay boy can do well.
Speaker 4 (49:34):
I'm in high school but the fat girl in high school,
she doesn't do so good, you know, And that's where
it like really came from. Now the fat girl does fine, right, say,
I don't know, like what is even fat anymore?
Speaker 5 (49:45):
Right?
Speaker 4 (49:46):
But there are like so I can't close like I
can move. I'm like, Okay, I'm going to keep moving
forward for the for body positivity, but I'm also going
to move forward for the group that's having the struggle
at the time. You can't only fight for your her
own struggle. And I think that that's the most important message.
And in Hairspray, it's kind of about that, right, Like Tracy,
(50:07):
Tracy can dance on the dance show, right, I mean
to put it like blankly, It's like Tracy was fighting
to dance on the dance show, but then she realized, oh, well,
why can't I dance with Seaweed? Well, literally we should
be able to dance together. And then it wasn't about
Tracy dancing. Tracy was like, no, I don't want to
dance unless my friends, my African American friends.
Speaker 9 (50:25):
Or my black friends can dance right with me.
Speaker 4 (50:27):
So she was fighting for a group that had nothing
that didn't have to do with her and I think
that's the message that keeps moving forward. You can't just
fight for your own minority. You have to fight for
the minority that needs your support.
Speaker 2 (50:42):
I mean, that's exactly right, and that's the perfect book.
Speaker 3 (50:44):
End ladies.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
We have pages and pages of questions for I was like,
we did get but I think, you know, we talked
about I think what at the heart of the show,
And so I want to know from the three of you,
what was the most important for you in putting mom
I'm a big girl. Now for audience to walk.
Speaker 7 (50:59):
Away with merchandise, would I would say we want them
to have a really good time, just because after everything
we've been through, you know, with COVID and everything, with politics, everything,
(51:19):
we just want our audience to come and like feel
nostalgic and and feel the positivity of friendship and this amazing.
Speaker 8 (51:29):
Music and just have an amazing fun time.
Speaker 5 (51:32):
Yeah, they're getting they're getting the inside scoop of us.
You know, they're getting a little the inside scoop. They're
hearing our origin stories, they're hearing the story of our friendship.
They're if you're a mom, you feel seen, Yeah, totally.
And uh, And so you know, I think it's really
it's a really fun time, a good laugh of fun time,
(51:54):
songs that you you remember and you can sing. If
you liked musical theater and the early Offs, man, this
is the show for you, or if you just like
any songs.
Speaker 9 (52:06):
The gay men love it.
Speaker 4 (52:08):
Yeah, we are.
Speaker 9 (52:12):
I'm gonna say it's funny because you know, we because
we are moms.
Speaker 4 (52:15):
We are so like, oh we want some moms. But
like like when we first started working this, it was
really being written for.
Speaker 9 (52:21):
Our for our gay audience. We were I was like, well,
I'm gonna listen.
Speaker 4 (52:25):
I didn't do Gypsy. I'm singing from Gypsy because you
know what I got. That's what they want to hear
me say. I like, you know right? I mean and
I do.
Speaker 3 (52:33):
And if you think about.
Speaker 5 (52:34):
Majority of our jokes. So we did a show in
Orlando and we were like, oh, thank god, our gays
are over at that table.
Speaker 4 (52:43):
That is the truth. That are we get some hard
we have some hard cut laugh that if there are
twenty gay men in the audience, we're kind of fucked.
Speaker 3 (52:55):
All right, you'll hear my laugh. Yeah, he my face
is already here.
Speaker 5 (53:00):
I've just.
Speaker 3 (53:02):
Smiles.
Speaker 2 (53:04):
It has been such an honor and a pleasure. And
you know, like we've said many times during the show,
you have been such an inspiration each one of your careers.
It's just and it's I mean, it's just, it's just
it's wow. It's all I can say. And while wapside
down his mom.
Speaker 4 (53:17):
There you go.
Speaker 5 (53:19):
There, you'll send you, We'll send you the merchant.
Speaker 10 (53:29):
There you go, send you a copy of everything we
make with You're totally We just stole it, a recording
that I stole it.
Speaker 4 (53:42):
I'm telling you now you can have a girl.
Speaker 5 (53:45):
You can have it.
Speaker 9 (53:47):
What are you gonna do with it?
Speaker 2 (53:48):
Are you all right?
Speaker 9 (53:49):
What are you going to do with that?
Speaker 4 (53:51):
Bro play?
Speaker 3 (53:51):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (53:56):
Ladies, will you tell your fans where you want them
to find and follow you first?
Speaker 5 (54:04):
No, we don't want anyone to find this. No, Oh
my good At Mama I'm a Big Girl Now show
on Instagram and TikTok.
Speaker 4 (54:13):
Rights us without the show. TikTok's just Mama and Big
Girl Now and then and we do have a website
that's Mama and the Big Girl Now. Hockey Just Rock
was also in the theater. He played Shrek in Shrek
the Musical. I don't want. I don't want him to
(54:34):
get upstaged by the Broadway stars in the room. But
track Instra the musical. It's so cat and I see
who this is and that my friend, he's like two
divas and two gay men. He's like that. Yeah, Okay,
(55:00):
go to go to get our tickets in at the
Wallace Annenberg. And then if you're in New York after,
you know, during the holiday season, go to our website. Mom,
I'm a big girl now, and you can get tickets
for our show, or just go to any of the
ticket Master places that buy tickets for New York. So
get those circuits because those are going to go fast,
because that's the limited engagement.
Speaker 3 (55:18):
Also, absolutely, what Laura.
Speaker 4 (55:21):
You had something, Laura go.
Speaker 5 (55:23):
I was just gonna say you could find us at
our own handles as well. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that
can always feed you to places.
Speaker 2 (55:29):
Yes exactly, Ladies, thank you for spending the time with us.
I know we talk about your busy time and can't
wait to see you on on both coasts.
Speaker 4 (55:40):
Thank you so much, thank you, thank you, thanks, thank you,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (55:45):
You can get your tickets at the Wallace dot Org.
I'm just like, like, I don't even have to say
at this point, I just keep getting goose bumps.
Speaker 3 (55:52):
I know, well, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (55:53):
It's always grabbing bag of fun here on the Rocks.
Big thank you to Engineering Station under Tony A Sweet
our social media clip Editorlectus Mende's coming. We have Taylor
Armstrong from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Orange County,
and for Halloween season we have the Hollywood exercist to
the Stars and her client list is crazy. We also
have the Bullet Brothers, Dragula, Judge Michael Varati. Please like
share subscribes so we can continue bringing the show for
(56:15):
you for free until next time. Stay happy, stay healthy,
stay sexy, and if you drink a little, stay tipsy.
Speaker 5 (56:22):
Yes,
Straw Media.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Hello on the Rockers Tonight, you can't stop the beat
while we teasee our hair and celebrate over twenty years
of Hairspray the Musical with original stars, the Broadway Charmed Ones,
Tony Award winner Marissa Jarrett Whittaker, Tony nominees, Carry Butler
and Laurabelle Bundy. An Embarrassment of Riches with my guest
co host, Broadway Guru Michael Ferreira and me your favorite
host with the sassy most raise a glass that the
(00:23):
drinks begin.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
It's on the Rocks.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (00:32):
Life is a banquet and most four suckers are starving
to death. I'd like to propose a toast.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
This is on the Rocks, Alexander, where I drink with
your favorite celebrities as you talk about fashion, entertainment, all culture,
reality TV and well that's about it. So pop a
core course, lean back and raise the glasses. On the Rocks,
(01:00):
Lord have Mercy, buns and bows and panty. Host on
the Rocks podcast The Place where We're Too glam to
give it am. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at
on the Rocks on Aaron on Facebook. On the Rocks
Radio show.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Send me an email.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Book me for a Pride wedding funeral Quin Siniera, Brits.
I don't care, I'll show up. Info at On the
Rocks radioshow dot com. Send us your comments, your guest
requests and your guest questions. The show's presented by Strahut Media.
You can watch and now are listening to over three
hundred and eighty six episodes for free. You can watch
us on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon, Fire Tv, on the
Outit dot tv app, Facebook, Quat, streaming on Pride on
SBTV and on Channel thirty one in Boston.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Why Boston, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
They love us. We proudly tape at ubn GOO Studios.
You're one stop place for podcasting. All right, let's get
the show in the Roe because we've a lot to
talk about. We've got a little time returning to On
the Rocks. Michael Ferrara, my guest co host, over twenty
years of experience working with LGBTQ plus nonprofit community, and
having just attended the Paris Summer Olympics. He is currently
spearheading a new organization, the Out Athlete Fund, that will
help support LGBTQ plus elite athletes as they trained for collegiate, national,
(01:57):
and international competitions, while providing a safe and inclusive space
for the athletes and fans together and experience with competitions live.
Michael had an early career in the theater from the
age of seven and has continued his love and support
for theater by keeping it central in both his personal
and professional lives. He truly credits the performing arts for
saving his life in his teens and twenties, and he
has seen literally every Broadway show ever, maybe he missed
(02:20):
one or two. Over the last decade, he has rubbed
elbows and maybe other body parts with numerous personalities for
musical theater. Please welcome back Michael Ferreira.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yes, I'm so excited about today.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Like we're like little girls for like I know, I'm
so nervous. I mean, I don't think I've been awake
since noon before this. Can you believe har Spry is
over twenty years old?
Speaker 5 (02:39):
No?
Speaker 3 (02:39):
I can. That's seems some postos that means we're our age.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Okay, but why do we? Why do we age? And
then the Charmed ones a Broadway out.
Speaker 6 (02:46):
I know they do not look a day older than
when I've seen them on stage. I've seen them all
live on stage absolutely at least several times.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yes, yes, all right, Well we're going to deep dive
right in. There's a new show celebrating the twentieth anniversary
of the original Broadway musical Hairspray, reuniting three of its stars,
that will play Beverly Hills at the Wallace for one
night only September twenty sixth. Then it moves to off
Broadway at New World Stages November two to December ninth. Mama,
I'm a big girl now, I was saying that.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
When I was a little kid. By the way us.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Starring Marissa Carrie Butler and Laura Bell Bundy, and it's
an evening of songs and storytelling. It will feature numbers
from Hairspray as well as a variety of songs associated
with the Charmed Ones. With sixteen Broadway shows and over
two hundred television episodes, this trio has indeed done it all,
from Beetlejuice to Big Brother, Mean Girls, to legally Blonde,
Dancing with the Stars, to Beauting the beast Wicket, to
(03:34):
Gypsy even a little country music in there.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
By the way, Let's.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Take a look at their return courtesy of Broadway dot Com.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Real Fast.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Hands us from to for me cushion. They caut me
(04:22):
to pay a new pots.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
And can tell you to let me be at want.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Girl.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Now we were everything.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
To a Big.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Girl back.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
The Trifecta Broadway. Everybody, what I loved is this clip
hit just like a day or two ago and it's
gone viral. And what I love to see is all
the comments comments from young, older generations. People have done
the show in high school, people have done the show
in Broadway. Everybody loves the show. So, ladies, we're talking
two thousand and two opening night on Broadway. You're sharing
(05:23):
a dressing room. What is going through your minds? A
few minutes before?
Speaker 4 (05:27):
I wasn't sharing. I want to just set the record straight,
but go back to your question. But they were sharing
addressing on my.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Head my own diva diva, mamma big diva. Now, yes,
but what is going through your minds for this new
musical based on a John Waters film? People were like,
what how is this going to work? What was going
through your mind is if you can remember.
Speaker 7 (05:55):
You know a few minutes before curtain, well, we'd already
done the seattle out of Town.
Speaker 8 (06:01):
Tryout, and you know, whenever you're in a new show,
like you don't.
Speaker 7 (06:04):
Know how it's gonna take off. And after Good Morning Baltimore, our.
Speaker 8 (06:11):
First number, we got a standing ovation there and then
we all were like.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Oh my gosh, we're in a hit. Yeah, it was definitely.
I mean for me, I had done theater in New
York and off Broadway, but this was my very first
Broadway show, So I mean that feeling of like, oh
my gosh, it's opening night on Broadway. It was incredible.
I'll tell you. The one for me though, more than
Opening Night was our invited dress in New York. Yeah,
(06:41):
that really felt like the first time I was on
a Broadway stage with our audience and they were crazy,
and so was our first preview. It was nuts and
it just continued to be nuts. So by the time
we got like a few weeks later and it was
opening night, we were like we got you know, but
there was something very special we knew for the first thing.
And I remember I was little, I was eight years old,
(07:04):
and in one of the times I was living in
New York and what I call the rat hole, but
that's a whole story. I used to watch I used
to watch the John Waters hair Spray movie every day
at lunch with my TV dinner crazy. And I loved
John Waters. I loved cry Baby. I loved all of
his movies. My mother let me watch them. She didn't
(07:24):
realize what was happening that I was like a gay
man trapped in the body of John and I loved it.
And keeps who My favorite character was Amber von Hustle.
Speaker 7 (07:35):
So where is this?
Speaker 4 (07:36):
So when this.
Speaker 5 (07:39):
Audition came about, which was a couple of years prior
for the reading, and you're saying like this John, I
was like so excited about it and just hearing the music,
it was instant. It was like, of course, this is
going to be amazing. So there's no question that this
weird John Waters movie was gonna be a big, fat hit,
because for me it was so when I was eight.
(08:01):
But anyway, I know Marissa from Marissa it was a
big night. I'm going to pass the batona, but I
mean it was a big night for all of us.
It wasn't just a big night for me.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
I mean I think I was the most surprised by
about successful and exciting.
Speaker 9 (08:19):
It was like in Seattle, I was like, are we crazy?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Do. I just think this is something I love, Like
the whole process leading up to it.
Speaker 6 (08:28):
You know.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
I was living in Los Angeles at the time, and
my agents were like, don't do hairspray, Like, don't go
to a Broadway show.
Speaker 9 (08:34):
You're like doing TV and film, Like it's like, what's
it gonna be like?
Speaker 4 (08:38):
And I was like, no, Broadway's my dream and like,
when am I ever going to get the lead in
an original Broadway show.
Speaker 9 (08:44):
I'm gonna go do this.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
So I kept thinking, like I think it's great, but
will they think it's great? And then so when we
were in Seattle, I was like, well, do they just
think it's great because it's Seattle?
Speaker 9 (08:53):
And they I don't know, they're just excited for.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Sea, you know. So we opened. I agree with Laura,
it was our invited dress where we were like, oh
my gosh, like New York even likes it. Not to
say anything bad about Seattle, you guys, I love Seattle.
I'm just saying like, something's like, you know, I can
do a little show somewhere and a lot of people
love it. I go to New York and they don't care,
you know, So I don't know.
Speaker 9 (09:15):
But I was so excited in that.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
In that in the first dress rehearsal that where everybody
came the invited dress, which is like the Broadway community comes,
and if the Broadway community loves you, you're like, because
we're a jaded old community. I mean, nobody goes to
it like an invited dress to love it. They go
to be like, I wonder how cool this show's you know,
like they're ready to be like we hear people love it.
Speaker 9 (09:41):
I don't know, and they were fricking loving it.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
And I remember like Opening night being like so you know,
I'd start the show in the bed so my leg
I would be in my dressing room by myself, hiding
from everybody, and then I would walk down at five
minutes to places and I would get put in the bed.
Speaker 9 (09:57):
I'd get like bul Rude locked into the supporting vaults.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
More bad, and I can hear the cast behind me
doing like the circle prayer and sharing for each other
with excitement, but I'm like trapped in the bed like
five minutes of like anxiety all by myself, and my
dresser at the time would stay there.
Speaker 9 (10:12):
And like pat my hand and give me water because
I was like buy.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Myself in the bed, you know, and I remember my
heart just like stopping as the music started and I
and it was so the curtain rose and I'm like, well,
here we go, you know, and it's just like and
then and then it was over, you know, like it
was like shot out of a cannon. And it's taken
me this long to want to go back to New
(10:37):
York and do a show because Hairspray was so perfect
and it and for me, it was everything I ever
wanted in my life. So they kind of can't beat it,
you know. So it's been very hard for me to
do any other show when and then you know, the
first ten years people asked me to do a million
shows and then they stopped asking. So excited to join
(11:00):
go back to New York with my girlfriends, and this will.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Be your first time back on New York stage, right, Yeah,
that's a little pressure, even though we know, you know,
the big Tony Award winner, we've seen you on TV,
but even that special moment that has a lot of
pressure to it. Thanks thanks for putting You're welcome, just
in case you weren't feeling that.
Speaker 9 (11:22):
You know, it is funny, I actually don't feel stressed.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
And now maybe I will. Thanks. I don't because I
would because I'm with Lauren Carry and honestly, like they'll
tell you, sometimes I completely go into the white the
white room where I forget every word and I don't
know what I'm doing, and I look at them and
they're just, i mean, not helping me, just laughing with me.
(11:46):
I know, I'm safe and in a really great place.
So actually I'm I'm I don't feel stressed. Maybe you'll
be ringing in my ear right before I welcome, but no,
my girls got my back.
Speaker 9 (11:58):
It took it took Carry and.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
And their love and their friendship and to bring my
childhood dreams and goals back on the forefront. So it's
really sweet for the.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Three of you.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
What I love is, you know, when the show kind
of when you guys announced the show, and you've done
it and again with the press release and the videos
that have come out, so many women and so many
young girls attribute the three of you, each one of
you for being such an inspiration not only for their
own career but for their lives. And I know, Laura,
(12:32):
female empowerment is very very important to you. From the
three of you. What does it mean to have so
many people credit you for being an inspiration and are
like you know, Michael, we've talked about theater literally does
save lives. So how do you respond to that knowing
you know, all of you started young and you know,
hitting the stage and all of the ups and downs
(12:53):
of the career. What does that mean to you having
a place as a role model.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
Well, I certainly remember the people who and the women
who inspired me, and they still inspire me today and
keep you going. And I think you know, this career
isn't a trajectory that's straight up. It's up and down
and up again and down and back up again. And
I think it's really wonderful to feel as if you've
(13:21):
made an impact, because if you can make an impact
on one person's life, then it's all worth it. Because yes,
we do this because we love it, and we get
to play in the playground longer than most people do
in life, and that's just such a joy. But we
also work our butts off and sometimes it's not the
(13:44):
result we want it to be, but when we can go,
oh my gosh, I am making an impact in people's lives,
and especially for women and for women feeling empowered, and
I really care about that. So it's an honor. It's
an honor and a pleasure, and I take pride in
it and I hope to continue it. And uh and
I love every one of those women that that came
(14:06):
to that show and felt inspired by the character this
that I played.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
And I think Glora, you inspired not just through hairspray though,
like I mean blonde, I think, like not to say
we all didn't want to be Amber von Kussel, but
maybe she's not the role model that you'd want to.
I was like, I wasn't blying.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
To be an Amber.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
That's all I got to say.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Okay, there's like lots of Ambers, but I'm just saying,
like I was inspired by you and legally blonde like me,
like you inspired me and legally blonde. It's it's so funny.
And then I'm sorry, Cary, didn't mean to jump over you,
but like both these women, it's so great when listen,
we did our press, our little press junket, and the
people that were interviewing us at that moment were, you know,
(14:54):
a bunch of women, Like there were a bunch of
women there and a lot of amazing gay men.
Speaker 9 (14:58):
Let's say clear, I think we inspired both, but you know,
she's a.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Lot of women say to me, like, my gosh, what
it was like, What was it like twenty years ago
to be like a plus sized role model? You were
like there was there wasn't Instagram like feel good about
your body, There wasn't any of that. It was me
and me of Ardlas like she was doing big tach
Greek wedding. I was doing hairspray, and it was like
and I of course like at the time, was like
people would say to me, oh my gosh, there's such
(15:26):
a great plus what's it like to be a plus
size role model? And let me tell you, when when
you're young and you don't understand what any of that means,
you're just like did you just call me? Fast? Like
why are you saying that to me? Like I remember
being on like the morning news and like a newscaster
being like, go, where do you get all your confidence from?
Speaker 9 (15:43):
And I'm like, because I'm fucking awesome.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Me, you know what I mean? Like it was such
a so weird to me. It never I like, never,
it never occurred to me that like where what do
you mean? Where did I get my confidence? Fun? Would
you ever ask like Reese Witherspoon, Where did she get
would I mean you, I didn't ask that, but why
are you asking me that? But as I got older,
I was able to look back at that and be like,
oh my gosh, like I'm so happy that they were
(16:09):
asking those questions and I answered them correctly by the way,
I didn't say what was going on in my head.
Speaker 9 (16:14):
I was like and love, you know, And the truth
was I loved being able to be a role model.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
But now going back and meeting these women twenty years
later and there, you know, and even like when I
talked to like I did like Beauty and the Beast,
so that I was both Rebel Wilson and she was
like I came in sire spray and I was like, wait,
I want to do this. I can do this, you know,
because she loves musical theater and you know, it's like
so many people were inspired by hairspraying, and I remember,
(16:39):
even when we were doing it, thinking, oh my gosh,
these girls are going to this is going to get
to do it at high school. Like when I was
in high school, I didn't get to be the star
because I wasn't even though let's be clear, I was
so much more talented than the people that were getting
to be the stars.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
But I want you to spit the car.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
You know I was I should have been Brizzo and
I Rizzo, but you know what I mean.
Speaker 9 (17:02):
Like, so I was so happy.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
And now I'm so happy meeting these women again. And
so many of them were like I want to bring
Like so many women are like, oh my god, I.
Speaker 9 (17:14):
Saw you twenty two years ago.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
You changed my life, all of us. The show changed
my life. Same with our hold the gay communities, like
it changed our lives. And and now I can't wait
to bring my children and to show you or my
friend that never got to see it, or like to
come to our show and also feel what they felt.
So it's really beautiful. But what I was going to
say about Carrie is like I've been watching Carrie's career
(17:38):
my whole life, obviously, and I'm like, I've always been
so inspired by her because once my son was born,
I was like, well, I can never go back to
Broadway because it's too hard to be a mom, Like
it's too hard. And I always watched her. I'm like,
how does she do it? Show after show with children?
And I was always so inspired by her, just her
being a mom and do it and just like the
(17:59):
building everything that she loved and dreamed. You know, I
took the easy route, like much easier to be a
mom and do a TV show, much easier than to
do a Broadway show. So Harry inspired me, and Laurie
inspires me to come back because of how strong they are,
So they inspire me now Harry what they like to
(18:20):
be a role model.
Speaker 8 (18:21):
So it's I.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
Kind of didn't didn't really think about it that much,
you know, honestly, Like I just love performing so much
that I would always think, like, I'm so lucky that
I get to perform. And you know, I know that
I do touch people and I've gotten like amazing letters.
But I feel like it's all changed in social media,
and now.
Speaker 8 (18:42):
I am very aware of it.
Speaker 7 (18:44):
So when we were growing up, you know, we would
idolize our Pilotpone or you know, Berna Peters, but we
couldn't actually like see.
Speaker 8 (18:51):
What their daily life is like or feel like they
get we get to know them.
Speaker 7 (18:55):
But now people have that, and so now I do
feel a real responsiblity especial just since a lot of
my followers are like tweens, you know from Aime Girls
and Beetlejuice, and both of those shows draw people with
some you know going through like mental problems because it's
they connect with it because they feel seen. So I
do feel a real responsibility to be present and make
(19:20):
sure I kind of stay the right thing or you know,
keep boundaries. Also, I'm inspired, Yeah, continue to inspire life happy.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
And I think when now we kind of approach it
a little bit like we're moms now and so so
we have to take responsibility and how that we uh
influence young people and take them and their issues and
their dreams seriously as seriously as we take our own kids.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
I want to talk about your roles as mothers. You know,
being a parent completely from what I understand, can totally
change your life. But as artists, being a mom, what
kind of texture, what kind of sensibility does that bring to.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Your art, to your music?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
How did that all change when you became am I
thought you want to.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Go no, I was just gonna say.
Speaker 9 (20:06):
I was like, well, I guess I'm never going to
work again.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
I'm like I used to. I remember driving with them
and being like like he was being like my son,
who's now sixteen, and he'd be being a total asshole
and I would be in parpool late and I was like,
oh my god, I used to.
Speaker 9 (20:22):
Beat somebody to do fun things.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
And I got to the point where at one point
my son yelled at me. He's like, why don't you
just go back to New York? And I was like,
oh shit, I must have been saying the wrong thing
long enough that he knows I'm gamp up New York.
So my mother, my mothering maybe is not as good
(20:47):
as my friend scarabot him. But it's interesting being obsessed
with something so much that you forget about yourself. I
make jokes that I gave up my entire career for
my son. I didn't. I'm joking, that's it's a fun
little bit, but I but I would, and I would
do it again all the same way. Like I I've
(21:08):
never loved anything more than myself like this, it's it's
my cell's single. When he's in the room, like I'm
one hundred percent like I get. I always say, I'm
like I need energy, Just give me energy like his
his his his being makes me feel like I have
a bigger purpose. And I think I spent my whole
life being like, it's about me. My life is about me,
(21:30):
and my husband is awesome, but he knows my life
is about me and it's me first. And then then
the MIKI came and I was like, whatever he wants,
I'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Do ye authentic.
Speaker 4 (21:45):
I think that's how it changed for me too.
Speaker 7 (21:46):
You know, like we even joke about during Hairspray, how
Harvey had this pick thing on the wall where like
you you know, this was old school and you did
not miss a show. And so Harvey would like X
people out if they took off for a show, if
they got sick, anything like that, and so I made
it they were off the island off.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
He would literally put our headshots up and process likes,
miss one show. That's the reality show that I want to.
Speaker 7 (22:17):
So I would never miss shows, and you know, I
learned Parvy was my role model to Glitesta was my
role model who also.
Speaker 4 (22:22):
Never shows and so that.
Speaker 8 (22:23):
But then once I had kids, I was like, oh,
this is like I never see them, and so I would.
Speaker 7 (22:30):
Start negoti like for XANDU, I negotiated my contract to
only have Sundays off, and so it's like your priorities shift,
and now I have my daughter in college, so now
it's like, how can I make money?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
I can't believe I'm a daughter in college.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Behind I look at the three of you and I'm
just amazed, Like, you know, you just look just the same.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
It's like a lorel commercial, like a dogs in Care commercial.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Little take it like Laura is the one though, Like
I keep looking at it. Her son just turned five,
and I'm like, I want you to know, Laura, I
wouldn't be like when she when it's like like so
far like today she's like I'm gonna hop off because
I got to take up the bus and I'm like, yeah,
girl'll go. But I I look at her and go, Laura,
I wouldn't have done this when Zev was five. So
it's it's incredible that she wants to hang out with
(23:17):
us and play in the sandbox. Well, her son is
also in the sandbox.
Speaker 9 (23:20):
But do you think what has changed the most for you?
Speaker 5 (23:25):
Well, I mean, like you, I began to take someone
before myself. Uh but and again my husband also knows
it's about me too, So say, having a child just
changed my priorities. I I you know, I just was
(23:46):
overwhelmed when I had him with how I loved this
little being and I barely knew him, but I loved
him more than anything, and I would I would take
him before anything else. And so that has shifted my priorities.
I say no a lot more. I really look at
(24:07):
it is this job that I'm auditioning for going to
take me away, and I don't audition for it any Yeah,
you know, I just really am much more selective and
much more thoughtful about my time because it's not just
you know, leaving him if I get the job, it's
the amount of time it's going to take me to
try to get the job that also takes away from
my kid. I do things very differently now. I prioritize
(24:30):
my family. I prioritize my son and h and I
prioritize my energy, you know. I trim the fat, you know,
meaning I do less things to take my energy away.
I'm with less people that take my energy away because
there is only so much energy to do it all,
and we're trying to do it all, right, so which
(24:51):
want to you know, and we're not going to do
it all. Well, there's kind of be's gonna be days
where you know, I was up all night because I
had a sick kid, and I'm not going to sound
that great for that show the next day, but you
know what, it was worth it for my kids, So
I you know, there are sacrifices that you make, and
I would make them willingly. I definitely think that my
(25:12):
well of emotion, my heart was ripped right open that
we say no, you know, you don't understand.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
We can rehear just in like a rehearsal, like in
my dressing room. We could literally just be rehearsing a
moment like walking walking through the words, walking through the words,
the speed reading, and we look over and Laura's falling
doing this.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
It's like we're just talking about it.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
I look over, Laura's got like a gear coming down.
Garry and I are like, oh my gosh, like three
times from the show every time, like I'm like, you
know what this is.
Speaker 9 (25:52):
I can't even repeat you any.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
I say Laura.
Speaker 4 (25:56):
Laura's saying like she transmit fat, she's doing less. I
don't how she could possibly do more. So when she
says she's doing less, I don't know where she was
what she was doing, because Laura's literally the busiest human
I know most like has so much, Like our schedule
is so freaking packed, and I look at her every
day and I'm like, you inspire me to do more
(26:18):
than I'm doing, Like, how could you possibly do more? Laura?
Speaker 9 (26:21):
But that's why, Laura, that you used to do more.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Well, what I'm saying is, I'm not saying yes to
the crap, right, just because I have time to say
yes to it. And it's not just it's crap to me,
It's not crape. It's just it's and if it's not
a hell yes, it's a hell no.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Right.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
So there's just I'm just a much more selective into
the jobs I'm taking into how it, you know, And
what I'll say in terms of the well of emotion
that's been uh, you know, kind of rip me open,
is that as an actress, I have a deeper well.
Now I am able to access things in a way
that I, you know, would kind of I was scratching
(27:00):
the surface of. But then it just, you know, the
water fall came and and I just in connection points
and understanding, you know, becoming a mom, you really do
get tapped into understanding really what it's like for so
many women in the world. To have the experience of
being a mother, so you become better storytellers because you're you,
you are aware of so many more. Uh, you know
(27:27):
the experience of a mother's When you have a character
that's a mom, you get it right where youh didn't
get it before for family or complications or double standards
around women and men. I mean I certainly think that,
you know, I was already raw raw female independence and feminism,
But until I became a mom and I realized what
was expected of a woman as a parent versus a man,
(27:49):
I was, oh my god, yeah, I mean.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
That is well also having sons, Like I know that
when my son was born, I was like, my first
instinct was, and I say this not proudly, my first
instinct was like, oh, I'm glad it's a boy because
his life will be easier than my life. And as
a woman, as a girl and then raising a son,
I know, like our joke is, I'm like, you need
(28:14):
to have a girl sign a letder of consent, Like
when you go into kiss you need to be like
is it okay, I'm kiss.
Speaker 9 (28:20):
You, I'm now going to kiss you.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
And I'm like literally, like I was teaching and inappropriately,
probably teaching him that at a way too early age.
But I was like to understand, like because like, you know,
just the levity of like consent and you know, making
sure you do everything like don't don't you know, you know.
Speaker 9 (28:39):
Some no means no, and you know all those things
like raising a boy like not.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
You know, it's just not that you know, you don't
have to tell girls that too, But I definitely thought
about raising a sum that way. And and it's funny
thoughcause I have so many friends that have chosen to
not be moms and I and it's so interesting because
I'm like, oh, yeah, if you don't have the one
percent like I need to do this, yeah, don't do it. Don't.
It's really fucking hard, you know. And I have so
(29:04):
many girlfriends that are like, I'm turning forty here, I'm
forty three, and I like never have the like buck
to have a kid, and is there like and I'm like, yeah,
if you're animal, if that didn't happen, it's biology, animal instincts.
Speaker 9 (29:16):
Kid a kick in and we're all frickin' animals.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
And it's like some of us wake up and we're like,
I'm I mean, I was like I must have a child,
like my brain, my body, everything about me. And I
have so many friends that are like, yeah, I don't
want that, and I'm like, yeah, then don't do it
because you have to be a hundred percent in you know,
it's like right, and it's like and I like have
so many wonderful girlfriends that don't have kids and are like,
(29:39):
I am like living my best life. So I think
it is that like, it's not. It isn't for everybody.
But but if if you wake up and you're like,
I gotta have a kid, well the only thing that's
going to work is to have the kid.
Speaker 5 (29:50):
You know, I'm gonna say one thing besides the fact
that also, Marissa, if Huck is like priced to you know,
spot my butt playfully, I said, did you ask for
my consent? Yes, Mommy, do you consent?
Speaker 4 (30:05):
And you're like, yes, I do.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
Do it more, do it more.
Speaker 6 (30:11):
I'm actually just I'm so struck by the three of
you because I think if we were having this conversation
ten or twenty years ago, I'd be interesting to hear
Berniette Peters or Patty LuPone talk about the choices that
were available to them. And I just am so struck
by how all of your the way you're expressing yourselves
is so empowered. And I think, you know, gay men
(30:31):
pick up on that because you know, we've had our
experience of being devalued because less than men, and so
we kind of understand it on that level. And that's
why we love our women so much and we see
and so I'm celebrating that right now hearing you all
say talk about your choices and talk about how you're
determining your lives and that you have the power to
negotiate to make sure you have Sundays off. I mean,
(30:52):
and you're taking that power and I just really respect
you all for that so much.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
We'll add to it. We're doing a show together that
we created together, that we wrote together, that we directed together,
that we're producing together, that we star in together. And
guess what, we're all moms together. And you know what,
we're not doing eight goes a week together. We are
doing five because we are moms, yeah, and because we
(31:22):
have other things that we need to be focused on
in doing, and we also are like, let's take care
of our bodies and our voices. And you have to
audience audiences get the best of us, and our families
get the best of us and not half asking everything,
And I think it's so unrealistic. It's very hard when
you're trying to raise a child and also do be
an actor. You know, there are these downtimes that are wonderful.
(31:44):
You're not doing anything right and so you're completely available
to your family, but you're also freaking out about when
your next job is, you know, the whole entire time,
and then you have this job and you're like, wow,
I can't do bedtimes for six months, and then that's like, oh,
but what this schedule is really wonderful because we have
two shows Saturday, two shows Sunday and one show Monday night.
And and what's been wonderful about touring around like we're
(32:06):
doing the Wallace Show is well we're there for one
night only, one night only, and we're doing two shows,
so we're packing it.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
All and you know, yeah, we got we gotta tell
you about the Wallace Show for one second because it
is in LA. That's our literally gonna be. That's like
I joke that we get to we're doing their La.
We have two shows in La, once at seven, once
at nine thirty. I want to tell your audience that
I to come to the nine thirty one because I
think the seven o'clock is sold out, So get your
(32:33):
tickets to the nine thirty because it's going to be
the fun show. You know we're gonna I think I
actually was like, oh, that might be our like gay
boy show, because we are going to want to come
to the early show. Or it's the mom show, the
pool moms that are like putting my kid to bad
having dinner and going to a show after the kids
go to sleep, right, But like I kind of think
it's the Gay Boy Show, and let's like it can
be like a little more off Gilter and there's nothing
(32:54):
Laura Bell wants to do more than an off filter show.
So true, but I think like on the Wallace Show
for us on the on September twenty sixth at the
Wallace Annenberg Stages in Beverly Hills, get your tickets right now.
Speaker 9 (33:11):
But the Wallace Show is our show, is kind of
our out of town try.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
It's the it's the la people.
Speaker 5 (33:19):
Get to see us.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
That's our show right before we go to open on
Off Broadway. So that's gonna be that might be telling
to things that we do it might like we might
be like, oh that work, that didn't work. We're gonna change,
We're gonna like play with like. So I'm really excited
to do it for the in LA with like with
our like theater crowd or like Los Angeles theater crowd.
So I'm excited for those two shows. And and yeah,
(33:42):
we like scheduled it around. You know, Carrie's daughter went
and went off to college, and Laura's son started kindergarten.
Speaker 9 (33:48):
And my son had a massive tennis match, so.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
It was like, this is the date it's working, you know.
So that again has been so empowering to be and
I like people coming and seeing the show and knowing
that we like literally like the.
Speaker 9 (34:03):
Strike happened, and we did this for ourselves, and no
one wrote it.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Like people are writing shows obviously and are like, come
be in our show, but like, no one was writing
a show for us, So we wrote a show for ourselves.
And and honestly, like it's been really beautiful and awesome
and working with such strong women and look, we all
have such strong opinions, but I trust both of their
opinions probably more than my own. Sometimes I'm like, Laura,
(34:28):
tell me what's to do that's funny? Okay?
Speaker 7 (34:30):
God?
Speaker 4 (34:30):
You know, or like I'm like Carrie, what's that beat?
Speaker 9 (34:32):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Got it? You know, it's like we're very like I
trust these two. I don't feel like I have to
carry the show. I don't feel like it's on my shoulders.
I'm not like, all right, let's go, I got I
gotta sell this dru. I'm like, I got two other
women here who are going to sell it more than
I am. So let's just go and have some fun.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
You know, so you're co directing too on top of
everything else.
Speaker 5 (34:53):
Yes, you should see us working out bits together.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
All of you can answer this question.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
But like Kerry, I wanted to sort it because I
loved Zamado so much when I thought it was so fun,
and you know, I think I was sort of snobby
when I went to see it.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
You know, I was like, it was supposed to be
a flop.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
It was that really was, and it wasn't.
Speaker 6 (35:17):
And sort of like, I think as somebody who did
a lot of shows when I was younger, more regional
and community and all that stuff, so I never originated
a role and I think and all of you have,
and you know, and a couple of you, multiple ones,
and I think, what's Yeah, I think that's an amazing opportunity.
And so when you did something like Xanadu, and I
am thinking of it, like you really had to capture
the camp to make that work. And so I just,
(35:39):
you know, wondered if you could talk a little bit
about the difference between your process and originating a role
versus taking on a role that's been done.
Speaker 7 (35:47):
Sure, So I don't, Well, first of all, like I
grew up loving a living noon John, so she like
I tried this thing like her. You know, I was
in Greece all that stuff. I loved living in John.
And so when I had done all the readings for
Douglas Carter Bean before and really the script really really transformed,
(36:08):
and then fun Facts, they did a workshop and they
offered it to Jane Krakowski because they did it with
Cheyenna and Jane Krakowski because they wanted a star to
sell the show. And then Jane had to drop out.
So then they came back to me like would you
do it? I'm like yeah, and they were like can
you skate? I'm like yeah, And my husband's like, did
(36:31):
you just tell them you I'm like, yeah, I's like
we've been together for you know, however, our entire lives,
and I've never seen you together. It was like, well,
when I was ten, I used to go to roller
disco birthdays all the time.
Speaker 4 (36:44):
So reading.
Speaker 7 (36:47):
Back to your question, so I don't watch the movies.
I mean with Oliviya and John, I kind of just knew,
you know. I try and think of what my version
of them is, and then once I have my own
version of the character, then go back and watch this show.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
So I went back and watched.
Speaker 7 (37:02):
Olivia and John, and I really kind of thought, oh, what,
what will the audience love, you know? And then I
find it more once I'm in front of the audience,
Like That's how I found out that they loved the
way I was pronouncing certain words with the Australian accent,
like I must guy and like the more I and
so then every time I would do it, it was
(37:24):
or like, you know, the breathy thing.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
Like all that stuff.
Speaker 7 (37:28):
I found out when I'm from watching it, I'm think like, oh,
I wonder if that would work, and then I do
in front of the audience, and the audience kind of
gives me the information.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
The three of you obviously have so much chemistry. We
know in the entertainment business sometimes it's very backstabby. We
know in the drag and the gay world, it's very
full of jealousy. But the three of you have really
bonded and over the course of decades. What is the
difference between your friendships and kind of other friendships that
happen in the entertainment business. What is it about the
other person or the other the other two that builds
(37:58):
this chemistry, this bar this trust, dishonesty because this is very,
i have to say, unusual in an industry where the
three of you have fought for stage TV roles, you know,
but you're supporting each other.
Speaker 9 (38:12):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
We're kind of like the new Golden Girls. We've decided,
you know, like basically know how we are. So for me,
I don't I don't know what their answer is, But
for me, it's just kind of been respect of their
who they are as people, respect of who they are
as talent. Respect I've like, I respect these women so much,
(38:36):
and yeah, like we probably all have been up for
the same roles. But if you're gonna hire me, you're
not gonna hire her. You're not gonna hire Carrie. Like,
if you're gonna hire carry, you have no interest in
me like it, you know what I mean? Like I
think there's like I think that that's like like the
girls hear me say this a lot because I like
to say this to like young girls and young actors.
Speaker 9 (38:54):
Or maybe I'll say it to the drag world as well.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
Yes, please, there can be I'm.
Speaker 4 (38:58):
Gonna say to the drag world just so you guys knows,
there can be more than one shiny penny.
Speaker 9 (39:03):
There can be three shiny pennies on stage together.
Speaker 4 (39:06):
Like and when you put yourself with more talented people,
you only look better. So when if you want a
director a director, is that like I want to fire
one talented person and then reason four talented people. So
if you're putting on a drag show, you've got a.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Good fucking drag brunch.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
Right, Yes, you want to be four of the you
want to be like I want Nina West and and
you know, like you know, I want all of them.
Speaker 5 (39:32):
I want the four best drag.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
Queens standing next to me. I don't want Lemon Lemon
and then I'm a star.
Speaker 5 (39:39):
You can be you.
Speaker 4 (39:41):
It raises your talent to be with talent, you know,
like like Bianca del Rio, she doesn't want to work
with like shit. She might she might want to just
be the star, but I'm just you know what I mean.
So I think, like I want to be I want
to be with them because they only make me better.
So I think that for the for my drag friends
out there, you put four amazing drag queens and a
(40:03):
drag brunch, I'm going to be there much faster than
if it's just one.
Speaker 5 (40:06):
Yeah, And you know what we learn from each other,
like I've learned from both of them, timing things throughout
the years, like just you know, you when you're around
the talent, you sort of do, you know, take it
on like osmosis. And it's then because as actors you
are observers. And I'll say, you know, we Carrie and
(40:26):
I have had some stories. We used to go, we
used to be in our dressing room that we shared together.
We both get scripted the same the same audition, and
we'd read it with each other.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
Also with you and you with me.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
It's insane.
Speaker 4 (40:40):
I wouldn't I wouldn't do that, just to be clear, too.
Speaker 5 (40:45):
Far, but here's what learned we did it differently. We
both have a different recipe, a different comedic recipe. Even
though we both have time comedic timing, we kind of
stress different things and it's very natural to us. And
even you know, we have this funny moment in the
show where I sing illegally blonde Medley and Carrie goes,
(41:06):
what does that sound? That's true because I did all
of the demos and here's the thing that happens. But
the thing is the at the end of the day,
I called Carrie when I got those demos. Carrie, I'm
going to say, to these demos, want sound amazing?
Speaker 4 (41:36):
Get it?
Speaker 5 (41:37):
Because you know, listen, when we shared a dressing room,
everything was an open book. We were so excited for
each other to get because we love each other as people,
and we also know whoever is meant to get the
role is meant to get the role that's their life trajectories.
And we're very spiritual people as well, and so you know,
we kind of are like, I want I want my
(42:00):
friend to win, and just because my friend wins doesn't
mean I lose. There's something there, There's some other trophy
here for me, and I need to turn this way
and go find it, you know.
Speaker 9 (42:13):
That's that's kind of how it is.
Speaker 5 (42:15):
So I really do believe that you get you get
the parts, and you get the jobs you're meant to
get are and your worst enemy is yourself. Yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
I always tell young actresses that it has nothing to
do with them getting you know, if you don't get
the part, it has nothing to do with them. Like it.
There's so many variables that lead up to getting a job.
You could literally just look like someone's aunt who they hate,
like that's why you don't get it, you know, or
like like the funniest person sometimes doesn't get the role.
Like there's been times that I've watched people's auditions through
(42:49):
my husband and I'm like, that person's the funniest, but
it's like she doesn't.
Speaker 9 (42:52):
Fit the job, you know. So it's like you go in,
do your best job, move on.
Speaker 6 (42:56):
You know.
Speaker 4 (42:56):
Now, if you get the job, it's all because of you.
And I would say too our friendship. You know, we.
Speaker 7 (43:05):
We had already worked, but doing Hairspring was such a
magical experience and having that time together and we were
together like twenty four to seven because we did so
much press and so much extra stuff. So we just
all got so close and everybody in the whole cast
is a family. We show up for each other and
(43:26):
we like even when we don't see each other, we
just like love each other and have this special place
in our hearts for everyone who was involved in that
original show.
Speaker 4 (43:36):
Yeah, the the friendship through everyone. I mean like Matthew
Morrison and Corey they all like when I move. I
moved to la first, and then everybody sort of came
and crashed at my house. I was like the halfway house,
the success.
Speaker 3 (43:47):
I've heard that from.
Speaker 4 (43:49):
Yeah, yeah, it's true, Like so many people like that,
and my house isn't big enough everything. Like these girls
are like when they come to do the Wallace, they're like, oh,
you know, we're staying at a hotel. But like a
s couple, they're coming in a couple of nights earlier,
and they both have been like, we stay at your house.
I'm like, yeah, you can both stay. It's not gonna
be very comfortable, but can you room, Like one of
(44:10):
you will be in my son's bag because he's at
Boarding Skull, which is fantastic, and will be in the
guest room.
Speaker 9 (44:17):
Do you know, just my dog's better now. But but
our friendship was so strong because also the magic about.
Speaker 4 (44:24):
Hairspray was even though like, even though it was like
you know, a Tracy story, it was such an ensemble
cast everybody had. There was no competition or jealousy between
us because everybody had their reasons, their moments. It wasn't
like like you know, like the Musical nine, where like
(44:46):
everyone has one one song and they're all up against
each other my jokes only like I was actually the
straight one to carry. Carrie had the jokes, Laura had
the jokes. I would just stare blindly wait for them
to get their loves and keep the engine running, you know.
But I remember doing it and being like, because I
was always the sidekick, you know, I'm the sidekick, and
(45:07):
to be in a show where I was I was
the straight woman. Tracy was the straight woman, you know.
Speaker 9 (45:10):
She just kind of keeps the story going moving forward.
Speaker 4 (45:14):
But I like when I remember Carrie's laughs, Like I
remember the first time when we would like run across
the stage together and she would have a joke, and
I remember like freezing.
Speaker 8 (45:24):
I was like, I can't chew my gum and run
at the same time, right, isn't it that.
Speaker 9 (45:29):
It's like it's like holding her hand.
Speaker 4 (45:31):
And I remember that in my mind, waiting for their
laugh to be over and her being like they get
it and keep going, you know.
Speaker 9 (45:38):
And it was never about like like oh theay, like
my laugh.
Speaker 4 (45:40):
Because because my it was, it was Carrie's laugh and
then Amber would you know, be in my face and
I'd be like, they are loving work. It was like
so magical because we all the characters were so defined
and I always said that it was like a fish
bowl where we came in one day and said, Okay,
(46:01):
I'm the lead, I'm the entre new I'm the sidekick.
I'm that Like nobody's parts really made that much sense,
you know, like so it were I mean, Laura, you Amber,
Let's be honest, but you know what I mean, like
like everybody could have like I you know, in a
different yeah, but in a different in a different world.
(46:22):
We all could have played different parts because they were
all everybody. I mean even to our ensemble. Girl, you know,
it's like came out of our ensemble. Shashana Beans came
out of our ensemble. You know, John Gambitiees like came
out of our ensemble. You're just like John Amil, You're
like what these people are. So everybody was a star
and everybody had a moment, so there was no competition
(46:43):
between us, so we all were able to continue our
friendship and relish in each other's success.
Speaker 5 (46:49):
To this day, we go see each other in shows,
we watch each other's things. We vote for Marissa about
one hundred thousand times, and chancing with the stars or brothers.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Yeah, I figures got hired.
Speaker 5 (47:04):
For real. We are we truly are a family that
supports each other. And uh, it's beautiful. It really is
a beautiful thing. It's a special thing. It's a different thing.
It's not it doesn't always happen. And you know, I
ran into Scott Whitman last night and he said that
to me. He goes, you know, this doesn't always happen.
Speaker 3 (47:22):
It doesn't.
Speaker 8 (47:22):
And we look at what yep, Oh, it's just going.
Speaker 9 (47:25):
To say that the wall is just to make sure
everybody hears this and comes to the walls.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
The wallis dot org for tickets, wallis dot org for tickets.
Speaker 4 (47:32):
Thank you, it's the nine Show. But like I just
like made a blanket call and reached out to a
bunch of the original cast members and were like, hey,
you guys want to come and jump up on stage
to the end for like you can't stop the beat?
Now that's an inside surprise.
Speaker 2 (47:47):
Yes, girl, And we have to say when we look
at Hairspray, it challenged Broadway that musical was based on
a movie can work. It also challenged what diversity looks
like on stage with it being part of the whole
picture rather than like stuck casting. You know, Murse, I
know you went through some of those interviews that were
a little uncomfortable, but look, we have all different body types,
we have all different colors, we have all different genders
that are now playing. We're having non binary people in Oklahoma.
(48:11):
And the conversation now is not only leading just leading
with that headline. Now we're looking at the at the
show as a whole. I think Hairspray and a lot to.
Speaker 4 (48:17):
Do with yes. Yes, I just I just got chills
when you said that. Yeah, I remember, Yeah, there's been
so much more, is it? Inclusivity is not the right word.
Am I using it correctly? But then there had been
on Broadway prior, and I do I do think that
Hairspray did change some role models and did change some
(48:37):
you know, things. I think that there's still a long
way for us to go. And I and I love
And it's funny because whenever we talk about how far
we've come, it like goes back to the Hairspray song,
but like I know where I've been, but it's like
I know where I'm going, and I think that that's
still so it's like where we are, you know, not
to get political, it's like we came so far and
then we went backwards, and now we need to go.
(49:00):
We need to push forward again. And it's like you
can never just be, you can never close your eyes.
And so as far as we're coming on Broadway or
in you know, in the trans community, we're moving. But
you have to keep moving forward. You have to keep
pushing for who's not just for your underdog. It wasn't
just for Tracy, like Tracy represented when John Waters. I
asked John Waters, you know, like when he would talk
(49:21):
about Tracy Turnblag, he would say, the person who gets
picked on the most in high school is the overweight,
fat girl. And he said, and that's why he wrote Hairspray,
because because he's.
Speaker 9 (49:32):
Like even even a gay boy can do well.
Speaker 4 (49:34):
I'm in high school but the fat girl in high school,
she doesn't do so good, you know, And that's where
it like really came from. Now the fat girl does fine, right, say,
I don't know, like what is even fat anymore?
Speaker 5 (49:45):
Right?
Speaker 4 (49:46):
But there are like so I can't close like I
can move. I'm like, Okay, I'm going to keep moving
forward for the for body positivity, but I'm also going
to move forward for the group that's having the struggle
at the time. You can't only fight for your her
own struggle. And I think that that's the most important message.
And in Hairspray, it's kind of about that, right, Like Tracy,
(50:07):
Tracy can dance on the dance show, right, I mean
to put it like blankly, It's like Tracy was fighting
to dance on the dance show, but then she realized, oh, well,
why can't I dance with Seaweed? Well, literally we should
be able to dance together. And then it wasn't about
Tracy dancing. Tracy was like, no, I don't want to
dance unless my friends, my African American friends.
Speaker 9 (50:25):
Or my black friends can dance right with me.
Speaker 4 (50:27):
So she was fighting for a group that had nothing
that didn't have to do with her and I think
that's the message that keeps moving forward. You can't just
fight for your own minority. You have to fight for
the minority that needs your support.
Speaker 2 (50:42):
I mean, that's exactly right, and that's the perfect book.
Speaker 3 (50:44):
End ladies.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
We have pages and pages of questions for I was like,
we did get but I think, you know, we talked
about I think what at the heart of the show,
And so I want to know from the three of you,
what was the most important for you in putting mom
I'm a big girl. Now for audience to walk.
Speaker 7 (50:59):
Away with merchandise, would I would say we want them
to have a really good time, just because after everything
we've been through, you know, with COVID and everything, with politics, everything,
(51:19):
we just want our audience to come and like feel
nostalgic and and feel the positivity of friendship and this amazing.
Speaker 8 (51:29):
Music and just have an amazing fun time.
Speaker 5 (51:32):
Yeah, they're getting they're getting the inside scoop of us.
You know, they're getting a little the inside scoop. They're
hearing our origin stories, they're hearing the story of our friendship.
They're if you're a mom, you feel seen, Yeah, totally.
And uh, And so you know, I think it's really
it's a really fun time, a good laugh of fun time,
(51:54):
songs that you you remember and you can sing. If
you liked musical theater and the early Offs, man, this
is the show for you, or if you just like
any songs.
Speaker 9 (52:06):
The gay men love it.
Speaker 4 (52:08):
Yeah, we are.
Speaker 9 (52:12):
I'm gonna say it's funny because you know, we because
we are moms.
Speaker 4 (52:15):
We are so like, oh we want some moms. But
like like when we first started working this, it was
really being written for.
Speaker 9 (52:21):
Our for our gay audience. We were I was like, well,
I'm gonna listen.
Speaker 4 (52:25):
I didn't do Gypsy. I'm singing from Gypsy because you
know what I got. That's what they want to hear
me say. I like, you know right? I mean and
I do.
Speaker 3 (52:33):
And if you think about.
Speaker 5 (52:34):
Majority of our jokes. So we did a show in
Orlando and we were like, oh, thank god, our gays
are over at that table.
Speaker 4 (52:43):
That is the truth. That are we get some hard
we have some hard cut laugh that if there are
twenty gay men in the audience, we're kind of fucked.
Speaker 3 (52:55):
All right, you'll hear my laugh. Yeah, he my face
is already here.
Speaker 5 (53:00):
I've just.
Speaker 3 (53:02):
Smiles.
Speaker 2 (53:04):
It has been such an honor and a pleasure. And
you know, like we've said many times during the show,
you have been such an inspiration each one of your careers.
It's just and it's I mean, it's just, it's just
it's wow. It's all I can say. And while wapside
down his mom.
Speaker 4 (53:17):
There you go.
Speaker 5 (53:19):
There, you'll send you, We'll send you the merchant.
Speaker 10 (53:29):
There you go, send you a copy of everything we
make with You're totally We just stole it, a recording
that I stole it.
Speaker 4 (53:42):
I'm telling you now you can have a girl.
Speaker 5 (53:45):
You can have it.
Speaker 9 (53:47):
What are you gonna do with it?
Speaker 2 (53:48):
Are you all right?
Speaker 9 (53:49):
What are you going to do with that?
Speaker 4 (53:51):
Bro play?
Speaker 3 (53:51):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (53:56):
Ladies, will you tell your fans where you want them
to find and follow you first?
Speaker 5 (54:04):
No, we don't want anyone to find this. No, Oh
my good At Mama I'm a Big Girl Now show
on Instagram and TikTok.
Speaker 4 (54:13):
Rights us without the show. TikTok's just Mama and Big
Girl Now and then and we do have a website
that's Mama and the Big Girl Now. Hockey Just Rock
was also in the theater. He played Shrek in Shrek
the Musical. I don't want. I don't want him to
(54:34):
get upstaged by the Broadway stars in the room. But
track Instra the musical. It's so cat and I see
who this is and that my friend, he's like two
divas and two gay men. He's like that. Yeah, Okay,
(55:00):
go to go to get our tickets in at the
Wallace Annenberg. And then if you're in New York after,
you know, during the holiday season, go to our website. Mom,
I'm a big girl now, and you can get tickets
for our show, or just go to any of the
ticket Master places that buy tickets for New York. So
get those circuits because those are going to go fast,
because that's the limited engagement.
Speaker 3 (55:18):
Also, absolutely, what Laura.
Speaker 4 (55:21):
You had something, Laura go.
Speaker 5 (55:23):
I was just gonna say you could find us at
our own handles as well. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, that
can always feed you to places.
Speaker 2 (55:29):
Yes exactly, Ladies, thank you for spending the time with us.
I know we talk about your busy time and can't
wait to see you on on both coasts.
Speaker 4 (55:40):
Thank you so much, thank you, thank you, thanks, thank you,
thank you.
Speaker 2 (55:45):
You can get your tickets at the Wallace dot Org.
I'm just like, like, I don't even have to say
at this point, I just keep getting goose bumps.
Speaker 3 (55:52):
I know, well, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (55:53):
It's always grabbing bag of fun here on the Rocks.
Big thank you to Engineering Station under Tony A Sweet
our social media clip Editorlectus Mende's coming. We have Taylor
Armstrong from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Orange County,
and for Halloween season we have the Hollywood exercist to
the Stars and her client list is crazy. We also
have the Bullet Brothers, Dragula, Judge Michael Varati. Please like
share subscribes so we can continue bringing the show for
(56:15):
you for free until next time. Stay happy, stay healthy,
stay sexy, and if you drink a little, stay tipsy.
Speaker 5 (56:22):
Yes,
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