February 25, 2024 • 63 mins
Hello Backstory Fans! Jump into the world of performing arts with today's incredible guest, Broadway star Tamra Hayden. Experience a mix of humor, inspiration and passion as Tamra reflects on her evolutionary journey from holding her first guitar to gracing the acting stage.
In this episode, you'll get a rare glimpse into the compelling world of musical theater, and be introduced to Tamra’s unique approach of lacing every project with a pinch of hilarity. Expect heartwarming stories, pursuing ambitions and insights into future projects all wrapped up in laughter and enlightenment.
Discover a captivating conversation rooted in passion and talent. From early interests in music to her acting roles, journey alongside Tamra as she explores her connection to music and opens up about her personal journey with unexpected twists and turns.
Engage with Tamra's tales of collaboration, her journey into acting, and refreshingly honest glimpses into her life. Follow her as she shares her experiences of auditions, personal tragedy, and resilience in the face of adversity. Walk with her as she discusses finding a balance between solitary creativity and fruitful collaborations.
This love-filled narrative is not just a captivating episode; it's an emotional journey bearing testament to Tamra's drive and dedication. Pull up a seat and dive into this beautiful story of the old and the new, the innate and the learned, as you listen to her unique backstory.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Music.
(00:53):
I'm joined today by my co-host, Matt.
Hey, Matt. Hey, Kat. Hey, everyone. How are you?
Well, I would say this, Matt, has been an enjoyable February Backstory of Love Month.
We had some really great love stories. Yes, for sure.
It was, you know, it was pretty interesting. I mean, I'm not a sappy Valentine's type,
(01:20):
but I did enjoy giving all those little tidbits about the history of Valentine's
Day and that sort of thing.
Well, I just enjoyed, like, your Valentine's trivia, you know,
and getting all three candy answers right.
You know. Yeah. It started out pretty strong for me there. Yeah.
(01:45):
And so this story this week, you know, is a little bit different because sometimes,
you know, you never know, like in love or really anything else,
like what the path is or, you know,
what like at any time fate's going to, you know, drop some kind of obstacle in your way.
(02:09):
Yeah, that's true. I mean, certainly I'm assuming she's had her share of ups and downs.
Yeah, and so we're going to hear all about her love story.
I think this is exciting, too, though, because this is our first,
I believe, our first guest that their career is primarily on stage.
(02:36):
And we have a lot of actors that start on the stage, and then they,
you know, move to the screen.
And some end up always you know
coming back to the stage like periodically because
i think when it comes down to it i think all
true actors really like there's
(02:58):
nothing like live theater you know even
if you like make gazillion dollars on
film and that kind of thing like there's something
special about the stage and live
theater yeah i'd agree with
you i'm trying to rethink if there's been
anyone else i mean we've talked to a lot
(03:20):
of musicians who they spend their life on a
stage but uh i can't
think of any of any other actors most of them have been like you were saying
they start out on the stage and they go into movies and you know whatever but
yeah i think she is the first one well and so to be you know multi-talented.
(03:44):
Which you have to be for the stage
and you know like in acting for film
too it doesn't hurt if you you know like
if you're a stump person you know if you're able
to do like certain things you open yourself up to
more opportunities or you could potentially
but you know so she in order
(04:06):
to be on Broadway and the musicals she'll need
to be able to sing well act well
dance you know like there's a lot
that goes into being successful on broadway
oh yeah i can imagine do you
like musicals i mean i
guess some of them are pretty good others
(04:30):
are just beyond me you know
i haven't seen a whole lot of them
so i can't say i can't
say that i love them but yeah some of them
are pretty good well there you know there's a prince one that's coming out so
i'm really curious how that's going to be i would love to see that is that like
(04:53):
gonna be i mean is that like a broadway show or yeah it's gonna be really what's it about you know.
I'm guessing it's going to have a lot of purple in it, you know?
Yeah, but I mean, is it like about like, you know, is it about his life or like, you know?
(05:13):
Yeah, I guess it would be, you know, with his songs and all of that implemented into it.
So I don't know when it's premiering, you know, opening, but I really am very curious about that.
So i'm looking forward to you know
maybe the opportunity to see that yeah yeah
(05:35):
i mean maybe it'll come around or maybe you'll get to broadway you've
been before right i have yes and
i took a like many students like
i don't know there's probably like 70 all together
yeah you know and we all we
all went there and saw phantom of the opera and then
also i took another group was my birthday
(05:58):
actually to a touring broadway to
see hairspray and that was really great you know kids really love that i did
too you know like it it was kind of surreal when i was having my surgery the
year ago and really you know thinking about you know the hairspray is you know
(06:19):
good Good morning, Baltimore.
And, you know, I was in Baltimore and all that. Yeah, yeah.
I never, you know, it has a lot different feel to it in Hairspray than it does
when you're, like, there. Yeah.
Yeah, especially there for surgery. So, yeah, I don't know.
I just think, like, I wanted to write a musical.
(06:44):
Like, that's still something I have on my bucket list.
And if you ever like get
your guitar in yeah we're gonna
write a musical someday i feel like yeah what would
your musical be about well you know
i i do have some ideas already like i'm straight plays that i also have a few
(07:08):
songs already written so you know yeah it's gonna be I I think it will be you
know, a love story, of course,
But, you know, I'd feel like once you get your guitar, it'll be like the universe
(07:29):
saying it's time to write that musical.
So maybe it ends this year. Who knows?
Yeah, I would not put a lot of stock in that one.
I just don't think I could write songs.
But you never know until you try, right?
Yeah, that's true. I just don't think I could write any songs that would be,
(07:53):
I mean, musical worthy, I guess. I don't know.
But you have experimented with, like, lyrics, right?
Yeah, I have. So, I don't know. Maybe.
I just can't, like, melodies don't really come to me.
Well, you know, I just feel like you had never written a play either when I first met you.
(08:20):
Yeah that's true there you go see
so i just feel like listeners that
i will be able to have that effect and we'll
just like write a musical from from us someday
yeah well i mean we're still
working on unstoppable so uh you know
(08:40):
don't hold your breath now you
have said on the podcast a a couple of times that
i've said it three what we're
almost at the end of year four i've said it
every year so i mean well this could
be the year that you mean yeah i mean i have i think i have two well we have
(09:02):
two other projects ahead of it so that we're really close to finishing uh but
i mean unstoppable yeah that's something that i'd really like to get done.
Well you know what is possible and
and i have also on my this year
list so you know i have like i have a long
(09:22):
list things like this year there's a
lot of things i want to accomplish and so i got like a bucket list you know
which is your like long-term projects and then you know i've got my list for
this year and one of the things like you know with tri-county mystery meets we are are exploring,
(09:43):
like, we do comedy,
you know, definitely dinner theater, comedy,
mystery, whodunit type things.
Right. But in July, we're going to actually do our first full-length drama,
and you know how I love dramas, so I'm so, like, you know, excited about this.
(10:03):
But, you know, Unstoppable, the play, which correlates closely with the book,
I really want to get that stage two.
That would be cool. I mean, that would be amazing. So, um.
You know i'm thinking it could be a good time to have the
book finished and just like premiere both at once but yeah well i have to be
(10:28):
later in the year so because i got around my birthday month would be you know
a great time for that yeah november huh yeah i better start on it now then,
you better get with it because you know the birthday train is a coming yeah that's true,
(10:49):
For you, it stops for you first, Sarah.
Well, yeah, that's true. It does.
But at any rate, you know, I mean, we're probably not going to write a Broadway successful musical.
But, you know, who knows? I do have aspirations to write one.
(11:10):
So I admire and I'm looking forward to talking with Tamara just to,
you know, see what inspires her and like what age she started working towards this.
Was this always her goal? You know, just all those questions. Right.
You know, she's crossed over into music, you know, putting out her own music.
(11:34):
Right. I remember seeing the poll that you put up about her first guitar.
Yes. Yes, and I thought it was so amazing that she still has that guitar.
Yeah. And was kind enough to send us a photo of it.
And we were able to post that in the group and see if anyone could identify it.
(11:54):
And we had a lot of guesses.
Yeah, everybody thought it was a Martin.
Yes, yes. Did you think so as well?
I wasn't really sure. I thought maybe it was like a Yamaha or something.
Mm hmm. Well, we will learn out and we will learn in this interview exactly,
(12:16):
you know, what it is, because I'm going to ask.
But she was very kind to send us the photo.
Mm hmm. Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, if anybody wants to tour Martin Guitars,
their factory is about 20 minutes from me.
Well, would you be the tour guide? No, they have a tour that you do.
(12:40):
You walk through and get to see how they make them. And it's pretty cool, actually.
So you've been on the tour? Yeah, I did it years ago.
But it's pretty interesting. And, of course, it ends in the gift shop where,
you know, if you know anything about Martin Guitars, they're not cheap.
So it's pretty pretty
(13:03):
interesting to you know
go to the gift shop and they have guitars that
are you know two four eight thousand you know that sort of thing or more well
i think it's interesting like you know that most of the people we interview
they have their favorite um you know guitar like Yeah, I mean,
(13:26):
certainly it's just something that you,
you know, a certain type or even a certain model or maybe even the first one that you ever owned.
Well, it's fascinating, you know, talent and how it evolves and just the fact
that we have been able to tell so many amazing backstories is, you know, I just love it.
(13:53):
And every week I look forward to hearing, you know, how did that guest get to where they are today?
Yes. And who might be coming up next?
Oh, my gosh. I'm so happy about who's coming up next.
Yeah. I guess you'll have to wait till Monday to find out. But it's going to
(14:15):
be interesting. That was a clue. Yeah.
All right. so let's talk to Tamara and see you know find out about her backstory yes.
And Tamara, I want to welcome you to Backstory Sessions.
I am so excited to talk to you today and hear all about your backstory.
(14:36):
Oh, thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure.
Well, I mean, when you have a mantra that is peace, love, and hilarity,
you know that is a person that you want to interview.
So let's start with that. that like, you know, what, why did you choose that?
(14:58):
Like, what do each of those words mean to you so much that you would include them?
Well, I, I had to think long and hard about what is my mantra,
because I do like to work towards peace in my own life in the world.
Love just, you know, of course, and then I didn't want to follow with just joy,
(15:19):
which I think joy, you know, encompasses is a lot it's more
hilarious it seems like my coping skill
and my my spirit animal is probably
a monkey I've always you know if you saw me backstage at any of my shows I'm
always up to some antics you know swinging from the rafters or knee sliding
(15:41):
into the wall so I I had to include include hilarity because it's like,
I love to make people laugh.
I think my, if I weren't an actress, I'd want to be a clown full time, you know?
So I had to use hilarity instead of just joy.
Well, you know, I am glad that you use that word because I own a touring dinner
(16:07):
theater and And we do comedies.
And so there's something about laughter, you know, that makes it's just really
a good thing. People want to laugh, don't you think?
Oh, yeah, it's imperative. And I do find that's what I, you know,
I often say that my backstage show is much more fun than my onstage show,
(16:31):
depending what I'm doing.
I like to get my dressers laughing. I like to get people backstage laughing.
And in my life just anytime anytime
I can get someone to laugh it's like I'm I'm just hiding and waiting for that
moment well what is something funny like share a story with us that you know
(16:53):
that you made somebody laugh maybe unexpectedly or you know it's a funny story that you have.
Well, OK, I'll go with some of the stuff I used to do when I was in Les Mis. I would.
Well, there's so many. I would make my dressers laugh by just I try.
It's almost like I would be developing my material. I don't know.
(17:14):
Just instead of just putting my feet into a gown one foot at a time,
I hop into it both at the same time and, you know, do a forward roll or something.
Something, just slapstick comedy.
When I was in college and I was able to wear my high-heeled shoes and it was
snowy out and really icy,
(17:35):
I got really good at acting like I was really slipping on the ice when people
were far enough where they couldn't help me. And I'd be like,
slide, slide, slide, slide.
And they'd be almost to me. I'd go, no, I'm fine.
And they'd keep honking. So stupid stuff like that, you know,
helping someone off with their coat and ending it with it on me backwards you
(17:56):
know stuff like that I mean it's fun to do that,
yeah do you ever like make TikTok videos or
things like that no but I should I you should I I should see that's the thing
I'm thinking oh gosh if TikTok had been around 20 years ago I probably would
have started it and I keep thinking I should go to TikTok and I just haven't
(18:19):
yet but You've got to now.
You've got to demonstrate whether they use or not. Yeah. The gauntlet has been thrown.
Well, like the things I want to do on Tik TOK.
Do dancing to the oldies and i'm not talking old music i'm talking really old
music like classical like carmina barana or something like that which i think
(18:41):
would be ridiculous but fun,
well we'll be looking for the launch of
that okay why not
and you know it's funny that you said
like the really old music because matt and i've
had this discussion before uh he was
listening to the radio which told him like
(19:03):
the oldies music was like the
music we grew up listening to you know
like 80s music is now you go
ouch yeah really that's not
old i don't know what's wrong
wrong with radio but i was
i was in the grocery store over the
(19:25):
weekend this past weekend and i heard twisted sister playing on the on the you
know the pa system i was like what i mean usually it's like some classical version
of some popular standard kind of thing but no twisted sister.
(19:46):
You gotta wonder who's in charge of the
music that day you know you never know
i didn't realize it was something that you know that would be played over the
pa system in a grocery store usually it's like music or whatever so i know right
that is interesting don't tell me that's become music no i know don't do it don't.
(20:14):
Next that'll be motley crew yeah i was like those oldies yeah that feels funny,
Oh, my goodness. Well, so in your backstory, let's go back to the oldies of you. Oh, dear.
You come from a long line of talented women. women.
(20:35):
And, you know, I, I find that to be fascinating,
but also great that you, you know, that you have that line of women to inherit
all these, you know, like genealogy skills or whatever from. Yeah.
So things that are in your DNA, sorry. Yeah.
(20:58):
Well, that is, my dad always said that I I came by it naturally.
And I was thinking about that the other day, how my first instrument was accordion,
that an accordion salesman showed up at the door.
I thought he just showed up. I was four years old. When does that happen?
You know, but I guess they, but they had made an arrangement for this guy to
(21:21):
stop by with his accordions because my parents were interested for some crazy
reason to take him accordion.
And they put a little one on me and I started playing something and they were
amazed. They were like, she comes by this naturally.
I'm thinking accordion is not natural.
Anyway, but there wasn't, you know, my grandmother would play for us and I loved it.
(21:45):
She'd sit us down and she'd play piano with her left hand and marimba with her right hand.
Sometimes she'd play marimba with eight mallets, which is unusual. She was very talented.
She played ukulele. And then her mother, Bertie Chestnut, was a one-woman band as well.
So she'd have a kick drum, a banjo, or a guitar.
(22:07):
And of course, I can't think what it is.
Anyway yeah one of those things the mouth harp anyway i just think the harmonica there we go,
so i never got to hear her play but you know i feel it like i i've picked up
instruments and not known why i can play it pretty easily right off the bat
(22:29):
and and i jam with people it's like my greatest joy is to just get with a bunch
of people and they'll be like we're gonna do this an A minor.
I'm like, yep, don't tell me the key.
I just hear, I'll hear it and my fingers will know what to do.
It's so strange. I can't even explain it.
And it's helped to go to music school to, you know, learn more and have more of a head knowledge.
(22:53):
But I've got to say, what just comes natural to me is works best for me.
Anyway, that's a long answer. but oh it's
a great answer because I was gonna ask about that in
fact I mean I never I never knew that you know there were accordion cells you
know or whatever like coming to your door I know it was strange well and I I
(23:18):
grew up learning accordion which actually helped me the left hand is the the circle of fifths.
So learning the accordion and, and my second, my, well, my, my second teacher,
it turned out she was second place in the world in 1969.
She was, there was a Russian who won first and a Russian who won third.
(23:40):
And this tiny woman from Kansas, I think it was Kansas, won second place in the world.
And she was amazing to me. She was a good teacher for me.
It made me work hard as a little kid. And so that was kind of an interesting, like, just something.
And she became best friends with my mom.
(24:02):
So we were just surrounded by music that way.
Besides the fact that my grandmother would always, you know,
sit us down and play for us and sing for us and make up songs.
So I was very rich with the music background.
So I feel very fortunate. So back to the accordion with the circle of fifths,
when I went to college and people were having trouble with theory,
(24:25):
I was like, oh, this isn't hard.
I just used my left hand from the accordion and it really helped me know what
I was doing, you know? Yeah.
So you really, as far as learning music,
had the best of both by, you know, having that natural ear for music and talent
and then, you know, the like the on paper part of it of like how. Right. Yeah.
(24:53):
You know, you're just pretty amazing. thing i mean well that's
sweet well you know it's funny because then i like
when i was 10 i begged my mom for an accordion and
i'm sorry for a guitar and they came through they
got me a guitar from the janitor at the elementary school
where she was teaching and that was like when she took me in there to get the
guitar it was like opening the holy grail i was like oh my god are you kidding
(25:16):
this because i'm one of five kids and we have very few things that we got that
was our own but that That guitar was my own,
you know, so and then a little bit later, I begged for a violin and they came
through with that as well.
And so I was just lucky that my parents saw that there was something there.
(25:37):
And I'd play by ear so much that it wasn't until I was in high school.
And one day I just I was playing in the orchestra and I was looking at the music
going, what the heck? What am I? What is that?
I had been playing by ear so much. I woke up to the fact that I didn't know
what I was playing anymore. Yeah.
And then I really learned how to read music after that. But it just cracks me
(26:02):
up that it's one day just dawned on me.
Well, the guitar, like, I know, I mean, I can imagine what that was like when
you got to see it and know that was going to be yours.
But what do you remember?
What kind of guitar was it? it
(26:22):
because you know what was the i don't
remember the brand because that wasn't important to me at
the time but i did go to every
person like like a kai i don't know it's just a fender i'm not i'm actually
not sure and i i still have it i need to go open the case say what is that isn't
(26:42):
that funny i don't remember those details i remember broad strokes but i would
ask every single person And I was like, do you play the guitar? Do you know a chord?
I would ask everyone if they could teach me a chord.
And then I learned a song, a Girl Scout song, like flick around the campfire, the wind in the pipe.
And it would go through, you know, C, G, D, A, you know, the four chords.
(27:08):
Oh, it's very cute. Like I learned. Yeah, it was.
I mean, and that's the thing is if you can learn three or four chords on a guitar,
You have a wealth of music that you can learn.
So you were singing already. Like, have you just been singing,
you know, since you remember talking?
(27:31):
Pretty much. Yeah, my mom used to say I would go out on the swing set and I'd
be singing at the top of my lungs.
And, you know, it just was there. where I actually got in trouble in kindergarten
because they said I kept singing.
And I was like, yeah, but that's in my head. I didn't know anyone could hear me.
(27:54):
And I didn't understand why I was getting in trouble. I was like, what am I doing?
Get out of my head. Like, oh.
So it's pretty funny, you know. It's pretty mean to get in trouble for that. I know.
Then you started writing songs at
(28:17):
10 i think it said that's pretty young
have you always had the words in your head you know along with did you get jazz
no no i you know what's funny is i i actually the first little thing i wrote
was probably a little bit younger it was about pancakes because i love pancakes but but it,
(28:40):
But it didn't come easy to me to write lyrics to tell you the truth.
And I struggled with it, just assuming that I wasn't a writer.
And so it wasn't till like 2005, I think I read The Artist's Way and I started,
you know, writing in a journal and doing some things like that.
And I wrote some songs and I did my first album.
(29:03):
And it's funny because the first album I did was supposed to be like a cabaret
because I came from the Broadway world and all that.
But I started writing these songs that were actually very close to my heart.
And I thought, no, I actually need to record this music.
So that's what I did. I ended up recording those songs.
And even then, I thought, I'm not really much of a writer. I,
(29:25):
you know, I'm just doing this because I want to.
And then during the pandemic, I decided since I had been on tour and it was
sort of like, I better do something or I'm going to go crazy.
I think we all did. So I took some online courses in songwriting and I learned
how to collaborate with other writers.
(29:48):
And I started writing with people all around the world, like really different backgrounds.
And it really opened the world to me. I really started seeing that,
you know, yes, I write a good melody, but if someone else has a good melody, I suddenly have lyrics.
You know, it's like, and one of the mentors said that she really thought I was an all-rounder.
(30:10):
Well, she's from the UK, so she's like, you're really an all-rounder,
Tamara. I was like, oh, okay.
And if she hears me do that, that's a bad impression of her,
actually. It was really bad. Sorry. Sorry about that.
But, you know, so I learned how to do production, which I've always wanted to.
I never thought I could because that's a man's job. You know how you do that
(30:33):
to yourself. You decide that someone else can do that.
Right. I just started realizing, you know, if you give it time,
if you give yourself the time to learn and and develop the skill.
It's like, wow, I I have written 100 songs over the pandemic and and released
(30:54):
some songs that I did the production on or at least co-produced as well, too.
So it's been fun, you know, and part of that is just staying curious and staying curious.
I mean, I've gotten off your question already. Again, I tend to do that. It's okay.
Circle back. What do you want to know now?
(31:15):
Well, I'm curious with the songwriting, you know, co-writing with others.
Songwriters that we've interviewed before talked about it's kind of like a first date.
And you can almost tell pretty soon into it if there's going to be a second
date or not. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
(31:37):
Sometimes you can tell right away. And I think it's good to try out.
You know, I've written with a bunch of different people and and there are a
handful that I've written four or five, six songs.
And so you can tell. Yeah. It's like, OK, we've gotten into a nice flow and we can do this.
And I just started writing with a really good composer I've known for 30 years.
I've probably known him 30 years and I really wanted to write with him.
(32:00):
And he finally said, you know, I have some time. Let's try this. and
he does more classical music and and
he is what they'd call writing up like he
challenges me because he he's so good with music
and so good with words that it really
makes me work harder but boy we we wrote a song pretty quickly we some things
(32:20):
heal he actually wrote most of the lyrics on it but it was it was it was great
writing with someone like him because it was so fast and I had I had to think
on my feet and we're now almost done with the second one,
pretty much done with it and already started on a third one.
So, yeah, it's pretty interesting to write with others and be able to bounce things off of them and.
(32:44):
And listen to their stories and try to it made me think it's very much like
being in the theater and working with other people on a show where you're working
collaboratively, you know, with your lines and bouncing things off of each other.
It's also just thinking of storyline when you're
writing a song you if you're creating a
(33:06):
world you're creating an experience and a story all at once and um well i'm
curious because i i am always curious as to how people respond to criticism
so when you're co-writing.
If maybe one of your ideas, you know, like if someone offers some feedback that
(33:33):
you might feel is critical, you know, coming from the theater,
I'm sure you've had that experience. Oh, yeah.
Well, how important is that in the way that you view it?
Well, yeah, I think the thing is you have to develop a safe room with your collaborators
and you'll find out. Like I've only worked with a few people where it felt like
(33:55):
it really shut you down and just said no to an idea instead of thinking.
I always think of it like comedy. It's yes.
And so and I and some of my favorite directors have been that way,
too. You said, I'd like to try this. And they say, OK, show me.
And you show them what you want to do. And they said, oh, yes.
And why don't you take it this far? So they you're building on something and
(34:18):
being, you know, forthright. Right. Like I think the whole like I've written
with even one or two people at a time in the same room.
And it's it's almost easier one to one for me when it's just me and another person.
But it's like in any case, being
able to say, oh, that that's not really working. Does that work for you?
(34:38):
And saying yes to their ideas. Never say no to an idea because you never know what's going to bloom.
You know, so I say type everything out. Try it out.
Let's try it. And I think a lot of times both sides know it's like yeah,
that doesn't really work. Does it it's not flowing, right?
But I always try to give everything its chance because like in acting I've gotten
(35:02):
notes from directors Well, I'm like there is no way that's gonna work.
There's no way I try to go.
Wow. That was really freeing Thank you very much You know.
And that's the same with songwriting. And I think that's where you find out
if someone is a good collaborator for you is do they open you up?
(35:22):
Do they open up your humanity? Do they help you see? Do they make you better?
And if they're shutting you down and you recognize that you're being shut down,
you know, sometimes I go, is that just me? Is that me being emotional?
And it's like, no, this doesn't feel right. Then it's like, well,
thank you very much. It was nice to work with you. And then you move on.
(35:44):
But I think, yeah, it happens, you know, and and someone could be your best
friend and you still go, wow, we just can't write together. And that's OK.
You know, you just have to hold it that way that it's not all important.
And then there might be people I've written with a few people where I thought,
(36:04):
well, maybe, you know, I'm not sure we get along. And then, you know,
the words just flow, the music flows, you go, wow, this is interesting.
It's just interesting what you can find, you know, working with people and just
being open to it. So, yeah.
Matt, do you have a question? So you were in Les Mis.
(36:25):
How did, how did, so I guess we should back up a little bit and tell us when you got into acting.
I mean, how does all that come about?
Well, that goes way back. Well, my sister Jeannie had been doing plays at school
and I was really curious about it.
So that that kind of got me curious to to do an audition.
(36:48):
And so it was I think junior high school was the first little thing I did.
And I was like, oh, that's interesting.
And then but in high school, there was a really good program.
We had a really good choir director.
So the music was good and really good theater director. director.
And so watching my friends and I think my brother was in a show and then my
(37:09):
sister was, I was like, I want to do that.
So that's how I got into it. And it cracks me up because I really had no background at all in it.
And I think the first show was Oliver
and my sister got Nancy fancy and i
got lead dancer and if you
(37:32):
would have watched me do the dance i was like selling it from the waist up and
not knowing what the heck i was doing from the waist down i was just selling
it i was like that's interesting lead dancer okay good.
Jazz hands okay.
So that was my big entrance into the theater and,
(37:56):
And then I did several shows in high school and then I got to college and I
actually missed the audition for the first show.
I can't remember.
Oh, it was Kippen. And for some reason, I couldn't get to the dance call.
And she said, well, if you can
learn the dance, I had to find some of some other students that knew it.
(38:17):
And so they taught it to me and I had to go out and do it by myself again, dancing.
Dancing I'm not a dancer but I did it you know and I thought you know I I gotta
hand it to myself I wanted it so much that I just would do anything to get there
you know I'd practice on my own and and then the next year they did guys and
dolls and I wanted to do Adelaide and I'm,
(38:39):
really not really right for Adelaide and but I rehearsed and rehearsed it and
when I got out there and auditioned they laughed at what I did and I thought
oh my gosh and I got I got cast in And the upperclassmen were a little bit pissed
off at me. I'm sorry. I was like, sorry.
I just wanted to know. So from there you went to Broadway?
(39:03):
And right straight from there. No.
Well, no, but when I got out of college, I had done a few.
Well, there was a new dinner theater that had opened up while I was in college called The Wayside Inn.
And so I did a couple of shows there. It was the first time I did a professional.
I'm doing quotes with my fingers. A professional theater.
(39:27):
We got paid for it. We did, I think, four shows a week and got a square meal
beforehand because it was dinner theater.
I was like, oh, that saved me from eating Top Ramen every meal.
But I got to do Guinevere and Camelot and Maria and West Side Story in this
little theater for a three-month run each. And so that was a real nice...
(39:49):
Proving ground for me to see if I could do that. That was really nice.
I'm really thankful for that.
And then I moved back. So I'm in Colorado.
I moved back to home with my mom and dad for a little while.
And I went, I saw that they had auditions for a couple of the theaters there,
and they were doing Man of La Mancha.
(40:10):
So I went to the call. And I'm right for Antonia. So I auditioned for that.
And when I got the call back, they said, you've been called back for for Al
Donza. And I was like, mom, I didn't audition for Al Donza.
You got it wrong. And I'm thinking my mom doesn't know the show.
So I ended up getting, and that one was a funny audition because it was an open call.
(40:32):
I mean, the first, I don't know, 300 people showed up.
It was like, it was so full of the theater and everyone was in there for the
audition, just standing in line.
And they said, well, just do eight bars.
And so I was like, well, well, I want to do the best part of Eight Bars. Yeah.
So I got in there and I was like, I started on the high end.
(40:57):
Every neck in the place cracked. It snapped over like, what is she doing?
I did that a few times. So that was fun.
So I did those couples of shows. And then I worked at the Denver Center for
three seasons. And then that's when Les Mis and Phantom of the Opera were coming to Broadway.
(41:20):
And I sent a tape back in those days.
We did tapes. I went to a recording studio and I made a demo tape and I sent
it to Johnson and Lyft, who were casting the show on Broadway.
And six months later, after I got married and moved twice, they found me.
(41:40):
They called and said, can you be in L.A. next week?
And I just happened to be going to L.A. that next week. I was like, are you kidding me?
Yes, I'm going to be there anyway, which was so strange because it wasn't something.
So, you know, it's one of those things where you go, I think this was me because it was so strange.
Yeah, it was neat. And so, you
(42:03):
know, I did like, you know, I did brought they did hire me for the tour.
I understudied Cosette for about three months. And then Melissa Errico was the cosette at that time.
And I guess she sprained her ankle helping someone move.
And so I get to the theater after like goofing off. I was on the road and we
were in Baltimore and I'd been shopping all morning. It was a matinee.
(42:25):
And they're like, Tamara, you're on. I'm like, oh, how am I doing?
So I went on as cosette that day. I was like, oh, OK. OK.
And then the guy who keeps the show clean was there, Richard J. Alexander.
And he said, we we need a cosette in bus and truck.
(42:45):
You know, we'd like to move you over there. And I was like, oh,
man, I didn't want to leave this beautiful company I was in.
But, you know, it was the chance to move into the role.
So I then moved to the bus and truck and performed with them for a while.
And like I said, I was a newlywed.
My husband was traveling with me.
And I mean, and then tragedy hit because we were out there about six,
(43:09):
I don't know, nine months, whatever it was.
And he started getting sick. He suddenly had a brain tumor.
And so that was terrible. And Richard was really great about it.
He said, you know, listen, you don't have to go on with this because I I at
that point we had come to my hometown.
And and you know how you always want to return home and show people what you're doing.
(43:32):
And it was like so sad that Ben was in the hospital with this getting surgery.
And I just I couldn't sing. I couldn't do the show half the time that I was there.
So they let me leave the show at that point. And the show moved on without me.
And and then I cared for Ben for the next nine months. and
then he actually passed away sorry i'm like
(43:53):
giving you the whole thing no that's why
this is this this is the whole real truth
you know yeah he passed away and then i had some oh about five months where
i just i was just kind of floundering and they called me back they were like
we're in chicago and we need cosette cover or can you come out and i thought you know what,
(44:16):
I mean, it's going to make me cry, but it was like it was the perfect thing
to happen in my life is that, you know, I'd all my money, all our money gone
to his bills and I needed a job.
And I thought that's the perfect job to get where you're in brown rags half
the time, you know, like, oh, good. This is perfect.
(44:38):
So it got me back into singing again. And then at the end of that summer,
the cosette who was the main cosette took a vacation.
So the stage manager said, you know, you're going to need to go on next week. And I said, OK.
And so I got my mom. I flew my mom out there to see me in Chicago.
And we had a great week together.
(45:00):
But her flight was earlier something or it was late coming in.
And I was trying to get her to the apartment. And she doesn't know Chicago.
So I had to bring her to the theater. And if you know anything,
you do know a thing or two about theater.
You're not supposed to bring people backstage after half hour.
So I went to the stage manager and it was a huge backstage.
(45:21):
I went to her. I said, do you mind if my mom just stays back in the corner over
there and knits during the show?
And I think she just thought that was cute. So the next she said, OK, sure, that's fine.
So I come to the stage for the start of the show
and there's my mom sitting right next to the stage manager listening
(45:41):
on she let her sit right there off stage right with
her and watch the show from the side I was like oh my god so anyway so that
was my four-way foray back to the stage after that tragedy and then and then
that that closed in Chicago I went home for a few months and then And they said,
(46:02):
can you come back on the road?
We need a Cosette in the bus and truck again.
So, you know, and then I was there for a couple of years.
And then I left the road and I moved to New York City finally.
So at that point, I'd saved some money.
And I think that's the best way to go. Save your money first.
And then moved to New York City. Definitely need it for New York.
(46:25):
Yeah. And after about...
I don't know. I can't remember. It was about five months. They were looking for a cosette again.
And I called me again. And at this point, they're like, I feel a little embarrassed,
but we haven't seen you in a little while.
So, you know, they're expecting I've gained 50 pounds in five months or something.
(46:47):
And so I can you come to the backstage and, you know, meet us?
So I came backstage, and Richard Jay walked in again, and he saw me,
and I thought, I'm going to wear the cutest little outfit.
I'm just going to look real cute. And I call it my little bee outfit, you know.
(47:08):
So he saw me, and he goes, oh, you're hired.
I thought that was hilarious. He goes, oh, by the way, how's your singing?
I said, better than ever. And he goes, good.
I mean, so that's how I landed Broadway, is they took my word for it.
But he loved me. he loved me in the show i
guess otherwise they wouldn't have called me i mean
so was it like i mean
(47:30):
how nerve-wracking was it to be on broadway i mean was that like one one thing
that you always wanted to do or oh well it's what i totally wanted to do you
know so i'm telling the story in two or three minutes or 10 minutes whatever
right but you know this is years of You know, while I was working in Denver,
you know, people are like, visualize what you want and put it on your, you know, your wall.
(47:55):
So it's like I had a picture of New York City and I, I had layman.
I really wanted to do this.
So I'd really put it out there.
And I was like, yes, and I'm going to have limos picking me up with,
you know, if you know anything about New York, you don't really get limos unless you're a huge star.
But wouldn't you know it that
someone had a friend who was a limo driver and he would
(48:17):
give us a ride home like well
i'll take it however it comes anyway but
yeah i had been dreaming of it forever but i'd say i was more nervous when i
my first night when i was covering when i was in the show you know it was so
such a great company really talented people and so it was nerve-wracking Because
(48:41):
I hadn't really gotten out of Colorado to do much.
I'd only done a couple of shows in Texas, you know. So this was a big deal.
But then touring, I toured for two and a half years with the show.
So by the time I got to Broadway, I was like, yeah, I know the show.
It was a bigger turntable, which was interesting.
(49:04):
It's a smaller theater, but bigger turntable. So you just had to get used to
going a little faster in certain cases. It's a world.
But I literally was on Broadway for two weeks when I woke up to it going, oh, this was my dream.
I'm sitting in my dream. Now I have to think of the next dream. What do I want next?
(49:25):
You know, it's so funny. What did you decide on?
Well, I really wanted to still do Phantom. And when I did leave Les Mis,
I did get to audition for Phantom six times.
And that last time I auditioned, I was like, boy, if I don't get it this time,
you know, this is silly. Because it was over several years. years.
(49:48):
But I thought, I really need to think about what am I doing wrong or what can
I do more right, you know, type thing.
And I really listened to the women who had been doing the role and thought,
okay, it's not like I need to mimic them, but there's a certain vocal quality
I think they're listening for.
(50:09):
So I thought, I sing that way when I sing, I could have danced all night.
I'm going to take that song in that's what I'm going to sing and I sang it and
they were like yeah they were like oh yeah and then I think they had me sing
a few other things and then as I was leaving the room they said oh and by the way how's your dance.
(50:32):
Again dancing and I said well I gotta tell you I was the lead dancer,
I was the lead dancer in junior high school,
That's hilarious.
I said, well, I'm a mover and a shaker.
But, you know, what's funny, because then I so I was still on.
(50:54):
I was still doing Cosette during the in the evenings while I was rehearsing
for Christine during the days on on the on their stage.
And the choreographer was like, well, actually, you're saying you're not a dancer.
But she said, you're actually doing better than I shouldn't say this out loud.
Sorry, other Christines, but she said I was actually holding my own pretty well.
(51:17):
So I thought, well, that's nice to know because I I never felt like I was a
good dancer, but I could sell it. Like I told you, I can sell it.
Oh, my God. I would say it was blue on point.
You know, that's not very nice, but that's what I would say.
I was always felt like, you know, they have really gorgeous dancers in that show.
(51:39):
Beautiful ballerinas who really know what they're doing and then you get me
out there in a tutu well anyway it was fun it was great fun you know my favorite
part though i have to say i'm so glad i got to do christine because i got to ride in the boat.
Isn't that terrible that that's my favorite part of the
(52:02):
show and dodging the
and dodging the the chandelier when it
came down they're like you're cutting it a little close you need to
get out of there sooner no i
love this part anyways all right
cat what do you got next yeah so i
mean it seems like a lot of
(52:23):
your life in some ways is like i
don't know know pre-planned or the
thread of something that runs
through it like so i read the premonition like
when you heard play me yeah that
you knew then that you were just gonna you just knew that you were going to
(52:46):
be traveling and performing right and i was like 10 and i i didn't know anything
like that that's not something i would have been even to able to like put together
that that I just know I'm going to...
I could see it, that I would be traveling and singing.
I didn't even know what it meant, because I was so young, but...
(53:08):
I would lay on the floor and put my feet up on the couch and play that song
over and over. Like that is such a huge memory for me.
I thought, my God, that actually came true.
And I don't know if I dreamed it or if it was like, just like,
this is going to be your life. Get ready.
You know, at first when I was reading that, I was like, okay,
(53:30):
she's just an obedient type.
Because you know play me is the title and
you're just like you know playing you know
doing what it says to do play me but then
you know I I think reading about Ben and you got married after three months
(53:50):
I think yeah so I mean I knew on the fifth I knew like on the fifth date but
I I waited to make sure it was right.
But yeah, if we hadn't gotten married so quickly, I wouldn't have been able
to help him through that last part of his life.
You know what I mean? If we hadn't, if we had waited a year,
(54:11):
we probably wouldn't have been able to get married.
So I feel like there was some sort of divinity in that somehow.
And I'm not, you know, it's interesting.
It seems like that's just a thread as I was looking over, you know, different,
aspects of your life I'm thinking like wow you know there's just something like
(54:31):
that guides her as to you know what to do I guess.
So, you know, here you are.
Yes, you're right. And music now is a big focus again.
Yeah. And the pandemic, is that something good that came from that time,
(54:59):
you know, when everyone was, because you were touring, I guess, with Anastasia.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Everything just shut down. And yeah, it was a great tour, too. It was nice people.
And I had so I was going to be seeing friends in some cities.
So it was really hard when we and we didn't know our last show was the last show.
(55:20):
I mean, we had an inkling, but literally it was just one show at a time.
And and just two weeks before I was I was covering the Dowager Empress.
And I thought she's Joy Franz is so strong. She never missed a show.
But she happened to eat a bad piece of fish, I guess, wasn't feeling good right
(55:40):
before the intermission.
And but it was around this covid, you know, inkling was happening.
And so they they didn't want me to go into her dressing room,
but they're like, you're on.
I had five minutes to get ready out in the hallway, you know,
and went on for her in the second act.
So that had to have been strange for the audience to have, you know,
(56:02):
this woman who's the right age for it. And then anyway, but it was really wonderful
to go on and do the second act.
And but then two weeks later, we closed down like just like that.
They're like, pack your trunks and go home.
And they kept thinking we were going to go back on tour. But,
you know, it became clear that that wasn't going to happen.
(56:23):
And it's funny because the two years preceding this, I kept thinking,
I've got to make some room for writing.
I was trying to write. I was doing some things and just wanted some time to do it.
And so suddenly I realized, oh, I've got a pandemic here where I'm forced to be home.
Sorry, everyone. I was hoping that I'd have some time off.
(56:47):
It's my fault sorry anyway it
was once I settled into getting into
writing with other people and that was wonderful
actually just you know I was meeting with
people every day I had a very full schedule I actually
had to once the pandemic was over I'm like
I've got to settle down I'm doing too much actually like
(57:11):
I said I wrote like a hundred songs and I'm trying to play catch
up to produce them the ones that are worth being
produced and you know it's pretty
funny that I made you know actually
almost did too much you know but but it
was great I mean it was wonderful and then I've
gotten to go to I got to go to the UK
(57:32):
and meet some of my co-writers in person and got
to go to Spain and go to a songwriting retreat was
which was pure heaven pure heaven
I mean just really fantastic people so yeah I'm
all in on that but I'm still on this I say on the side but it's all I'm a whole
creative person so it's like my agent still calls me for auditions and most
(57:56):
of them are self tapes at this point and like next week I'll be going to New
York and I'm gonna see some shows.
You know, because I have to still be up on what's happening on Broadway and
hopefully something will come through.
But I'm quite happy to just be creating no matter what I'm doing,
you know, just enjoying it.
(58:19):
Well, Matt, I knew it was going to be a fascinating story.
Yeah, for sure. Thank you. Lots of twists and turns there, for sure.
So what's going to be next? Yes. I mean, I know you said you're going to New
York and all that, but like, are you doing another album or I mean,
(58:40):
what do you got planned for this year?
Well, yeah, I'm going to continue. I've got a bunch of, like I said,
a bunch of songs I need to work on.
I've been working on some productions for one of my co-writers who wants to
put out the album of social justice tunes.
Tunes and uh and i've got a handful of tunes
i want to do and for the
(59:02):
past five to seven years i've been working on
a joan baez tribute show and so i'm i'm
getting that up on its feet finally and i
have a band august moons and we're we're planning
some dates this the spring so he's
up near montreal and i guess there's going to be an eclipse a
(59:23):
full eclipse on april 8th so we're going going to have a
big jam session and do some shows around that and
that'll be fun yeah so that's what
we're aiming for there and i'm working
on some songs to some albums to put towards sync i've got a song that's being
considered for heartland which is amazing and one that's being considered for
(59:46):
a christmas movie that i don't even know what that is but you just have to release
Release your children and let them go.
You know, write them and let them go. Yeah, yeah.
So that's, you know, it's just I feel like I'm in a constant process.
It never ends, you know. Yeah.
Well, I mean, got to stay busy, right? Right, right. Exactly.
(01:00:09):
Well, I always say it's not even just busyness. It's following the joy.
It's just saying, oh, this looks fun. What does this do?
Oh, not doing that again. yeah exactly
whoops there's been plenty of
that yeah yeah all right cat one last question yes since you know february is
(01:00:32):
the month of love at least commercially i'm sure what is your favorite valentine song or love song um.
One, as you were saying that, it made me remember the song I sang for my great
aunt and uncle's 50th anniversary.
I'll be loving you always.
(01:00:56):
It's just sweet. But I don't know. I mean, I love songs. I love, love songs.
I also like quirky ones.
I submitted a couple songs for this radio show, and my song,
Never Too Late, is going to be played. and my song Lucky, which is pretty silly.
But, yeah, I actually like silly love songs.
(01:01:20):
I hate Paul McCartney. Yeah, yeah, yeah, right? Oh, yeah. Very good, very good.
I'll take that compliment. I'm just like Paul McCartney. Great.
That'll go in my promo material. Thank you very much.
Paul McCartney-esque.
(01:01:40):
Oh my goodness yes some
call me the paula mccartney oh well
it has been a delight to have
you i i love your story and the
enthusiasm and and really just the
(01:02:00):
way life has you know
just led you to create more and
experience more and just to keep going and
like the the oddest twist and turn i just
love that yeah it's all very
strange but i just flow with it roll with it and
and it's been a joy to talk to you thank you so much for having me on your podcast
(01:02:22):
and uh sending out lots of love to your listeners lots of love sending it all
to you oh well thank you you can come back anytime and let us know No,
you're up to it. I'd be happy to talk to you. I'd love it.
All right. Well, thank you so much. Have a wonderful day. You too.
Music.
Take care. Bye-bye. Bye. See you. Bye.
(01:02:55):
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or comments,
you can send those to Kat at irateplaysatoutlook.com or you can write to me
at backstorychessings at gmail.com or matt.
Music.
Music.
(00:53):
I'm joined today by my co-host, Matt.
Hey, Matt. Hey, Kat. Hey, everyone. How are you?
Well, I would say this, Matt, has been an enjoyable February Backstory of Love Month.
We had some really great love stories. Yes, for sure.
It was, you know, it was pretty interesting. I mean, I'm not a sappy Valentine's type,
(01:20):
but I did enjoy giving all those little tidbits about the history of Valentine's
Day and that sort of thing.
Well, I just enjoyed, like, your Valentine's trivia, you know,
and getting all three candy answers right.
You know. Yeah. It started out pretty strong for me there. Yeah.
(01:45):
And so this story this week, you know, is a little bit different because sometimes,
you know, you never know, like in love or really anything else,
like what the path is or, you know,
what like at any time fate's going to, you know, drop some kind of obstacle in your way.
(02:09):
Yeah, that's true. I mean, certainly I'm assuming she's had her share of ups and downs.
Yeah, and so we're going to hear all about her love story.
I think this is exciting, too, though, because this is our first,
I believe, our first guest that their career is primarily on stage.
(02:36):
And we have a lot of actors that start on the stage, and then they,
you know, move to the screen.
And some end up always you know
coming back to the stage like periodically because
i think when it comes down to it i think all
true actors really like there's
(02:58):
nothing like live theater you know even
if you like make gazillion dollars on
film and that kind of thing like there's something
special about the stage and live
theater yeah i'd agree with
you i'm trying to rethink if there's been
anyone else i mean we've talked to a lot
(03:20):
of musicians who they spend their life on a
stage but uh i can't
think of any of any other actors most of them have been like you were saying
they start out on the stage and they go into movies and you know whatever but
yeah i think she is the first one well and so to be you know multi-talented.
(03:44):
Which you have to be for the stage
and you know like in acting for film
too it doesn't hurt if you you know like
if you're a stump person you know if you're able
to do like certain things you open yourself up to
more opportunities or you could potentially
but you know so she in order
(04:06):
to be on Broadway and the musicals she'll need
to be able to sing well act well
dance you know like there's a lot
that goes into being successful on broadway
oh yeah i can imagine do you
like musicals i mean i
guess some of them are pretty good others
(04:30):
are just beyond me you know
i haven't seen a whole lot of them
so i can't say i can't
say that i love them but yeah some of them
are pretty good well there you know there's a prince one that's coming out so
i'm really curious how that's going to be i would love to see that is that like
(04:53):
gonna be i mean is that like a broadway show or yeah it's gonna be really what's it about you know.
I'm guessing it's going to have a lot of purple in it, you know?
Yeah, but I mean, is it like about like, you know, is it about his life or like, you know?
(05:13):
Yeah, I guess it would be, you know, with his songs and all of that implemented into it.
So I don't know when it's premiering, you know, opening, but I really am very curious about that.
So i'm looking forward to you know
maybe the opportunity to see that yeah yeah
(05:35):
i mean maybe it'll come around or maybe you'll get to broadway you've
been before right i have yes and
i took a like many students like
i don't know there's probably like 70 all together
yeah you know and we all we
all went there and saw phantom of the opera and then
also i took another group was my birthday
(05:58):
actually to a touring broadway to
see hairspray and that was really great you know kids really love that i did
too you know like it it was kind of surreal when i was having my surgery the
year ago and really you know thinking about you know the hairspray is you know
(06:19):
good Good morning, Baltimore.
And, you know, I was in Baltimore and all that. Yeah, yeah.
I never, you know, it has a lot different feel to it in Hairspray than it does
when you're, like, there. Yeah.
Yeah, especially there for surgery. So, yeah, I don't know.
I just think, like, I wanted to write a musical.
(06:44):
Like, that's still something I have on my bucket list.
And if you ever like get
your guitar in yeah we're gonna
write a musical someday i feel like yeah what would
your musical be about well you know
i i do have some ideas already like i'm straight plays that i also have a few
(07:08):
songs already written so you know yeah it's gonna be I I think it will be you
know, a love story, of course,
But, you know, I'd feel like once you get your guitar, it'll be like the universe
(07:29):
saying it's time to write that musical.
So maybe it ends this year. Who knows?
Yeah, I would not put a lot of stock in that one.
I just don't think I could write songs.
But you never know until you try, right?
Yeah, that's true. I just don't think I could write any songs that would be,
(07:53):
I mean, musical worthy, I guess. I don't know.
But you have experimented with, like, lyrics, right?
Yeah, I have. So, I don't know. Maybe.
I just can't, like, melodies don't really come to me.
Well, you know, I just feel like you had never written a play either when I first met you.
(08:20):
Yeah that's true there you go see
so i just feel like listeners that
i will be able to have that effect and we'll
just like write a musical from from us someday
yeah well i mean we're still
working on unstoppable so uh you know
(08:40):
don't hold your breath now you
have said on the podcast a a couple of times that
i've said it three what we're
almost at the end of year four i've said it
every year so i mean well this could
be the year that you mean yeah i mean i have i think i have two well we have
(09:02):
two other projects ahead of it so that we're really close to finishing uh but
i mean unstoppable yeah that's something that i'd really like to get done.
Well you know what is possible and
and i have also on my this year
list so you know i have like i have a long
(09:22):
list things like this year there's a
lot of things i want to accomplish and so i got like a bucket list you know
which is your like long-term projects and then you know i've got my list for
this year and one of the things like you know with tri-county mystery meets we are are exploring,
(09:43):
like, we do comedy,
you know, definitely dinner theater, comedy,
mystery, whodunit type things.
Right. But in July, we're going to actually do our first full-length drama,
and you know how I love dramas, so I'm so, like, you know, excited about this.
(10:03):
But, you know, Unstoppable, the play, which correlates closely with the book,
I really want to get that stage two.
That would be cool. I mean, that would be amazing. So, um.
You know i'm thinking it could be a good time to have the
book finished and just like premiere both at once but yeah well i have to be
(10:28):
later in the year so because i got around my birthday month would be you know
a great time for that yeah november huh yeah i better start on it now then,
you better get with it because you know the birthday train is a coming yeah that's true,
(10:49):
For you, it stops for you first, Sarah.
Well, yeah, that's true. It does.
But at any rate, you know, I mean, we're probably not going to write a Broadway successful musical.
But, you know, who knows? I do have aspirations to write one.
(11:10):
So I admire and I'm looking forward to talking with Tamara just to,
you know, see what inspires her and like what age she started working towards this.
Was this always her goal? You know, just all those questions. Right.
You know, she's crossed over into music, you know, putting out her own music.
(11:34):
Right. I remember seeing the poll that you put up about her first guitar.
Yes. Yes, and I thought it was so amazing that she still has that guitar.
Yeah. And was kind enough to send us a photo of it.
And we were able to post that in the group and see if anyone could identify it.
(11:54):
And we had a lot of guesses.
Yeah, everybody thought it was a Martin.
Yes, yes. Did you think so as well?
I wasn't really sure. I thought maybe it was like a Yamaha or something.
Mm hmm. Well, we will learn out and we will learn in this interview exactly,
(12:16):
you know, what it is, because I'm going to ask.
But she was very kind to send us the photo.
Mm hmm. Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, if anybody wants to tour Martin Guitars,
their factory is about 20 minutes from me.
Well, would you be the tour guide? No, they have a tour that you do.
(12:40):
You walk through and get to see how they make them. And it's pretty cool, actually.
So you've been on the tour? Yeah, I did it years ago.
But it's pretty interesting. And, of course, it ends in the gift shop where,
you know, if you know anything about Martin Guitars, they're not cheap.
So it's pretty pretty
(13:03):
interesting to you know
go to the gift shop and they have guitars that
are you know two four eight thousand you know that sort of thing or more well
i think it's interesting like you know that most of the people we interview
they have their favorite um you know guitar like Yeah, I mean,
(13:26):
certainly it's just something that you,
you know, a certain type or even a certain model or maybe even the first one that you ever owned.
Well, it's fascinating, you know, talent and how it evolves and just the fact
that we have been able to tell so many amazing backstories is, you know, I just love it.
(13:53):
And every week I look forward to hearing, you know, how did that guest get to where they are today?
Yes. And who might be coming up next?
Oh, my gosh. I'm so happy about who's coming up next.
Yeah. I guess you'll have to wait till Monday to find out. But it's going to
(14:15):
be interesting. That was a clue. Yeah.
All right. so let's talk to Tamara and see you know find out about her backstory yes.
And Tamara, I want to welcome you to Backstory Sessions.
I am so excited to talk to you today and hear all about your backstory.
(14:36):
Oh, thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure.
Well, I mean, when you have a mantra that is peace, love, and hilarity,
you know that is a person that you want to interview.
So let's start with that. that like, you know, what, why did you choose that?
(14:58):
Like, what do each of those words mean to you so much that you would include them?
Well, I, I had to think long and hard about what is my mantra,
because I do like to work towards peace in my own life in the world.
Love just, you know, of course, and then I didn't want to follow with just joy,
(15:19):
which I think joy, you know, encompasses is a lot it's more
hilarious it seems like my coping skill
and my my spirit animal is probably
a monkey I've always you know if you saw me backstage at any of my shows I'm
always up to some antics you know swinging from the rafters or knee sliding
(15:41):
into the wall so I I had to include include hilarity because it's like,
I love to make people laugh.
I think my, if I weren't an actress, I'd want to be a clown full time, you know?
So I had to use hilarity instead of just joy.
Well, you know, I am glad that you use that word because I own a touring dinner
(16:07):
theater and And we do comedies.
And so there's something about laughter, you know, that makes it's just really
a good thing. People want to laugh, don't you think?
Oh, yeah, it's imperative. And I do find that's what I, you know,
I often say that my backstage show is much more fun than my onstage show,
(16:31):
depending what I'm doing.
I like to get my dressers laughing. I like to get people backstage laughing.
And in my life just anytime anytime
I can get someone to laugh it's like I'm I'm just hiding and waiting for that
moment well what is something funny like share a story with us that you know
(16:53):
that you made somebody laugh maybe unexpectedly or you know it's a funny story that you have.
Well, OK, I'll go with some of the stuff I used to do when I was in Les Mis. I would.
Well, there's so many. I would make my dressers laugh by just I try.
It's almost like I would be developing my material. I don't know.
(17:14):
Just instead of just putting my feet into a gown one foot at a time,
I hop into it both at the same time and, you know, do a forward roll or something.
Something, just slapstick comedy.
When I was in college and I was able to wear my high-heeled shoes and it was
snowy out and really icy,
(17:35):
I got really good at acting like I was really slipping on the ice when people
were far enough where they couldn't help me. And I'd be like,
slide, slide, slide, slide.
And they'd be almost to me. I'd go, no, I'm fine.
And they'd keep honking. So stupid stuff like that, you know,
helping someone off with their coat and ending it with it on me backwards you
(17:56):
know stuff like that I mean it's fun to do that,
yeah do you ever like make TikTok videos or
things like that no but I should I you should I I should see that's the thing
I'm thinking oh gosh if TikTok had been around 20 years ago I probably would
have started it and I keep thinking I should go to TikTok and I just haven't
(18:19):
yet but You've got to now.
You've got to demonstrate whether they use or not. Yeah. The gauntlet has been thrown.
Well, like the things I want to do on Tik TOK.
Do dancing to the oldies and i'm not talking old music i'm talking really old
music like classical like carmina barana or something like that which i think
(18:41):
would be ridiculous but fun,
well we'll be looking for the launch of
that okay why not
and you know it's funny that you said
like the really old music because matt and i've
had this discussion before uh he was
listening to the radio which told him like
(19:03):
the oldies music was like the
music we grew up listening to you know
like 80s music is now you go
ouch yeah really that's not
old i don't know what's wrong
wrong with radio but i was
i was in the grocery store over the
(19:25):
weekend this past weekend and i heard twisted sister playing on the on the you
know the pa system i was like what i mean usually it's like some classical version
of some popular standard kind of thing but no twisted sister.
(19:46):
You gotta wonder who's in charge of the
music that day you know you never know
i didn't realize it was something that you know that would be played over the
pa system in a grocery store usually it's like music or whatever so i know right
that is interesting don't tell me that's become music no i know don't do it don't.
(20:14):
Next that'll be motley crew yeah i was like those oldies yeah that feels funny,
Oh, my goodness. Well, so in your backstory, let's go back to the oldies of you. Oh, dear.
You come from a long line of talented women. women.
(20:35):
And, you know, I, I find that to be fascinating,
but also great that you, you know, that you have that line of women to inherit
all these, you know, like genealogy skills or whatever from. Yeah.
So things that are in your DNA, sorry. Yeah.
(20:58):
Well, that is, my dad always said that I I came by it naturally.
And I was thinking about that the other day, how my first instrument was accordion,
that an accordion salesman showed up at the door.
I thought he just showed up. I was four years old. When does that happen?
You know, but I guess they, but they had made an arrangement for this guy to
(21:21):
stop by with his accordions because my parents were interested for some crazy
reason to take him accordion.
And they put a little one on me and I started playing something and they were
amazed. They were like, she comes by this naturally.
I'm thinking accordion is not natural.
Anyway, but there wasn't, you know, my grandmother would play for us and I loved it.
(21:45):
She'd sit us down and she'd play piano with her left hand and marimba with her right hand.
Sometimes she'd play marimba with eight mallets, which is unusual. She was very talented.
She played ukulele. And then her mother, Bertie Chestnut, was a one-woman band as well.
So she'd have a kick drum, a banjo, or a guitar.
(22:07):
And of course, I can't think what it is.
Anyway yeah one of those things the mouth harp anyway i just think the harmonica there we go,
so i never got to hear her play but you know i feel it like i i've picked up
instruments and not known why i can play it pretty easily right off the bat
(22:29):
and and i jam with people it's like my greatest joy is to just get with a bunch
of people and they'll be like we're gonna do this an A minor.
I'm like, yep, don't tell me the key.
I just hear, I'll hear it and my fingers will know what to do.
It's so strange. I can't even explain it.
And it's helped to go to music school to, you know, learn more and have more of a head knowledge.
(22:53):
But I've got to say, what just comes natural to me is works best for me.
Anyway, that's a long answer. but oh it's
a great answer because I was gonna ask about that in
fact I mean I never I never knew that you know there were accordion cells you
know or whatever like coming to your door I know it was strange well and I I
(23:18):
grew up learning accordion which actually helped me the left hand is the the circle of fifths.
So learning the accordion and, and my second, my, well, my, my second teacher,
it turned out she was second place in the world in 1969.
She was, there was a Russian who won first and a Russian who won third.
(23:40):
And this tiny woman from Kansas, I think it was Kansas, won second place in the world.
And she was amazing to me. She was a good teacher for me.
It made me work hard as a little kid. And so that was kind of an interesting, like, just something.
And she became best friends with my mom.
(24:02):
So we were just surrounded by music that way.
Besides the fact that my grandmother would always, you know,
sit us down and play for us and sing for us and make up songs.
So I was very rich with the music background.
So I feel very fortunate. So back to the accordion with the circle of fifths,
when I went to college and people were having trouble with theory,
(24:25):
I was like, oh, this isn't hard.
I just used my left hand from the accordion and it really helped me know what
I was doing, you know? Yeah.
So you really, as far as learning music,
had the best of both by, you know, having that natural ear for music and talent
and then, you know, the like the on paper part of it of like how. Right. Yeah.
(24:53):
You know, you're just pretty amazing. thing i mean well that's
sweet well you know it's funny because then i like
when i was 10 i begged my mom for an accordion and
i'm sorry for a guitar and they came through they
got me a guitar from the janitor at the elementary school
where she was teaching and that was like when she took me in there to get the
guitar it was like opening the holy grail i was like oh my god are you kidding
(25:16):
this because i'm one of five kids and we have very few things that we got that
was our own but that That guitar was my own,
you know, so and then a little bit later, I begged for a violin and they came
through with that as well.
And so I was just lucky that my parents saw that there was something there.
(25:37):
And I'd play by ear so much that it wasn't until I was in high school.
And one day I just I was playing in the orchestra and I was looking at the music
going, what the heck? What am I? What is that?
I had been playing by ear so much. I woke up to the fact that I didn't know
what I was playing anymore. Yeah.
And then I really learned how to read music after that. But it just cracks me
(26:02):
up that it's one day just dawned on me.
Well, the guitar, like, I know, I mean, I can imagine what that was like when
you got to see it and know that was going to be yours.
But what do you remember?
What kind of guitar was it? it
(26:22):
because you know what was the i don't
remember the brand because that wasn't important to me at
the time but i did go to every
person like like a kai i don't know it's just a fender i'm not i'm actually
not sure and i i still have it i need to go open the case say what is that isn't
(26:42):
that funny i don't remember those details i remember broad strokes but i would
ask every single person And I was like, do you play the guitar? Do you know a chord?
I would ask everyone if they could teach me a chord.
And then I learned a song, a Girl Scout song, like flick around the campfire, the wind in the pipe.
And it would go through, you know, C, G, D, A, you know, the four chords.
(27:08):
Oh, it's very cute. Like I learned. Yeah, it was.
I mean, and that's the thing is if you can learn three or four chords on a guitar,
You have a wealth of music that you can learn.
So you were singing already. Like, have you just been singing,
you know, since you remember talking?
(27:31):
Pretty much. Yeah, my mom used to say I would go out on the swing set and I'd
be singing at the top of my lungs.
And, you know, it just was there. where I actually got in trouble in kindergarten
because they said I kept singing.
And I was like, yeah, but that's in my head. I didn't know anyone could hear me.
(27:54):
And I didn't understand why I was getting in trouble. I was like, what am I doing?
Get out of my head. Like, oh.
So it's pretty funny, you know. It's pretty mean to get in trouble for that. I know.
Then you started writing songs at
(28:17):
10 i think it said that's pretty young
have you always had the words in your head you know along with did you get jazz
no no i you know what's funny is i i actually the first little thing i wrote
was probably a little bit younger it was about pancakes because i love pancakes but but it,
(28:40):
But it didn't come easy to me to write lyrics to tell you the truth.
And I struggled with it, just assuming that I wasn't a writer.
And so it wasn't till like 2005, I think I read The Artist's Way and I started,
you know, writing in a journal and doing some things like that.
And I wrote some songs and I did my first album.
(29:03):
And it's funny because the first album I did was supposed to be like a cabaret
because I came from the Broadway world and all that.
But I started writing these songs that were actually very close to my heart.
And I thought, no, I actually need to record this music.
So that's what I did. I ended up recording those songs.
And even then, I thought, I'm not really much of a writer. I,
(29:25):
you know, I'm just doing this because I want to.
And then during the pandemic, I decided since I had been on tour and it was
sort of like, I better do something or I'm going to go crazy.
I think we all did. So I took some online courses in songwriting and I learned
how to collaborate with other writers.
(29:48):
And I started writing with people all around the world, like really different backgrounds.
And it really opened the world to me. I really started seeing that,
you know, yes, I write a good melody, but if someone else has a good melody, I suddenly have lyrics.
You know, it's like, and one of the mentors said that she really thought I was an all-rounder.
(30:10):
Well, she's from the UK, so she's like, you're really an all-rounder,
Tamara. I was like, oh, okay.
And if she hears me do that, that's a bad impression of her,
actually. It was really bad. Sorry. Sorry about that.
But, you know, so I learned how to do production, which I've always wanted to.
I never thought I could because that's a man's job. You know how you do that
(30:33):
to yourself. You decide that someone else can do that.
Right. I just started realizing, you know, if you give it time,
if you give yourself the time to learn and and develop the skill.
It's like, wow, I I have written 100 songs over the pandemic and and released
(30:54):
some songs that I did the production on or at least co-produced as well, too.
So it's been fun, you know, and part of that is just staying curious and staying curious.
I mean, I've gotten off your question already. Again, I tend to do that. It's okay.
Circle back. What do you want to know now?
(31:15):
Well, I'm curious with the songwriting, you know, co-writing with others.
Songwriters that we've interviewed before talked about it's kind of like a first date.
And you can almost tell pretty soon into it if there's going to be a second
date or not. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
(31:37):
Sometimes you can tell right away. And I think it's good to try out.
You know, I've written with a bunch of different people and and there are a
handful that I've written four or five, six songs.
And so you can tell. Yeah. It's like, OK, we've gotten into a nice flow and we can do this.
And I just started writing with a really good composer I've known for 30 years.
I've probably known him 30 years and I really wanted to write with him.
(32:00):
And he finally said, you know, I have some time. Let's try this. and
he does more classical music and and
he is what they'd call writing up like he
challenges me because he he's so good with music
and so good with words that it really
makes me work harder but boy we we wrote a song pretty quickly we some things
(32:20):
heal he actually wrote most of the lyrics on it but it was it was it was great
writing with someone like him because it was so fast and I had I had to think
on my feet and we're now almost done with the second one,
pretty much done with it and already started on a third one.
So, yeah, it's pretty interesting to write with others and be able to bounce things off of them and.
(32:44):
And listen to their stories and try to it made me think it's very much like
being in the theater and working with other people on a show where you're working
collaboratively, you know, with your lines and bouncing things off of each other.
It's also just thinking of storyline when you're
writing a song you if you're creating a
(33:06):
world you're creating an experience and a story all at once and um well i'm
curious because i i am always curious as to how people respond to criticism
so when you're co-writing.
If maybe one of your ideas, you know, like if someone offers some feedback that
(33:33):
you might feel is critical, you know, coming from the theater,
I'm sure you've had that experience. Oh, yeah.
Well, how important is that in the way that you view it?
Well, yeah, I think the thing is you have to develop a safe room with your collaborators
and you'll find out. Like I've only worked with a few people where it felt like
(33:55):
it really shut you down and just said no to an idea instead of thinking.
I always think of it like comedy. It's yes.
And so and I and some of my favorite directors have been that way,
too. You said, I'd like to try this. And they say, OK, show me.
And you show them what you want to do. And they said, oh, yes.
And why don't you take it this far? So they you're building on something and
(34:18):
being, you know, forthright. Right. Like I think the whole like I've written
with even one or two people at a time in the same room.
And it's it's almost easier one to one for me when it's just me and another person.
But it's like in any case, being
able to say, oh, that that's not really working. Does that work for you?
(34:38):
And saying yes to their ideas. Never say no to an idea because you never know what's going to bloom.
You know, so I say type everything out. Try it out.
Let's try it. And I think a lot of times both sides know it's like yeah,
that doesn't really work. Does it it's not flowing, right?
But I always try to give everything its chance because like in acting I've gotten
(35:02):
notes from directors Well, I'm like there is no way that's gonna work.
There's no way I try to go.
Wow. That was really freeing Thank you very much You know.
And that's the same with songwriting. And I think that's where you find out
if someone is a good collaborator for you is do they open you up?
(35:22):
Do they open up your humanity? Do they help you see? Do they make you better?
And if they're shutting you down and you recognize that you're being shut down,
you know, sometimes I go, is that just me? Is that me being emotional?
And it's like, no, this doesn't feel right. Then it's like, well,
thank you very much. It was nice to work with you. And then you move on.
(35:44):
But I think, yeah, it happens, you know, and and someone could be your best
friend and you still go, wow, we just can't write together. And that's OK.
You know, you just have to hold it that way that it's not all important.
And then there might be people I've written with a few people where I thought,
(36:04):
well, maybe, you know, I'm not sure we get along. And then, you know,
the words just flow, the music flows, you go, wow, this is interesting.
It's just interesting what you can find, you know, working with people and just
being open to it. So, yeah.
Matt, do you have a question? So you were in Les Mis.
(36:25):
How did, how did, so I guess we should back up a little bit and tell us when you got into acting.
I mean, how does all that come about?
Well, that goes way back. Well, my sister Jeannie had been doing plays at school
and I was really curious about it.
So that that kind of got me curious to to do an audition.
(36:48):
And so it was I think junior high school was the first little thing I did.
And I was like, oh, that's interesting.
And then but in high school, there was a really good program.
We had a really good choir director.
So the music was good and really good theater director. director.
And so watching my friends and I think my brother was in a show and then my
(37:09):
sister was, I was like, I want to do that.
So that's how I got into it. And it cracks me up because I really had no background at all in it.
And I think the first show was Oliver
and my sister got Nancy fancy and i
got lead dancer and if you
(37:32):
would have watched me do the dance i was like selling it from the waist up and
not knowing what the heck i was doing from the waist down i was just selling
it i was like that's interesting lead dancer okay good.
Jazz hands okay.
So that was my big entrance into the theater and,
(37:56):
And then I did several shows in high school and then I got to college and I
actually missed the audition for the first show.
I can't remember.
Oh, it was Kippen. And for some reason, I couldn't get to the dance call.
And she said, well, if you can
learn the dance, I had to find some of some other students that knew it.
(38:17):
And so they taught it to me and I had to go out and do it by myself again, dancing.
Dancing I'm not a dancer but I did it you know and I thought you know I I gotta
hand it to myself I wanted it so much that I just would do anything to get there
you know I'd practice on my own and and then the next year they did guys and
dolls and I wanted to do Adelaide and I'm,
(38:39):
really not really right for Adelaide and but I rehearsed and rehearsed it and
when I got out there and auditioned they laughed at what I did and I thought
oh my gosh and I got I got cast in And the upperclassmen were a little bit pissed
off at me. I'm sorry. I was like, sorry.
I just wanted to know. So from there you went to Broadway?
(39:03):
And right straight from there. No.
Well, no, but when I got out of college, I had done a few.
Well, there was a new dinner theater that had opened up while I was in college called The Wayside Inn.
And so I did a couple of shows there. It was the first time I did a professional.
I'm doing quotes with my fingers. A professional theater.
(39:27):
We got paid for it. We did, I think, four shows a week and got a square meal
beforehand because it was dinner theater.
I was like, oh, that saved me from eating Top Ramen every meal.
But I got to do Guinevere and Camelot and Maria and West Side Story in this
little theater for a three-month run each. And so that was a real nice...
(39:49):
Proving ground for me to see if I could do that. That was really nice.
I'm really thankful for that.
And then I moved back. So I'm in Colorado.
I moved back to home with my mom and dad for a little while.
And I went, I saw that they had auditions for a couple of the theaters there,
and they were doing Man of La Mancha.
(40:10):
So I went to the call. And I'm right for Antonia. So I auditioned for that.
And when I got the call back, they said, you've been called back for for Al
Donza. And I was like, mom, I didn't audition for Al Donza.
You got it wrong. And I'm thinking my mom doesn't know the show.
So I ended up getting, and that one was a funny audition because it was an open call.
(40:32):
I mean, the first, I don't know, 300 people showed up.
It was like, it was so full of the theater and everyone was in there for the
audition, just standing in line.
And they said, well, just do eight bars.
And so I was like, well, well, I want to do the best part of Eight Bars. Yeah.
So I got in there and I was like, I started on the high end.
(40:57):
Every neck in the place cracked. It snapped over like, what is she doing?
I did that a few times. So that was fun.
So I did those couples of shows. And then I worked at the Denver Center for
three seasons. And then that's when Les Mis and Phantom of the Opera were coming to Broadway.
(41:20):
And I sent a tape back in those days.
We did tapes. I went to a recording studio and I made a demo tape and I sent
it to Johnson and Lyft, who were casting the show on Broadway.
And six months later, after I got married and moved twice, they found me.
(41:40):
They called and said, can you be in L.A. next week?
And I just happened to be going to L.A. that next week. I was like, are you kidding me?
Yes, I'm going to be there anyway, which was so strange because it wasn't something.
So, you know, it's one of those things where you go, I think this was me because it was so strange.
Yeah, it was neat. And so, you
(42:03):
know, I did like, you know, I did brought they did hire me for the tour.
I understudied Cosette for about three months. And then Melissa Errico was the cosette at that time.
And I guess she sprained her ankle helping someone move.
And so I get to the theater after like goofing off. I was on the road and we
were in Baltimore and I'd been shopping all morning. It was a matinee.
(42:25):
And they're like, Tamara, you're on. I'm like, oh, how am I doing?
So I went on as cosette that day. I was like, oh, OK. OK.
And then the guy who keeps the show clean was there, Richard J. Alexander.
And he said, we we need a cosette in bus and truck.
(42:45):
You know, we'd like to move you over there. And I was like, oh,
man, I didn't want to leave this beautiful company I was in.
But, you know, it was the chance to move into the role.
So I then moved to the bus and truck and performed with them for a while.
And like I said, I was a newlywed.
My husband was traveling with me.
And I mean, and then tragedy hit because we were out there about six,
(43:09):
I don't know, nine months, whatever it was.
And he started getting sick. He suddenly had a brain tumor.
And so that was terrible. And Richard was really great about it.
He said, you know, listen, you don't have to go on with this because I I at
that point we had come to my hometown.
And and you know how you always want to return home and show people what you're doing.
(43:32):
And it was like so sad that Ben was in the hospital with this getting surgery.
And I just I couldn't sing. I couldn't do the show half the time that I was there.
So they let me leave the show at that point. And the show moved on without me.
And and then I cared for Ben for the next nine months. and
then he actually passed away sorry i'm like
(43:53):
giving you the whole thing no that's why
this is this this is the whole real truth
you know yeah he passed away and then i had some oh about five months where
i just i was just kind of floundering and they called me back they were like
we're in chicago and we need cosette cover or can you come out and i thought you know what,
(44:16):
I mean, it's going to make me cry, but it was like it was the perfect thing
to happen in my life is that, you know, I'd all my money, all our money gone
to his bills and I needed a job.
And I thought that's the perfect job to get where you're in brown rags half
the time, you know, like, oh, good. This is perfect.
(44:38):
So it got me back into singing again. And then at the end of that summer,
the cosette who was the main cosette took a vacation.
So the stage manager said, you know, you're going to need to go on next week. And I said, OK.
And so I got my mom. I flew my mom out there to see me in Chicago.
And we had a great week together.
(45:00):
But her flight was earlier something or it was late coming in.
And I was trying to get her to the apartment. And she doesn't know Chicago.
So I had to bring her to the theater. And if you know anything,
you do know a thing or two about theater.
You're not supposed to bring people backstage after half hour.
So I went to the stage manager and it was a huge backstage.
(45:21):
I went to her. I said, do you mind if my mom just stays back in the corner over
there and knits during the show?
And I think she just thought that was cute. So the next she said, OK, sure, that's fine.
So I come to the stage for the start of the show
and there's my mom sitting right next to the stage manager listening
(45:41):
on she let her sit right there off stage right with
her and watch the show from the side I was like oh my god so anyway so that
was my four-way foray back to the stage after that tragedy and then and then
that that closed in Chicago I went home for a few months and then And they said,
(46:02):
can you come back on the road?
We need a Cosette in the bus and truck again.
So, you know, and then I was there for a couple of years.
And then I left the road and I moved to New York City finally.
So at that point, I'd saved some money.
And I think that's the best way to go. Save your money first.
And then moved to New York City. Definitely need it for New York.
(46:25):
Yeah. And after about...
I don't know. I can't remember. It was about five months. They were looking for a cosette again.
And I called me again. And at this point, they're like, I feel a little embarrassed,
but we haven't seen you in a little while.
So, you know, they're expecting I've gained 50 pounds in five months or something.
(46:47):
And so I can you come to the backstage and, you know, meet us?
So I came backstage, and Richard Jay walked in again, and he saw me,
and I thought, I'm going to wear the cutest little outfit.
I'm just going to look real cute. And I call it my little bee outfit, you know.
(47:08):
So he saw me, and he goes, oh, you're hired.
I thought that was hilarious. He goes, oh, by the way, how's your singing?
I said, better than ever. And he goes, good.
I mean, so that's how I landed Broadway, is they took my word for it.
But he loved me. he loved me in the show i
guess otherwise they wouldn't have called me i mean
so was it like i mean
(47:30):
how nerve-wracking was it to be on broadway i mean was that like one one thing
that you always wanted to do or oh well it's what i totally wanted to do you
know so i'm telling the story in two or three minutes or 10 minutes whatever
right but you know this is years of You know, while I was working in Denver,
you know, people are like, visualize what you want and put it on your, you know, your wall.
(47:55):
So it's like I had a picture of New York City and I, I had layman.
I really wanted to do this.
So I'd really put it out there.
And I was like, yes, and I'm going to have limos picking me up with,
you know, if you know anything about New York, you don't really get limos unless you're a huge star.
But wouldn't you know it that
someone had a friend who was a limo driver and he would
(48:17):
give us a ride home like well
i'll take it however it comes anyway but
yeah i had been dreaming of it forever but i'd say i was more nervous when i
my first night when i was covering when i was in the show you know it was so
such a great company really talented people and so it was nerve-wracking Because
(48:41):
I hadn't really gotten out of Colorado to do much.
I'd only done a couple of shows in Texas, you know. So this was a big deal.
But then touring, I toured for two and a half years with the show.
So by the time I got to Broadway, I was like, yeah, I know the show.
It was a bigger turntable, which was interesting.
(49:04):
It's a smaller theater, but bigger turntable. So you just had to get used to
going a little faster in certain cases. It's a world.
But I literally was on Broadway for two weeks when I woke up to it going, oh, this was my dream.
I'm sitting in my dream. Now I have to think of the next dream. What do I want next?
(49:25):
You know, it's so funny. What did you decide on?
Well, I really wanted to still do Phantom. And when I did leave Les Mis,
I did get to audition for Phantom six times.
And that last time I auditioned, I was like, boy, if I don't get it this time,
you know, this is silly. Because it was over several years. years.
(49:48):
But I thought, I really need to think about what am I doing wrong or what can
I do more right, you know, type thing.
And I really listened to the women who had been doing the role and thought,
okay, it's not like I need to mimic them, but there's a certain vocal quality
I think they're listening for.
(50:09):
So I thought, I sing that way when I sing, I could have danced all night.
I'm going to take that song in that's what I'm going to sing and I sang it and
they were like yeah they were like oh yeah and then I think they had me sing
a few other things and then as I was leaving the room they said oh and by the way how's your dance.
(50:32):
Again dancing and I said well I gotta tell you I was the lead dancer,
I was the lead dancer in junior high school,
That's hilarious.
I said, well, I'm a mover and a shaker.
But, you know, what's funny, because then I so I was still on.
(50:54):
I was still doing Cosette during the in the evenings while I was rehearsing
for Christine during the days on on the on their stage.
And the choreographer was like, well, actually, you're saying you're not a dancer.
But she said, you're actually doing better than I shouldn't say this out loud.
Sorry, other Christines, but she said I was actually holding my own pretty well.
(51:17):
So I thought, well, that's nice to know because I I never felt like I was a
good dancer, but I could sell it. Like I told you, I can sell it.
Oh, my God. I would say it was blue on point.
You know, that's not very nice, but that's what I would say.
I was always felt like, you know, they have really gorgeous dancers in that show.
(51:39):
Beautiful ballerinas who really know what they're doing and then you get me
out there in a tutu well anyway it was fun it was great fun you know my favorite
part though i have to say i'm so glad i got to do christine because i got to ride in the boat.
Isn't that terrible that that's my favorite part of the
(52:02):
show and dodging the
and dodging the the chandelier when it
came down they're like you're cutting it a little close you need to
get out of there sooner no i
love this part anyways all right
cat what do you got next yeah so i
mean it seems like a lot of
(52:23):
your life in some ways is like i
don't know know pre-planned or the
thread of something that runs
through it like so i read the premonition like
when you heard play me yeah that
you knew then that you were just gonna you just knew that you were going to
(52:46):
be traveling and performing right and i was like 10 and i i didn't know anything
like that that's not something i would have been even to able to like put together
that that I just know I'm going to...
I could see it, that I would be traveling and singing.
I didn't even know what it meant, because I was so young, but...
(53:08):
I would lay on the floor and put my feet up on the couch and play that song
over and over. Like that is such a huge memory for me.
I thought, my God, that actually came true.
And I don't know if I dreamed it or if it was like, just like,
this is going to be your life. Get ready.
You know, at first when I was reading that, I was like, okay,
(53:30):
she's just an obedient type.
Because you know play me is the title and
you're just like you know playing you know
doing what it says to do play me but then
you know I I think reading about Ben and you got married after three months
(53:50):
I think yeah so I mean I knew on the fifth I knew like on the fifth date but
I I waited to make sure it was right.
But yeah, if we hadn't gotten married so quickly, I wouldn't have been able
to help him through that last part of his life.
You know what I mean? If we hadn't, if we had waited a year,
(54:11):
we probably wouldn't have been able to get married.
So I feel like there was some sort of divinity in that somehow.
And I'm not, you know, it's interesting.
It seems like that's just a thread as I was looking over, you know, different,
aspects of your life I'm thinking like wow you know there's just something like
(54:31):
that guides her as to you know what to do I guess.
So, you know, here you are.
Yes, you're right. And music now is a big focus again.
Yeah. And the pandemic, is that something good that came from that time,
(54:59):
you know, when everyone was, because you were touring, I guess, with Anastasia.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Everything just shut down. And yeah, it was a great tour, too. It was nice people.
And I had so I was going to be seeing friends in some cities.
So it was really hard when we and we didn't know our last show was the last show.
(55:20):
I mean, we had an inkling, but literally it was just one show at a time.
And and just two weeks before I was I was covering the Dowager Empress.
And I thought she's Joy Franz is so strong. She never missed a show.
But she happened to eat a bad piece of fish, I guess, wasn't feeling good right
(55:40):
before the intermission.
And but it was around this covid, you know, inkling was happening.
And so they they didn't want me to go into her dressing room,
but they're like, you're on.
I had five minutes to get ready out in the hallway, you know,
and went on for her in the second act.
So that had to have been strange for the audience to have, you know,
(56:02):
this woman who's the right age for it. And then anyway, but it was really wonderful
to go on and do the second act.
And but then two weeks later, we closed down like just like that.
They're like, pack your trunks and go home.
And they kept thinking we were going to go back on tour. But,
you know, it became clear that that wasn't going to happen.
(56:23):
And it's funny because the two years preceding this, I kept thinking,
I've got to make some room for writing.
I was trying to write. I was doing some things and just wanted some time to do it.
And so suddenly I realized, oh, I've got a pandemic here where I'm forced to be home.
Sorry, everyone. I was hoping that I'd have some time off.
(56:47):
It's my fault sorry anyway it
was once I settled into getting into
writing with other people and that was wonderful
actually just you know I was meeting with
people every day I had a very full schedule I actually
had to once the pandemic was over I'm like
I've got to settle down I'm doing too much actually like
(57:11):
I said I wrote like a hundred songs and I'm trying to play catch
up to produce them the ones that are worth being
produced and you know it's pretty
funny that I made you know actually
almost did too much you know but but it
was great I mean it was wonderful and then I've
gotten to go to I got to go to the UK
(57:32):
and meet some of my co-writers in person and got
to go to Spain and go to a songwriting retreat was
which was pure heaven pure heaven
I mean just really fantastic people so yeah I'm
all in on that but I'm still on this I say on the side but it's all I'm a whole
creative person so it's like my agent still calls me for auditions and most
(57:56):
of them are self tapes at this point and like next week I'll be going to New
York and I'm gonna see some shows.
You know, because I have to still be up on what's happening on Broadway and
hopefully something will come through.
But I'm quite happy to just be creating no matter what I'm doing,
you know, just enjoying it.
(58:19):
Well, Matt, I knew it was going to be a fascinating story.
Yeah, for sure. Thank you. Lots of twists and turns there, for sure.
So what's going to be next? Yes. I mean, I know you said you're going to New
York and all that, but like, are you doing another album or I mean,
(58:40):
what do you got planned for this year?
Well, yeah, I'm going to continue. I've got a bunch of, like I said,
a bunch of songs I need to work on.
I've been working on some productions for one of my co-writers who wants to
put out the album of social justice tunes.
Tunes and uh and i've got a handful of tunes
i want to do and for the
(59:02):
past five to seven years i've been working on
a joan baez tribute show and so i'm i'm
getting that up on its feet finally and i
have a band august moons and we're we're planning
some dates this the spring so he's
up near montreal and i guess there's going to be an eclipse a
(59:23):
full eclipse on april 8th so we're going going to have a
big jam session and do some shows around that and
that'll be fun yeah so that's what
we're aiming for there and i'm working
on some songs to some albums to put towards sync i've got a song that's being
considered for heartland which is amazing and one that's being considered for
(59:46):
a christmas movie that i don't even know what that is but you just have to release
Release your children and let them go.
You know, write them and let them go. Yeah, yeah.
So that's, you know, it's just I feel like I'm in a constant process.
It never ends, you know. Yeah.
Well, I mean, got to stay busy, right? Right, right. Exactly.
(01:00:09):
Well, I always say it's not even just busyness. It's following the joy.
It's just saying, oh, this looks fun. What does this do?
Oh, not doing that again. yeah exactly
whoops there's been plenty of
that yeah yeah all right cat one last question yes since you know february is
(01:00:32):
the month of love at least commercially i'm sure what is your favorite valentine song or love song um.
One, as you were saying that, it made me remember the song I sang for my great
aunt and uncle's 50th anniversary.
I'll be loving you always.
(01:00:56):
It's just sweet. But I don't know. I mean, I love songs. I love, love songs.
I also like quirky ones.
I submitted a couple songs for this radio show, and my song,
Never Too Late, is going to be played. and my song Lucky, which is pretty silly.
But, yeah, I actually like silly love songs.
(01:01:20):
I hate Paul McCartney. Yeah, yeah, yeah, right? Oh, yeah. Very good, very good.
I'll take that compliment. I'm just like Paul McCartney. Great.
That'll go in my promo material. Thank you very much.
Paul McCartney-esque.
(01:01:40):
Oh my goodness yes some
call me the paula mccartney oh well
it has been a delight to have
you i i love your story and the
enthusiasm and and really just the
(01:02:00):
way life has you know
just led you to create more and
experience more and just to keep going and
like the the oddest twist and turn i just
love that yeah it's all very
strange but i just flow with it roll with it and
and it's been a joy to talk to you thank you so much for having me on your podcast
(01:02:22):
and uh sending out lots of love to your listeners lots of love sending it all
to you oh well thank you you can come back anytime and let us know No,
you're up to it. I'd be happy to talk to you. I'd love it.
All right. Well, thank you so much. Have a wonderful day. You too.
Music.
Take care. Bye-bye. Bye. See you. Bye.
(01:02:55):
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or comments,
you can send those to Kat at irateplaysatoutlook.com or you can write to me
at backstorychessings at gmail.com or matt.
Music.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.