April 25, 2024 • 13 mins
Michael Riedel and Christine Nagy chatted with Elijah Rhea Johnson, who plays Michael Jackson in Broadway's MJ THE MUSICAL. Johnson talked about his year in the role and how to win a trip to see MJ on Broadway, the US tour, London, or Hamburg. To enter visit mjthemusical.com/doubleplatinum
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Episode Transcript
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(00:02):
iHeartRadio Broadway presents Inside Broadway, thepodcast about everything theater. It's where you
hear what happens from the ticket windowto the stage door, with the stars
and creative forces that make it allcome alive. Here are your hosts,
wo Rs Michael Riedle and Light FM'sChristine Nagy. Our guest today has just
(00:25):
celebrated one year on Broadway, starringas Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical,
and he's absolutely wonderful. Elijah RayJohnson welcome. How are you? Thank
you for having me? I'm doingall right and hanging in there. Yeah.
Good. A year is Michael Jacksonan incredible show. This has been
an amazing run so far. Howare you enjoying it? I'm enjoying it
(00:47):
so much. I mean it's somethingthat I said last time we spoke.
The fans really like keep us goingand like the their reactions and their enjoyment
of the show is really just spectacular. I'm doing great. I mean,
it's like a dream role for meto be doing. It's it's it's still
super enjoyable. What's so fun ourshow is it's very hard. So my
legs has hurt all the times.Yeah, I was gonna ask you,
(01:07):
are you work? Are you intraction after a year? Yeah, No,
I'm still I'm still doing I canstill kick, i can still do
the walk. It just is abit you know that the body gets a
bit sore, and I'm just takingcare of them, taking care of it,
you know when I when I geta chance. And but it's going
well, I can't complain. Well, this show is taken off just worldwide
literally right we're now, Yeah,Miles Frost brought it over to London from
(01:29):
what I understand, Yeah, we'vegot performances in Hamburg, we have we
have a show on the road.And I know, because it's you're hitting
double platinum, there's a there's awhole contest behind it. Yeah, yeah,
No, we're doing this Sweet Stakes. We actually we just passed two
million tickets sold worldwide for the show, which is like just insane to even
think about just being a part ofthat. It's like incredible. So yeah,
(01:52):
we're doing this Sweet Steaks to celebrateour fans and celebrate two million tickets
sold. And basically one fan willwin a pair of tickets to an MJ
show of their choice, so eitherthe one here in Broadway or the tour
or in the UK or in Germany, they'll have the chance to see the
show, the flights and hotels wepaid for, and they'll actually get a
(02:15):
meet and gree with the cast afterthe show. So it's both a celebration
of us, you know, passingtwo million tickets old, and also just
celebrate our fans like they are thelifeblood of the show. They are what's
made it a hit. They keepyou know, the word of mouth of
our show here and Broadway, itkeeps expanding. Anyone that I talked to
really just either's heard great things orreally enjoyed themselves when they saw it.
So it's just something to celebrate usin that really nice. It's MJ theemusical
(02:38):
dot com slash double platinum, soyou can jump in there for the sweepstakes.
And I saw you, Elijah,when you were making your debut a
year ago. Yeah, yeah,and you're absolutely wonderful. How have things
changed for you as far as MichaelJackson over this past year or or is
it kind of always been Michael Jacksonfor you. I mean it's it's a
(03:00):
little bit of both. I Mean, Michael's the reason why I started performing.
So in a way like the Michael, his moves, his his music
can send the bones for me,you know. But but I have like
really settled into the role. Ithink they were so it was like a
very quick It was like it waslike I think normal for Broadway before me,
it was so quick of a turnaroundto really prep and get ready and
get the show on his feet.And then when I debuted, you're kind
(03:21):
of just in it, and andyou know, we do show eight shows
a week, so you know,you get a lot of reps sitting very
quickly. And I think just overtime, I've really just settled into the
character, into the role, andto the vibe of how the shows are,
how the aunctions are, and whatyou know what to give and how
to how to pace and how tohow to uh, you know, maintain
yourself and make sure you can makeit all through all the entire week.
(03:43):
And I think I've just really founda really good rhythm of you know,
doing this thing of being Michael Jackson, you know, portraying him every night.
I think it takes a certain typeof mental adjustment and being able to
be you know, in the momentand prepped while also like being consistent,
so I think I just found areally, really solid place in that.
So it's it's been a challenge,but it's been really rewarding. Now,
(04:03):
I wouldn't exactly call you a veteranbecause you're not old enough, but you've
been around Broadway, weren't you SimbaYoung Simba and the Lion King at one
point? Yeah? Yeah, Idid the Las Vegas production where they had
that back in nine and then Idid the national tour. So this is
my first Broadway debut, but theaterit's kind of how I got my start
in the industry when I was likenine or ten. And at one point,
(04:25):
were you a younger Michael Jackson inthe show? Before coming to broad
When we're workshopping the show back intwenty eighteen, I helped develop the role
of middle Michael. So there's threeMichaels in the show. The Little Michael,
the middle Michael, which is inhis twenties thriller era, and then
the main Michael, which I playnow. So I kind of grew up
with the show. I was partof the workshops as the middle Michael,
(04:46):
and then it came back to theshow at the main Michael. So yeah,
oh wow, interesting Now, itwas a hit right from the beginning,
wasn't. I mean, it mustbe one of these shows where you
played the first preview and the audiencegoes crazy. I mean it was insane.
Like I remember hearing about the whenit opened and just how how the
response was so officially positive and peoplejust really fell in love with the show,
and I think it just keeps ongrowing and that that makes sense,
(05:08):
Like it's insane. It's insane,I think. I think, like it's
so funny to me because we've we'veperformed so many times and done the show
so many times, and it stillsurprised me that, like so many people,
it's the first time. I forgetit's Broadway, Like it's you know,
all this whole year has been reallyexperiencing Broadway and how it works for
the first time for me. SoI'm like, yeah, every night,
it's the people who have not they'veheard a lot of this about the show.
We have not seen it, soit's always they're so shocked of like
(05:29):
just how I think we like.The music obviously gets people through the door
because it's Michael, So it's someof the best music ever created that maybe
ever will be created. But theshow itself in the in the cast where
you know, we have such atalented cast and the story has done so
well. I think it kind ofshocks people that didn't expect it. They
expect all that from a jukebox MichaelJackson musical. It has a lot of
heart, has a lot of emotions, and make you cry and make it
laugh. It's like it has thewhole thing you want in an entertaining night
(05:54):
on Broadway. And people, Ithink are really just blown away by it.
So it's really really fun to bea part that's really nice to be
in, going to show that peoplereally like and chicken and joy and you
know, have a lit one withit. Yeah, I see, Yeah,
people really really get into it.And uh and sometimes they're standing and
they're singing along with you. Doesthat ever throw you or you welcome that?
It's it's honestly, it's so amazing. I know it. Like I've
(06:15):
talked to people who are in anaudience and someone's like, I just want
to focus on you know, yousinging whoever. But but we honestly love
it when people are having a goodtime and dancing and singing along. It
really helps us just keep us andergized. Honestly, I love it personally,
but you know, being on thestage, like we can all hear that,
and it really the energy is justamazing. What was the show that
got you interested in going into thetheater when you were a kid? You
(06:39):
know what's funny it was. Ithink it was a mixture of like Michael
and then like also like I sawThe Linking when I was four when it
came to Detroit, and I rememberthat like blew my mind. I hadn't
seen a Broadway show like that oranything of that caliber before. That was
my first one, and it reallygot me interested in like I maybe not
not dying. I didn't think Iwould be I would do it then I
(06:59):
was like really young, but Ithink I was really just like that's so
amazing, Like it was, itwas like very magical. It's something like
Michael talks about like creating magic andkind of maintaining that, and I think
musical and and you know, entertainmentwe try to do that. We try
to create a magic and keep itgoing entertained. And I think I was
really encaptured by that. And whenI saw The Linking when I was younger,
I didn't think I would end updoing it. I think I didn't
(07:19):
find music fund my way to musicTille a little later in life, like
maybe like four or five years afterthat, But Michael really was the reason
why I started performing in that way. So really it's it's like a mixture
of like both things from my childhoodin that way. That's amazing, It's
coming full circle. What else doyou like, because that'll be the next
thing at some point. Well,you know, I like, I love
movies, I love TV. I'veI've been like writing scripts for a who
(07:44):
like five six years now, solike I also like do that on the
side when I f free time,and so you know, I kind of
just like I love it all.I love acting, I love music,
I love writing. I love beingbehind the camera and scripting and all that,
and I kind of just love theact of creating. I think it's
all expression and it's interesting. LikeI think growing up through Detroit, I
(08:05):
didn't think that something like this couldbe possible for me. But I'm so
glad that I found my way becauseI definitely know that like being creative and
being in the arts and being doingsomething like that in that capacity is what
I was meant to do so,and you certainly go into shows that are
physically demanding, because I had alot of friends in The Lion King and
they were all in traction and theyused to sing can you feel the pain
to that? I mean, yeah, it's funny. I come from a
(08:28):
from a family of athletes, soit's like the outlier who was like I
want to think. But also thethings that I do are very athletic,
so I think it actually kind ofmakes a lot of sense. Yeah,
then you're used to the training,I would say, and physical conditioning.
Absolutely. And what's something you talkedabout. You know that you always loved
Michael Jackson, you were influenced byhim. What do you think is your
(08:48):
biggest takeaway that you've learned from MichaelJackson in portraying him like this complicated guy?
I know. I think it's likebalance is key. I think Michael
Michael's drive and ambition is what drovehim to be like the biggest entertainer ever.
And I think also to it,it caused him a lot of pain,
(09:11):
right, I think, like tobe an artist and be in the
industry, it takes a lot ofsacrifice and a lot of dedication, and
I think truthfully, just being inthe show and and I think it's so
funny. When I was younger,my thing was like I want to be
as big as Michael Jackson. Andnow like literally playing him every night.
It's like a weird version of that, like living out that that childhood dream.
It's just making sure that, likeI stay balanced, Like I love
(09:35):
performing, I love my I lovedoing the show. I love you know,
all that becomes of entertainment. Ialso like to love my family and
like make sure I go and seethem and talk to my little brother and
talk to my mom and my dad, Like I love seeing my friends and
hanging out with my girlfriend. LikeI make sure that I make time for
things that are really really important.That just having a balance, it's it's
(09:56):
really key. I think you canget really caught up in entertainment and all
of a sudden come with it andlike remembering that, like it's my passion,
I love it, it's also myjob, and like you go home
from your job at night and youlike do other things and you have balance.
I think that's like one of thebiggest things I've learned from just kind
of like everybody in the industry,but especially Michael, that having balance is
really key if you want, ifyou want to try something different, be
(10:18):
a radio talk show host, becausewe sit in a chair for four hours.
If you need to rest your body, like I know you may,
Oh my god, like sitting downjust for like two minutes to be great.
Yeah right, oh my god,just like a day. Fantastic and
we wish we could move like you. Elijah. You're absolutely You're so wonderful
(10:41):
in this role and really encourage everyone. If you haven't yet seen MJ the
Musical on Broadway, it's fantastic atthe Neil Simon Theater, and you know,
jump in there for that sweepstakes.What a prize. MJ Theemusical dot
com slash double platinum. Elijah raJohnson. Congrats on all of your wonderful
work and your great life. It'sso good to talk you. Good luck,
thank you, thank you so much. Thanks for having me. I
(11:01):
appreciate it. Thank you. We'llsee you again soon. Don't break a
leg. All right, So Michael, we have to catch up because an
incredibly busy Broadway season. There areso many shows opening at once. I
kind of can't keep up with them. All right, Right, I was
talking to my critic friends, andthey were saying they had just to back
to back to shows. Not thatone should feel sorry for critics because they
get the best seats and they don'tpay for them, right, And I
(11:22):
always find it funny one oh sobusy going to Broadway shows. Oh my
life, I had need my lifeback. Well, a lot of people
would give their lives to get yourjob and your seats. Bow, so
don't complain too loudly. But theyhad back to back openings. Patriots opened
uh the same night as The Heartof Rock and Roll, the Huey Lewis
movie, because they just aren't onenough dates there for all the shows to
(11:43):
open individually before the Tony Award cutoff. Okay, see right, So
Tony Award nominations are coming up.What do you think will be the standouts?
Again, there's so many shows,So I think one show play that's
going to get a a lot ofnominations is Appropriate starring Sarah Paulson. Everybody
loves that play and they really reallylike her, so will be in the
mix. Patriots is a very interestingplay from Peter Morgan, who created The
(12:03):
Crown, and it's about the Russianoligarchs. Who promoted Vladimir Putin, who
got Vladimir Putin to become the mostpowerful man on the planet at one point,
and then how he betrayed them all. Wow. Yeah, he used
all their money and their connections topropel himself to run Russia and then he
stabbed them all in the back.So that's a really juicy, interesting,
fascinating political play. And that onthe musical front, I would imagine Merrily
(12:28):
We Roll Along is going to geta raft of nominations. Cabaret too,
probably Eddie Redmin will be in themix. Some very good cast members in
The Wiz, which I saw theother day, So, oh, did
you enjoy it? I did.It was fun. So you know,
it's old show from the seventies,but it what they didn't really try to
update it, which I think isgood because it's just got the Great seventies
five it really does. It feelslike it feels an R and B seventies
(12:52):
style. That's fun tune. Sothat's fun. Yeah, They're gonna be
a lot of a lot of showsand people in the mix of the Tony's,
which always makes an exciting time ofthe year. It does really fun
talking with you today, and withElijah from MJ the Musical. It's such
a fun show. And if yourun into a critic, take pity on
them. They are working hard thistime of year and all those free tickets
that they're getting there, Yeah,and getting wind and dined. Do you
(13:15):
get dinner too? Well, ifyou gore wind and dying, you might
be in a position of losing yourjob because it might be known as blackmail.
Okay, so no, that neverhappens. Never happens back in the
day. Every now and then they'dslip me like a hundred bucks in my
ticket. It doesn't happen the wayit used to. Unfortunately, that's only
in the movies from the nineteen fifties. That's right, all right, Michael,
(13:37):
We'll see you next time on InsideBroadway. Whye bye.
iHeartRadio Broadway presents Inside Broadway, thepodcast about everything theater. It's where you
hear what happens from the ticket windowto the stage door, with the stars
and creative forces that make it allcome alive. Here are your hosts,
wo Rs Michael Riedle and Light FM'sChristine Nagy. Our guest today has just
(00:25):
celebrated one year on Broadway, starringas Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical,
and he's absolutely wonderful. Elijah RayJohnson welcome. How are you? Thank
you for having me? I'm doingall right and hanging in there. Yeah.
Good. A year is Michael Jacksonan incredible show. This has been
an amazing run so far. Howare you enjoying it? I'm enjoying it
(00:47):
so much. I mean it's somethingthat I said last time we spoke.
The fans really like keep us goingand like the their reactions and their enjoyment
of the show is really just spectacular. I'm doing great. I mean,
it's like a dream role for meto be doing. It's it's it's still
super enjoyable. What's so fun ourshow is it's very hard. So my
legs has hurt all the times.Yeah, I was gonna ask you,
(01:07):
are you work? Are you intraction after a year? Yeah, No,
I'm still I'm still doing I canstill kick, i can still do
the walk. It just is abit you know that the body gets a
bit sore, and I'm just takingcare of them, taking care of it,
you know when I when I geta chance. And but it's going
well, I can't complain. Well, this show is taken off just worldwide
literally right we're now, Yeah,Miles Frost brought it over to London from
(01:29):
what I understand, Yeah, we'vegot performances in Hamburg, we have we
have a show on the road.And I know, because it's you're hitting
double platinum, there's a there's awhole contest behind it. Yeah, yeah,
No, we're doing this Sweet Stakes. We actually we just passed two
million tickets sold worldwide for the show, which is like just insane to even
think about just being a part ofthat. It's like incredible. So yeah,
(01:52):
we're doing this Sweet Steaks to celebrateour fans and celebrate two million tickets
sold. And basically one fan willwin a pair of tickets to an MJ
show of their choice, so eitherthe one here in Broadway or the tour
or in the UK or in Germany, they'll have the chance to see the
show, the flights and hotels wepaid for, and they'll actually get a
(02:15):
meet and gree with the cast afterthe show. So it's both a celebration
of us, you know, passingtwo million tickets old, and also just
celebrate our fans like they are thelifeblood of the show. They are what's
made it a hit. They keepyou know, the word of mouth of
our show here and Broadway, itkeeps expanding. Anyone that I talked to
really just either's heard great things orreally enjoyed themselves when they saw it.
So it's just something to celebrate usin that really nice. It's MJ theemusical
(02:38):
dot com slash double platinum, soyou can jump in there for the sweepstakes.
And I saw you, Elijah,when you were making your debut a
year ago. Yeah, yeah,and you're absolutely wonderful. How have things
changed for you as far as MichaelJackson over this past year or or is
it kind of always been Michael Jacksonfor you. I mean it's it's a
(03:00):
little bit of both. I Mean, Michael's the reason why I started performing.
So in a way like the Michael, his moves, his his music
can send the bones for me,you know. But but I have like
really settled into the role. Ithink they were so it was like a
very quick It was like it waslike I think normal for Broadway before me,
it was so quick of a turnaroundto really prep and get ready and
get the show on his feet.And then when I debuted, you're kind
(03:21):
of just in it, and andyou know, we do show eight shows
a week, so you know,you get a lot of reps sitting very
quickly. And I think just overtime, I've really just settled into the
character, into the role, andto the vibe of how the shows are,
how the aunctions are, and whatyou know what to give and how
to how to pace and how tohow to uh, you know, maintain
yourself and make sure you can makeit all through all the entire week.
(03:43):
And I think I've just really founda really good rhythm of you know,
doing this thing of being Michael Jackson, you know, portraying him every night.
I think it takes a certain typeof mental adjustment and being able to
be you know, in the momentand prepped while also like being consistent,
so I think I just found areally, really solid place in that.
So it's it's been a challenge,but it's been really rewarding. Now,
(04:03):
I wouldn't exactly call you a veteranbecause you're not old enough, but you've
been around Broadway, weren't you SimbaYoung Simba and the Lion King at one
point? Yeah? Yeah, Idid the Las Vegas production where they had
that back in nine and then Idid the national tour. So this is
my first Broadway debut, but theaterit's kind of how I got my start
in the industry when I was likenine or ten. And at one point,
(04:25):
were you a younger Michael Jackson inthe show? Before coming to broad
When we're workshopping the show back intwenty eighteen, I helped develop the role
of middle Michael. So there's threeMichaels in the show. The Little Michael,
the middle Michael, which is inhis twenties thriller era, and then
the main Michael, which I playnow. So I kind of grew up
with the show. I was partof the workshops as the middle Michael,
(04:46):
and then it came back to theshow at the main Michael. So yeah,
oh wow, interesting Now, itwas a hit right from the beginning,
wasn't. I mean, it mustbe one of these shows where you
played the first preview and the audiencegoes crazy. I mean it was insane.
Like I remember hearing about the whenit opened and just how how the
response was so officially positive and peoplejust really fell in love with the show,
and I think it just keeps ongrowing and that that makes sense,
(05:08):
Like it's insane. It's insane,I think. I think, like it's
so funny to me because we've we'veperformed so many times and done the show
so many times, and it stillsurprised me that, like so many people,
it's the first time. I forgetit's Broadway, Like it's you know,
all this whole year has been reallyexperiencing Broadway and how it works for
the first time for me. SoI'm like, yeah, every night,
it's the people who have not they'veheard a lot of this about the show.
We have not seen it, soit's always they're so shocked of like
(05:29):
just how I think we like.The music obviously gets people through the door
because it's Michael, So it's someof the best music ever created that maybe
ever will be created. But theshow itself in the in the cast where
you know, we have such atalented cast and the story has done so
well. I think it kind ofshocks people that didn't expect it. They
expect all that from a jukebox MichaelJackson musical. It has a lot of
heart, has a lot of emotions, and make you cry and make it
laugh. It's like it has thewhole thing you want in an entertaining night
(05:54):
on Broadway. And people, Ithink are really just blown away by it.
So it's really really fun to bea part that's really nice to be
in, going to show that peoplereally like and chicken and joy and you
know, have a lit one withit. Yeah, I see, Yeah,
people really really get into it.And uh and sometimes they're standing and
they're singing along with you. Doesthat ever throw you or you welcome that?
It's it's honestly, it's so amazing. I know it. Like I've
(06:15):
talked to people who are in anaudience and someone's like, I just want
to focus on you know, yousinging whoever. But but we honestly love
it when people are having a goodtime and dancing and singing along. It
really helps us just keep us andergized. Honestly, I love it personally,
but you know, being on thestage, like we can all hear that,
and it really the energy is justamazing. What was the show that
got you interested in going into thetheater when you were a kid? You
(06:39):
know what's funny it was. Ithink it was a mixture of like Michael
and then like also like I sawThe Linking when I was four when it
came to Detroit, and I rememberthat like blew my mind. I hadn't
seen a Broadway show like that oranything of that caliber before. That was
my first one, and it reallygot me interested in like I maybe not
not dying. I didn't think Iwould be I would do it then I
(06:59):
was like really young, but Ithink I was really just like that's so
amazing, Like it was, itwas like very magical. It's something like
Michael talks about like creating magic andkind of maintaining that, and I think
musical and and you know, entertainmentwe try to do that. We try
to create a magic and keep itgoing entertained. And I think I was
really encaptured by that. And whenI saw The Linking when I was younger,
I didn't think I would end updoing it. I think I didn't
(07:19):
find music fund my way to musicTille a little later in life, like
maybe like four or five years afterthat, But Michael really was the reason
why I started performing in that way. So really it's it's like a mixture
of like both things from my childhoodin that way. That's amazing, It's
coming full circle. What else doyou like, because that'll be the next
thing at some point. Well,you know, I like, I love
movies, I love TV. I'veI've been like writing scripts for a who
(07:44):
like five six years now, solike I also like do that on the
side when I f free time,and so you know, I kind of
just like I love it all.I love acting, I love music,
I love writing. I love beingbehind the camera and scripting and all that,
and I kind of just love theact of creating. I think it's
all expression and it's interesting. LikeI think growing up through Detroit, I
(08:05):
didn't think that something like this couldbe possible for me. But I'm so
glad that I found my way becauseI definitely know that like being creative and
being in the arts and being doingsomething like that in that capacity is what
I was meant to do so,and you certainly go into shows that are
physically demanding, because I had alot of friends in The Lion King and
they were all in traction and theyused to sing can you feel the pain
to that? I mean, yeah, it's funny. I come from a
(08:28):
from a family of athletes, soit's like the outlier who was like I
want to think. But also thethings that I do are very athletic,
so I think it actually kind ofmakes a lot of sense. Yeah,
then you're used to the training,I would say, and physical conditioning.
Absolutely. And what's something you talkedabout. You know that you always loved
Michael Jackson, you were influenced byhim. What do you think is your
(08:48):
biggest takeaway that you've learned from MichaelJackson in portraying him like this complicated guy?
I know. I think it's likebalance is key. I think Michael
Michael's drive and ambition is what drovehim to be like the biggest entertainer ever.
And I think also to it,it caused him a lot of pain,
(09:11):
right, I think, like tobe an artist and be in the
industry, it takes a lot ofsacrifice and a lot of dedication, and
I think truthfully, just being inthe show and and I think it's so
funny. When I was younger,my thing was like I want to be
as big as Michael Jackson. Andnow like literally playing him every night.
It's like a weird version of that, like living out that that childhood dream.
It's just making sure that, likeI stay balanced, Like I love
(09:35):
performing, I love my I lovedoing the show. I love you know,
all that becomes of entertainment. Ialso like to love my family and
like make sure I go and seethem and talk to my little brother and
talk to my mom and my dad, Like I love seeing my friends and
hanging out with my girlfriend. LikeI make sure that I make time for
things that are really really important.That just having a balance, it's it's
(09:56):
really key. I think you canget really caught up in entertainment and all
of a sudden come with it andlike remembering that, like it's my passion,
I love it, it's also myjob, and like you go home
from your job at night and youlike do other things and you have balance.
I think that's like one of thebiggest things I've learned from just kind
of like everybody in the industry,but especially Michael, that having balance is
really key if you want, ifyou want to try something different, be
(10:18):
a radio talk show host, becausewe sit in a chair for four hours.
If you need to rest your body, like I know you may,
Oh my god, like sitting downjust for like two minutes to be great.
Yeah right, oh my god,just like a day. Fantastic and
we wish we could move like you. Elijah. You're absolutely You're so wonderful
(10:41):
in this role and really encourage everyone. If you haven't yet seen MJ the
Musical on Broadway, it's fantastic atthe Neil Simon Theater, and you know,
jump in there for that sweepstakes.What a prize. MJ Theemusical dot
com slash double platinum. Elijah raJohnson. Congrats on all of your wonderful
work and your great life. It'sso good to talk you. Good luck,
thank you, thank you so much. Thanks for having me. I
(11:01):
appreciate it. Thank you. We'llsee you again soon. Don't break a
leg. All right, So Michael, we have to catch up because an
incredibly busy Broadway season. There areso many shows opening at once. I
kind of can't keep up with them. All right, Right, I was
talking to my critic friends, andthey were saying they had just to back
to back to shows. Not thatone should feel sorry for critics because they
get the best seats and they don'tpay for them, right, And I
(11:22):
always find it funny one oh sobusy going to Broadway shows. Oh my
life, I had need my lifeback. Well, a lot of people
would give their lives to get yourjob and your seats. Bow, so
don't complain too loudly. But theyhad back to back openings. Patriots opened
uh the same night as The Heartof Rock and Roll, the Huey Lewis
movie, because they just aren't onenough dates there for all the shows to
(11:43):
open individually before the Tony Award cutoff. Okay, see right, So
Tony Award nominations are coming up.What do you think will be the standouts?
Again, there's so many shows,So I think one show play that's
going to get a a lot ofnominations is Appropriate starring Sarah Paulson. Everybody
loves that play and they really reallylike her, so will be in the
mix. Patriots is a very interestingplay from Peter Morgan, who created The
(12:03):
Crown, and it's about the Russianoligarchs. Who promoted Vladimir Putin, who
got Vladimir Putin to become the mostpowerful man on the planet at one point,
and then how he betrayed them all. Wow. Yeah, he used
all their money and their connections topropel himself to run Russia and then he
stabbed them all in the back.So that's a really juicy, interesting,
fascinating political play. And that onthe musical front, I would imagine Merrily
(12:28):
We Roll Along is going to geta raft of nominations. Cabaret too,
probably Eddie Redmin will be in themix. Some very good cast members in
The Wiz, which I saw theother day, So, oh, did
you enjoy it? I did.It was fun. So you know,
it's old show from the seventies,but it what they didn't really try to
update it, which I think isgood because it's just got the Great seventies
five it really does. It feelslike it feels an R and B seventies
(12:52):
style. That's fun tune. Sothat's fun. Yeah, They're gonna be
a lot of a lot of showsand people in the mix of the Tony's,
which always makes an exciting time ofthe year. It does really fun
talking with you today, and withElijah from MJ the Musical. It's such
a fun show. And if yourun into a critic, take pity on
them. They are working hard thistime of year and all those free tickets
that they're getting there, Yeah,and getting wind and dined. Do you
(13:15):
get dinner too? Well, ifyou gore wind and dying, you might
be in a position of losing yourjob because it might be known as blackmail.
Okay, so no, that neverhappens. Never happens back in the
day. Every now and then they'dslip me like a hundred bucks in my
ticket. It doesn't happen the wayit used to. Unfortunately, that's only
in the movies from the nineteen fifties. That's right, all right, Michael,
(13:37):
We'll see you next time on InsideBroadway. Whye bye.
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