WEBVTT - Vanessa Hudgens 0:00:15.316 --> 0:00:27.476 Pushkin doing it is simple like may that good? All right? 0:00:27.556 --> 0:00:36.156 So let's start with that man running your arms? Loosen 0:00:36.276 --> 0:00:46.476 up your body. That's me warming up with Vanessa Hutchins. 0:00:46.796 --> 0:00:50.076 She's a singer and actress and a Broadway star. We've 0:00:50.076 --> 0:00:52.756 been working together since her high school musical days. That 0:00:52.876 --> 0:00:55.116 was quite a while ago. She's come a long way 0:00:55.156 --> 0:00:58.396 from then. You might also know her from her solo albums, 0:00:58.436 --> 0:01:01.796 her Broadway running Jiji or when she did Grease Live 0:01:01.876 --> 0:01:05.156 on television and also Rent Live. We Do one where 0:01:05.196 --> 0:01:08.116 we just go we we we we we wee wee. 0:01:17.356 --> 0:01:20.356 Vanessa has been in movies from Thirteen and Beastly to 0:01:20.436 --> 0:01:24.356 Spring Breakers. In The Princess Switch. Her newest film, Tictic Boom, 0:01:24.436 --> 0:01:28.796 as also lin Manuel Miranda's directorial film debut. She co 0:01:28.956 --> 0:01:31.916 stars with Andrew Garfield. Today, we're going to talk about 0:01:31.956 --> 0:01:36.796 all of that and more. This is Backstage Pass with 0:01:36.956 --> 0:01:40.356 Eric Vitro, and I'm Eric Vitro. On this show, I 0:01:40.396 --> 0:01:42.876 talked to some of the most talented and famous singers 0:01:42.916 --> 0:01:45.636 working today about their lives, their craft, and what it 0:01:45.676 --> 0:01:48.076 takes to make it. We're really big. I happen to 0:01:48.076 --> 0:01:50.396 be their voice teacher and their vocal coach, so our 0:01:50.436 --> 0:01:55.956 conversations are uniquely different from their usual interviews. Vanessa has 0:01:55.956 --> 0:01:59.076 a wide range of talents and voices, from Marine and 0:01:59.116 --> 0:02:02.316 Rent to Rizzo and Greece, or even voicing Sunny Star 0:02:02.396 --> 0:02:05.356 Scout and My Little Pony, and she works all of 0:02:05.356 --> 0:02:11.556 that energy and enthusiasm into her speaking voice. You know, 0:02:11.676 --> 0:02:14.676 my voice is my voice, and I love it because 0:02:14.676 --> 0:02:18.396 it's hella versatile and I feel like I'm just leaning 0:02:18.436 --> 0:02:21.316 into all the different sides of my voice. I've been 0:02:21.356 --> 0:02:25.516 doing voiceovers recently, which is very new for me, and 0:02:25.636 --> 0:02:29.636 I've always wanted to do it, so just kind of 0:02:29.716 --> 0:02:33.996 playing with my voice and seeing where I can take it, 0:02:34.036 --> 0:02:38.036 and then seeing that put into like these characters. Oh 0:02:38.076 --> 0:02:42.036 my cat, I love it. It's so fun. Like in 0:02:42.076 --> 0:02:45.276 this next clip, Vanessa got to experiment with accents cast 0:02:45.316 --> 0:02:47.956 as both characters you're about to hear and the Princess 0:02:47.956 --> 0:02:53.516 switch Who are you, Lady, Margadelico, Duchess Montanaro, Stacy Janovo. 0:02:53.676 --> 0:02:55.756 I think we were destined to run into each other. 0:02:57.316 --> 0:03:00.516 I think that my relationship with my voice has been 0:03:01.636 --> 0:03:04.676 like a long one because I feel like when I 0:03:04.756 --> 0:03:07.316 was younger, I used to hate how high my voice was, 0:03:07.996 --> 0:03:11.236 and so then I would like consciously try to lower it. 0:03:11.676 --> 0:03:14.076 But then because I was doing that, then I became 0:03:14.116 --> 0:03:18.116 really aware of my voice, my speaking voice, and then 0:03:18.436 --> 0:03:23.356 started incorporating that into my work. Your voice, one of 0:03:23.396 --> 0:03:24.996 the things I think is unique about it is it 0:03:25.036 --> 0:03:28.516 always sounds so natural. You never sound like you're straining 0:03:28.636 --> 0:03:31.236 when you saying. It always sounds so easy and well. 0:03:31.276 --> 0:03:35.996 I mean like a lot of that is thanks to you. 0:03:35.996 --> 0:03:39.076 You helped me make sure that things aren't easy and 0:03:39.236 --> 0:03:41.996 not strained. And when they are strained, You're like, why 0:03:42.036 --> 0:03:43.956 are you lifting your chin up? And I'm like, I 0:03:43.996 --> 0:03:48.516 don't know, then I don't. Yeah, I love that. I 0:03:48.596 --> 0:03:50.836 love that about your voice because I always feel very 0:03:50.836 --> 0:03:54.676 relaxed listening. Oh you know, I don't worry about it. Yeah. So, 0:03:54.756 --> 0:03:58.356 speaking of voices and voice lessons, is there an exercise 0:03:58.516 --> 0:04:02.276 vocal exercise that you really love, Like, is your favorite? 0:04:02.476 --> 0:04:04.596 I mean, I feel like I have a couple. When 0:04:04.636 --> 0:04:08.276 I was younger and was not putting in as much 0:04:08.276 --> 0:04:10.516 work as I possible we could, I wouldn't do my 0:04:10.556 --> 0:04:20.916 full warmups. I would literally just do like slides, okay, 0:04:21.156 --> 0:04:24.356 and then I'd like, go on this cage. I'm so bad. 0:04:25.036 --> 0:04:29.316 But my favorite that I have of your warmups is 0:04:29.356 --> 0:04:32.716 your warm down because we're getting ready for me to 0:04:32.756 --> 0:04:36.716 go to Broadway and you're like, what's very important is 0:04:36.796 --> 0:04:40.916 to cool your voice down because it's an exercides with 0:04:40.996 --> 0:04:45.396 your body. You exercise and then you stretch and on 0:04:45.436 --> 0:04:52.436 the tape you go, hmmm, me, mem may may come 0:04:52.516 --> 0:04:57.556 in m hm, sit down. And I would do that 0:04:57.876 --> 0:05:01.836 after every show to myself And then did you continue 0:05:01.876 --> 0:05:04.596 speaking like that? Yeah? And then everything was very light 0:05:04.756 --> 0:05:07.556 and my voice is going to be okay because I'm 0:05:07.596 --> 0:05:12.236 speaking in a very soft place. Hmmm. Well that makes 0:05:12.236 --> 0:05:15.716 me really really happy to hear. The most recent thing 0:05:15.916 --> 0:05:19.156 we worked on together was the Kennedy Center Honors. Were 0:05:19.196 --> 0:05:22.396 You Saying Fame? The iconic song Fame, which a very 0:05:22.436 --> 0:05:24.716 good friend of mine wrote the lyric too for the 0:05:24.756 --> 0:05:27.196 Debbie Allen tribute? What was that like? Was that fun? 0:05:27.276 --> 0:05:30.876 Did you enjoy? Amazing? Yeah? I mean I feel like 0:05:31.276 --> 0:05:33.716 I remember sitting down with you and being like, Okay, 0:05:33.756 --> 0:05:36.556 I gotta really learn this song, make sure I actually 0:05:36.636 --> 0:05:39.196 know the notes i'ms meant to be doing. And I 0:05:39.276 --> 0:05:41.196 was just like, it's in a couple of days, but 0:05:41.596 --> 0:05:44.476 we'll figure it. Out, I'll figure it out. It'll be fine. 0:05:45.036 --> 0:05:47.036 That's funny you say you told me in a couple 0:05:47.076 --> 0:05:49.996 of days, because my normal instinct if anyone else said 0:05:49.996 --> 0:05:53.796 that would be oh no, this is insane, Like is 0:05:53.796 --> 0:05:56.516 she crazy? And I think I said to you that day. 0:05:56.996 --> 0:05:59.596 Normally i'd be really nervous about this a couple of 0:05:59.636 --> 0:06:02.796 days before you're kidding me. But with you, I'm like, well, 0:06:02.836 --> 0:06:05.236 it always does work out. And that's kind of always 0:06:05.276 --> 0:06:07.996 been your motto, Yeah, because you always say that just 0:06:08.196 --> 0:06:12.596 calm down, lacks it always works out. Yeah, because I'm 0:06:12.636 --> 0:06:15.436 just like, there's no point on stressing something that you 0:06:15.556 --> 0:06:19.516 can't change. So end of day, I'm like, I'm gonna 0:06:19.556 --> 0:06:22.196 do my best. I'm gonna give it all that I 0:06:22.276 --> 0:06:26.476 can and have faith that, like it will be fine 0:06:26.596 --> 0:06:30.316 because I've been performing my entire life and I love 0:06:30.436 --> 0:06:32.876 doing it, so I always know that, like, even if 0:06:32.876 --> 0:06:36.276 I mess up, it will be okay because I think 0:06:36.356 --> 0:06:40.396 my passion and love for it shines. Yeah. I totally 0:06:40.436 --> 0:06:43.276 totally agree. And then the other thing in the present 0:06:43.556 --> 0:06:47.876 is you have a great, big, wonderful, exciting movie coming 0:06:47.876 --> 0:06:52.436 out directed by lin Manuel Miranda, the Great lin Manuel Miranda. 0:06:52.516 --> 0:06:55.236 I have to say, right, what was that like working 0:06:55.236 --> 0:06:58.356 with him? I mean, he's incredible. Well, he is phenomenal. 0:06:58.636 --> 0:07:03.156 I remember my first time meeting him was I think 0:07:03.156 --> 0:07:05.836 it was right after we did Greece. He was still 0:07:05.916 --> 0:07:10.556 doing Hamilton. We went backstage with Tommy kr director on Grace, 0:07:10.796 --> 0:07:16.156 and he had gotten Lynn the t Birds motorcycle jacket, 0:07:16.196 --> 0:07:18.676 the leather coat. So we got up there and he 0:07:18.756 --> 0:07:21.116 was wearing it, and I was just like, oh my god, 0:07:21.196 --> 0:07:25.076 what could you go? And he was just so sweet 0:07:25.236 --> 0:07:29.756 and complimentary, and I was just like obsessed obviously with 0:07:29.836 --> 0:07:33.396 Hamilton as well. And then I worked on in the 0:07:33.436 --> 0:07:36.476 Heights at the Kennedy Center where he would come by 0:07:36.596 --> 0:07:39.436 and like hang out with us. And to be able 0:07:39.476 --> 0:07:44.636 to be in his directorial debut film is so special. 0:07:44.916 --> 0:07:47.476 It really feels like such a tight knit family theater 0:07:47.756 --> 0:07:52.236 and to be a part of his crossovers really cool. Now, 0:07:52.316 --> 0:07:54.956 in case you don't know, Tic Tic Boom was originally 0:07:55.036 --> 0:07:57.956 a one man show written and performed by Jonathan Larson, 0:07:58.156 --> 0:08:01.596 the creator of the hit musical Rent. The twenty twenty 0:08:01.596 --> 0:08:05.436 one film Vanessa's In is an adaptation. It's really great. 0:08:05.516 --> 0:08:08.876 I think that like it really takes you back to 0:08:08.956 --> 0:08:13.236 the time and what it looked like for Jonathan Larson 0:08:13.396 --> 0:08:16.636 living in the Lower East Side in the nineties during 0:08:16.676 --> 0:08:22.556 the AIG's pandemic, like everybody was scared, but like living 0:08:22.636 --> 0:08:27.436 and creating and doing their best. Oh, the buzz is amazing. 0:08:27.516 --> 0:08:30.036 I can't wait through the final It's so good. I'm 0:08:30.076 --> 0:08:32.796 so excited. Well, and then when we worked on it, 0:08:33.036 --> 0:08:35.716 you and I just going through the music before, Yeah, 0:08:35.916 --> 0:08:38.356 you did it. Your voice just sounded so great on 0:08:38.396 --> 0:08:42.036 those songs, especially because a lot of what I got 0:08:42.076 --> 0:08:45.556 to do and Tick take Boom is like harmonies and 0:08:45.676 --> 0:08:48.796 like backup vocals, because that's what my character did. She 0:08:48.916 --> 0:08:52.796 did Jonathan's backup vocals in his show along with Joshua Henry, 0:08:52.876 --> 0:08:57.716 who is another phenomenal voice and human. But singing with 0:08:57.796 --> 0:09:01.196 him and harmonizing with him, Oh my gosh, it just 0:09:01.236 --> 0:09:03.996 gave me so much joy every day that, like during 0:09:03.996 --> 0:09:06.716 our breaks, we would just sing together and harmonize with 0:09:06.796 --> 0:09:09.036 each other because it was so fun and we sound 0:09:09.276 --> 0:09:13.036 so good together, and all that work paid off. Listen 0:09:13.036 --> 0:09:15.076 to their harmonies here in this clip from the movie 0:09:15.156 --> 0:09:30.876 Tick Tick Boom. So now I'm going to rewinder all 0:09:30.876 --> 0:09:37.356 the way back time travel. I remember our first working experience. 0:09:37.396 --> 0:09:39.756 I'm not sure if you remember it, but it was during, 0:09:39.836 --> 0:09:44.716 of course, the iconic high school musicals, and I remember 0:09:44.796 --> 0:09:47.836 us being in a studio in Santa Monica and you 0:09:47.956 --> 0:09:50.756 had that same quality where you like, all right, this 0:09:50.796 --> 0:09:52.836 is gonna be really fun tonight. And I was like, 0:09:53.116 --> 0:09:56.196 who is this girl who was so relaxed? Like where 0:09:56.196 --> 0:09:58.276 does that come from? Is that because you did start 0:09:58.316 --> 0:10:01.516 so young? I think so? Yeah. I mean I used 0:10:01.556 --> 0:10:05.636 to be really shy. I was a very very very shy, 0:10:05.636 --> 0:10:11.236 timid child. I did not like socialize. I just wanted 0:10:11.316 --> 0:10:15.916 to hide or like play in the grass and the dirt, 0:10:16.076 --> 0:10:21.036 like people scared me. I think that what took me 0:10:21.076 --> 0:10:23.596 out of my shell was doing theater. I mean I 0:10:23.596 --> 0:10:25.956 think I did my first play when I was seven 0:10:26.516 --> 0:10:29.596 and where was that or six? Envisted us like by 0:10:29.636 --> 0:10:36.276 San Diego at this little community theater and I was terrified. 0:10:36.596 --> 0:10:39.076 I think I was playing ensemble parts in the beginning, 0:10:39.156 --> 0:10:42.276 because that's what you do, and every now and then 0:10:42.556 --> 0:10:45.836 there would be like an improv part of the day, 0:10:45.916 --> 0:10:49.076 and my god, I would make myself as small as 0:10:49.156 --> 0:10:52.196 humanly possible so that they wouldn't take me because I 0:10:52.276 --> 0:10:55.836 was terrified but you know, when you're forced to go 0:10:55.956 --> 0:10:58.556 outside of your comfort zones, it pushes you and you 0:10:58.676 --> 0:11:01.876 evolve and you grow and you adapt. So I think 0:11:01.956 --> 0:11:04.796 that really helped me come out of my shell. And 0:11:04.836 --> 0:11:08.596 then as well, having a character to hide behind, having 0:11:09.156 --> 0:11:12.196 one else's words to say, you know, I can bring 0:11:12.276 --> 0:11:15.316 that life, but someone's already written down what I meant 0:11:15.316 --> 0:11:19.196 to say. So I think that really gave me comfort 0:11:19.316 --> 0:11:21.836 to just be okay in my own skin and in 0:11:21.876 --> 0:11:24.756 my own space. And then I fell in love with 0:11:25.516 --> 0:11:29.156 all of it. So because though you were terrified and nervous, 0:11:29.236 --> 0:11:32.116 did you go through with it because someone were your 0:11:32.116 --> 0:11:34.596 parents kind of pushing it? Or did you know? It 0:11:34.676 --> 0:11:37.996 was just like I loved performing ever since I was 0:11:38.076 --> 0:11:42.716 really young. I loved being on the stage. I loved musicals. 0:11:42.996 --> 0:11:45.596 It was just something that I adored. And while it 0:11:45.676 --> 0:11:51.076 was uncomfortable, the payoff was worth it every time, right, Right, 0:11:51.196 --> 0:11:54.596 were your parents performers? No, they're like, you want to 0:11:54.636 --> 0:11:57.436 do that, okay? And they weren't in the business at all, 0:11:57.476 --> 0:12:00.796 Oh not at all. Like my dad was a firefighter 0:12:00.836 --> 0:12:04.836 and my mom like had various jobs and we were 0:12:04.876 --> 0:12:08.556 moving around a lot. And I think that God was 0:12:08.596 --> 0:12:11.676 like Hey, you're going to be a performer kid, I've 0:12:11.716 --> 0:12:15.436 been like okay ever since. Yeah, So I think that 0:12:15.796 --> 0:12:18.956 probably is one reason you're so comfortable, although some people 0:12:18.996 --> 0:12:22.596 start young and aren't comfortable and stay nervous or anxious. 0:12:22.716 --> 0:12:26.476 For me, and I think that it's a choice as well, nerves, Like, 0:12:26.676 --> 0:12:29.796 how you label it is such a big thing. Words 0:12:29.796 --> 0:12:32.636 are so powerful because you can take that feeling and 0:12:32.676 --> 0:12:35.396 be like, oh my gosh, I feel like I'm gonna 0:12:35.436 --> 0:12:38.036 throw up. My stomach is so anxious. I'm so nervous. 0:12:38.076 --> 0:12:41.956 I'm terrified. Or you can be like whoa, my stomach 0:12:42.036 --> 0:12:44.796 feels crazy. It's like there's butterflies in there. I am 0:12:44.836 --> 0:12:47.836 so excited. You know, it's just how you label it. 0:12:48.236 --> 0:12:51.716 I think it helps. That is a great way to 0:12:51.796 --> 0:12:53.996 put it, and that does sum up you as now 0:12:54.276 --> 0:12:57.796 spring through my head. Everything I've seen you. We've been 0:12:57.836 --> 0:13:00.956 in the recording studio numerous times, storge and projects or 0:13:01.636 --> 0:13:05.276 backstage before, and that is you always you always label 0:13:05.316 --> 0:13:08.276 it as positive. Yeah, because you have a choice. Why 0:13:08.436 --> 0:13:10.636 choose some negat and like, yeah, I might take a 0:13:10.676 --> 0:13:13.636 little work, and after a while that becomes a habit, 0:13:13.756 --> 0:13:18.236 and that starts to become just you. Was there a 0:13:18.276 --> 0:13:20.876 moment you remember back in those early days when you 0:13:21.156 --> 0:13:23.836 were like, this is it for me, this is what 0:13:23.876 --> 0:13:28.116 I'm gonna do. No, No, It kind of was and 0:13:28.236 --> 0:13:32.036 still is just something that I love doing. I can't 0:13:32.076 --> 0:13:36.956 imagine doing anything else. I mean, like the grind was continuous. 0:13:37.196 --> 0:13:40.716 I didn't really stop. I was doing community theater, and 0:13:40.756 --> 0:13:44.636 then I moved on to doing a show at the 0:13:44.676 --> 0:13:49.796 Old Globe with Jack O'Brien, who is an icon. And 0:13:50.076 --> 0:13:54.156 I was doing like extra work in commercials and then 0:13:54.716 --> 0:13:57.676 would book the national commercials. So then did that, and 0:13:57.716 --> 0:14:01.196 then started doing extra work on TV shows, and then 0:14:01.276 --> 0:14:04.996 booked guest spots on TV shows, and then did my 0:14:05.116 --> 0:14:09.716 first couple movies. I did A thirteen was my first spoovie, 0:14:10.116 --> 0:14:13.116 and then Thunderbirds was my second, and then High School 0:14:13.196 --> 0:14:17.716 Musical I think was my third. But yeah, I mean 0:14:17.836 --> 0:14:22.236 I was chugging along the entire time, going on optitions 0:14:22.236 --> 0:14:25.956 and like committed to the grind. You performed in Washington 0:14:26.236 --> 0:14:29.276 right around I think High School Musical three was after it. 0:14:29.596 --> 0:14:31.836 But I remember you had to sing up Christmas Medley 0:14:32.036 --> 0:14:35.876 in Washington. Remember that, And I remember it's the same thing. 0:14:35.916 --> 0:14:38.236 You came in and you said Okay, here's the music, 0:14:38.236 --> 0:14:42.516 and I was like what it was like, like, oh 0:14:42.556 --> 0:14:45.036 my god. I was like, this is insane. When is it. 0:14:45.116 --> 0:14:47.356 You're like, I've got a few days. I leave tomorrow 0:14:47.396 --> 0:14:50.556 and I was like no, You're like, why are you 0:14:50.596 --> 0:14:53.156 doing this to me? And once again you were like, Oh, 0:14:53.196 --> 0:14:55.116 don't worry about it, It'll be fine, I'll learn it, 0:14:55.116 --> 0:14:56.916 and you did. I mean, I think we worked on 0:14:56.916 --> 0:14:58.716 it for two hours and by the end of it 0:14:58.796 --> 0:15:01.156 you knew the whole thing. Yeah. I mean, looking back 0:15:01.196 --> 0:15:03.076 at that, I'm like, I wish I would have taken 0:15:03.116 --> 0:15:05.876 a little bit more time, but but I think you 0:15:05.916 --> 0:15:10.036 had a million other things going on. Yeah, busy girl, Now, 0:15:10.076 --> 0:15:13.476 don't go anywhere. Backstage passed with me, Eric Vitro and 0:15:13.556 --> 0:15:16.676 my guest Vanessa Hutchins will be right back just after this. 0:15:24.196 --> 0:15:27.236 Welcome back. Here's the rest of backstage Pass with me, 0:15:27.516 --> 0:15:31.476 Eric Vitro and the lovely Vanessa Hutchins. What was that 0:15:31.556 --> 0:15:34.876 like for you being in New York, a California girl 0:15:35.196 --> 0:15:39.076 on Broadway. I remember making friends with someone in him 0:15:39.116 --> 0:15:41.716 being like you seem like such a New Yorker, Like 0:15:42.276 --> 0:15:44.716 I feel like you belong in New York and I 0:15:44.796 --> 0:15:48.836 was like, that's crazy, like me from California thinking of 0:15:48.916 --> 0:15:52.476 myself as like just your classic California girl, which I am. 0:15:52.996 --> 0:15:55.556 But it's so funny because the older that I've gotten, 0:15:56.276 --> 0:15:58.476 I now have a place in New York, and I 0:15:58.516 --> 0:16:00.916 am such a New Yorker. When I go to New 0:16:00.956 --> 0:16:03.756 York and come back to LA I'm like, oh my god, 0:16:03.836 --> 0:16:07.836 people are so slow. What are they doing? Like my 0:16:07.916 --> 0:16:11.956 whole vibe changes. But I love it. It's just a 0:16:12.156 --> 0:16:14.836 special place, especially being in those theaters. We were at 0:16:14.876 --> 0:16:27.316 the Neil Simon Vanessa's talking about her first Broadway show, Gigi, Like, 0:16:27.396 --> 0:16:31.796 I just remember walking in the first time we got 0:16:31.836 --> 0:16:34.796 into the theater and they put the Marquee up and 0:16:34.876 --> 0:16:37.436 there was a picture of Audrey Hepbron standing in front 0:16:37.436 --> 0:16:39.836 of her Marquy when she did Gigi, which was her 0:16:39.836 --> 0:16:44.116 first Broadway show, And I walked into the theater and 0:16:44.516 --> 0:16:47.676 just looked around and just took it in, just thought 0:16:47.676 --> 0:16:50.396 about like all the performers that were there before me, 0:16:50.596 --> 0:16:55.116 and it was just really special. And that was such 0:16:55.156 --> 0:16:58.876 a fun show too. I mean, the music was great, 0:16:58.916 --> 0:17:03.236 the costumes were magnificent. I had some of the most 0:17:03.276 --> 0:17:07.996 insane costume quick changes ever it was thrilling. Yeah. I 0:17:08.076 --> 0:17:12.196 remember those gorgeous pictures of you when they released those. 0:17:13.036 --> 0:17:17.076 They were unbelievable. The costume changes in a Broadway show 0:17:17.116 --> 0:17:20.596 can be really really fast and really difficult, but trust me, 0:17:20.876 --> 0:17:23.956 they're so worth it. I still remember sitting in my 0:17:23.996 --> 0:17:27.076 seat watching Vanessa on stage and those elegant gowns, the 0:17:27.156 --> 0:17:30.436 sleek opera gloves and the feather boas. Oh and can 0:17:30.476 --> 0:17:33.436 we talk about the dressing room for a minute. Gosh, well, 0:17:33.476 --> 0:17:36.476 I had to dick out my dressing on my first 0:17:36.596 --> 0:17:40.716 broad Way to dressing room. Yeah. No, I went for it. Yeah, 0:17:40.756 --> 0:17:43.356 you totally. And I painted it pink. All the flowers 0:17:43.356 --> 0:17:45.396 that I would get, I would hang them upside down 0:17:45.396 --> 0:17:48.036 and dry them. Oh. I put up like a tapestry. 0:17:48.116 --> 0:17:52.916 I put up like a Paris wall paper. Right, I was. 0:17:53.076 --> 0:17:56.196 I was doing the most. And then I was lucky 0:17:56.316 --> 0:17:58.276 enough to be there when you did that recording session 0:17:58.436 --> 0:18:01.996 for the cast album, and I remember, once again you 0:18:02.036 --> 0:18:03.916 were excited about it. I was waiting for you on 0:18:03.956 --> 0:18:06.036 the street. Your car pulled up, you got out and 0:18:06.156 --> 0:18:08.276 went all right, this is gonna be fun. And I 0:18:08.316 --> 0:18:11.796 was like, oh my god, She's always so excited and happy. 0:18:11.836 --> 0:18:14.996 About these things and then you went in and just 0:18:15.196 --> 0:18:19.316 nailed it so fast. Is that because you really just 0:18:19.436 --> 0:18:21.996 had been doing it on Broadway so you felt like, oh, 0:18:22.036 --> 0:18:23.876 I really know it and I'm confident, or did you 0:18:23.996 --> 0:18:26.636 like really prep in your mind, all right, I'm recording today, 0:18:26.836 --> 0:18:29.036 I'm going to go in Like no, I mean I 0:18:29.076 --> 0:18:32.356 think that, like because I had been doing it so 0:18:32.436 --> 0:18:38.996 many times from rehearsals to then previews, and like, because 0:18:39.036 --> 0:18:43.196 it's live theater, there's no auto tune or anything, so 0:18:43.796 --> 0:18:45.836 you do your best to make sure that you are 0:18:46.716 --> 0:18:51.756 itch and that your placement is right every night. Yeah, 0:18:51.796 --> 0:18:55.716 So it was just kind of like it became habitual 0:18:55.836 --> 0:19:00.116 those songs. That is the thing about those live television musicals. 0:19:00.316 --> 0:19:03.556 There is no fixing them like that is live. There's 0:19:03.636 --> 0:19:06.676 no auto tune, there's no you know anything. You can't 0:19:06.676 --> 0:19:08.836 go back if you make a mistake, if you crack, 0:19:08.876 --> 0:19:12.156 if you forget a lyric. So you did it with 0:19:12.236 --> 0:19:15.276 so much confidence. Do you think being on Broadway helped 0:19:15.276 --> 0:19:17.316 you or is it just all the years leading up 0:19:17.356 --> 0:19:22.116 to it. I mean, probably definitely helped. It's such a 0:19:22.236 --> 0:19:26.556 high level of performers on Broadway that you want to 0:19:26.836 --> 0:19:28.996 be up there with them, like you want to make 0:19:29.036 --> 0:19:32.356 sure that you're performing at a level that is worthy 0:19:32.596 --> 0:19:37.396 of gracing Broadway stages. But I think professionalism has always 0:19:37.436 --> 0:19:40.716 been something that's very important to me, and it's something 0:19:40.756 --> 0:19:44.316 that I pride myself on, So it's not something that 0:19:44.396 --> 0:19:46.676 I take lightly, like that is my job and I'm 0:19:46.716 --> 0:19:48.396 going to go and do the best job I can. 0:19:49.076 --> 0:19:52.156 What would you say, Because you've obviously now done movie 0:19:52.196 --> 0:19:54.516 musicals you did it live. Is there one that you 0:19:54.596 --> 0:19:58.796 enjoy more? I think doing the live musicals to television 0:19:59.036 --> 0:20:04.396 might be my favorite because it is the most exhilarating, challenging, 0:20:05.156 --> 0:20:08.596 thrilling thing I think you can possibly do. Because I 0:20:08.676 --> 0:20:12.476 love doing Broadway obviously, but it lives there and then 0:20:12.636 --> 0:20:15.876 once the show's over, it's over. Like you can go 0:20:15.916 --> 0:20:18.476 to the library to go see it, but that's it, 0:20:18.636 --> 0:20:23.476 you know. And with the televised ones, like the world 0:20:23.676 --> 0:20:26.876 gets to see it, which is so cool, and it 0:20:26.916 --> 0:20:30.996 can bring families together and it's like an experience and 0:20:31.356 --> 0:20:34.476 you can watch it back and see it but know 0:20:34.716 --> 0:20:38.156 that it was actually your performance that you gave because 0:20:38.156 --> 0:20:41.716 with movies and stuff, you lose that connection of performer 0:20:41.756 --> 0:20:45.196 to audience and with the live to TV ones that 0:20:45.356 --> 0:20:50.036 remains right. It's really cool and it's the craziest thing ever. 0:20:50.156 --> 0:20:53.676 Like I remember doing Greece and running off the stage 0:20:53.716 --> 0:20:57.316 into a golf cart, going over to another stage, running 0:20:57.356 --> 0:21:00.756 onto that stage, throwing all my clothes off, putting on 0:21:00.916 --> 0:21:04.316 new clothes on, running out, doing a scene, and then 0:21:04.396 --> 0:21:08.676 like continuing the running like it was just madness. The 0:21:08.716 --> 0:21:11.396 fact that that came together the way that it did 0:21:11.636 --> 0:21:15.196 is such a miracle. But Rent too, like there's so 0:21:15.236 --> 0:21:20.876 many moving pieces, it's crazy. And for Grease, remember it 0:21:20.996 --> 0:21:23.716 started raining a little bit earlier in the day and 0:21:23.756 --> 0:21:26.636 then I remember the wind was I think it blew 0:21:26.796 --> 0:21:30.596 something down and it felt like a disaster. Yeah, you 0:21:30.596 --> 0:21:35.036 guys were troopers. You just involve, you adapt when you 0:21:35.396 --> 0:21:38.156 do get to watch, because you can't really see yourself 0:21:38.196 --> 0:21:39.876 on Broadway. You can, like you said, if people with 0:21:40.036 --> 0:21:43.596 library and see one taped version. But like, have you 0:21:43.636 --> 0:21:46.676 watched live, Grease or Rent? Yeah, of course I feel 0:21:46.676 --> 0:21:49.316 like I watched them both, like right afterwards, And what 0:21:49.356 --> 0:21:51.836 do you feel when you watch it? What's that experience? Like, 0:21:52.116 --> 0:21:56.076 it's fun, it's exciting. I mean, like with both of those, 0:21:56.156 --> 0:21:59.636 I'm really proud with what I did. And I don't 0:21:59.676 --> 0:22:02.516 have a hard time watching myself, Like I can enjoy 0:22:02.636 --> 0:22:07.276 my performance and everyone else's performances, and like we worked 0:22:07.356 --> 0:22:10.116 so hard on them that it's such a labor of 0:22:10.156 --> 0:22:12.796 love to see it all come together, Like I get 0:22:12.796 --> 0:22:15.916 to enjoy it as an audience member as well. Greece 0:22:16.076 --> 0:22:18.716 was great, and like, I don't know if you want 0:22:18.756 --> 0:22:21.796 to talk about this or not, but what was pretty 0:22:21.916 --> 0:22:24.996 amazing in Greece is that some people might not know 0:22:25.076 --> 0:22:28.396 your dad passed away the day before, the night before, 0:22:28.396 --> 0:22:32.276 the night before. I was like, he was battling cancer. 0:22:32.356 --> 0:22:36.476 But I so many times was just like, please God, 0:22:36.756 --> 0:22:40.156 not the night before. That's all I kept saying. But 0:22:40.196 --> 0:22:42.476 like now as I say that, I'm like, but you 0:22:42.516 --> 0:22:46.236 were sticking all your energy into night before, night before, 0:22:46.396 --> 0:22:48.836 so like, yeah, of course it would happen the night before, 0:22:50.076 --> 0:22:53.316 but yeah it was. It was brutal, but I think that, like, 0:22:53.956 --> 0:22:57.676 my dad was one of my bigger supporters and fans. 0:22:58.356 --> 0:23:00.396 He would have wanted me to do what I did, 0:23:00.756 --> 0:23:05.476 you know. And then our producer Mark dedicated it to 0:23:05.596 --> 0:23:09.196 him at the end, which was so beautiful, right, wow, yeah, 0:23:09.276 --> 0:23:13.236 by Mark, you mean Mark Platt. Amazing. Mark Platt's phenomenal, 0:23:13.516 --> 0:23:15.436 one of the best. And my mom was there, my 0:23:15.476 --> 0:23:18.276 sisters was there, and it was just like a really 0:23:18.316 --> 0:23:22.676 beautiful kind of way to remember him by us all 0:23:22.676 --> 0:23:26.076 being together and like me performing and doing what I 0:23:26.116 --> 0:23:28.636 love and what he spent so much of his time 0:23:28.956 --> 0:23:32.316 working towards from to help me. Yeah, I remember in 0:23:32.356 --> 0:23:35.236 the dressing room. I wasn't sure when we warmed up 0:23:35.436 --> 0:23:39.196 how it was going to go, because you said, I'm okay, 0:23:39.236 --> 0:23:41.476 I'm going to deal with this later, let's not talk 0:23:41.516 --> 0:23:43.236 about it, let's not dwell on it. I'm going to 0:23:43.276 --> 0:23:47.276 compartmentalize it. But you had such a look in your eyes. 0:23:47.316 --> 0:23:49.316 I thought, Wow, I don't know how this is gonna go. 0:23:49.356 --> 0:23:52.676 And then if anybody didn't know that happened, they would 0:23:52.676 --> 0:23:55.556 have never never known. I mean, you were just you 0:23:55.636 --> 0:23:58.956 got out there and you soared well, Like playing Rizzo 0:23:59.036 --> 0:24:03.636 as well is so much fun. It's so much fun. 0:24:03.836 --> 0:24:08.236 She's just spunky and she's sassy and she like knows 0:24:08.236 --> 0:24:10.876 how to capture guy's attention. And I was like, we're 0:24:10.876 --> 0:24:14.276 gonna channel that bitch and like be as her as 0:24:14.316 --> 0:24:17.396 we possibly can be. You can hear that sassy tone 0:24:17.396 --> 0:24:20.036 in this clip of Vanessa as Rizzo in Grease Live. 0:24:21.716 --> 0:24:29.716 Look at me, I'm Sandra, Dee Claus Virginity. Won't go 0:24:29.956 --> 0:24:38.196 to betsylam legally what I cant I'm Sandra. I really 0:24:38.236 --> 0:24:42.396 did have a great time. I think that, like compartmentalizing 0:24:42.596 --> 0:24:45.756