1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:01,320 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 2 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 2: My father especially has come to now understand that I 3 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 2: am following in his footsteps, and then I actually am 4 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 2: an athlete. And we won't even get into all the 5 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 2: stairs you got to climb backstage and the costume changes 6 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 2: and the backstage choreography of it all. So it really 7 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 2: is like, you know, doing going out there and playing 8 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 2: the game. 9 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 3: I'm buzznight and welcome to the Taking a Walk Podcast. Now, 10 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 3: most people remember exactly where they were when their dreams 11 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 3: came true. Charles Brown remembers where he was when his 12 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 3: dream almost ended sliding at second base in an eighth 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 3: grade All Star baseball game in San Diego. The broken 14 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 3: arm that followed led to a casting director suggesting he 15 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 3: auditioned for Annie. Now that accident became the origin story 16 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 3: of a Tony nominated Broadway career. Now he's touring with 17 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 3: something called the Do Wop Project, what he calls the 18 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 3: Avengers of Do Wop, and he's releasing his first original music. 19 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 3: We're gonna hear from Charles next on Taking a Walk. 20 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk. 21 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 3: Well, Charle, welcome to Taking a Walk. It's very nice 22 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 3: to be with you. 23 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,279 Speaker 2: It's great to be here. Thanks for having me. 24 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 3: I wish we were taking a walk in person, but 25 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 3: too Yeah, well, we're going to talk about that, but 26 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 3: we're gonna first talk about if you could take a 27 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 3: walk with somebody living or dead. Do you know who 28 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 3: you would take a walk with and where would you 29 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:24,119 Speaker 3: take that walk? 30 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: I do know. I think anyone who knows me will 31 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,559 Speaker 2: know that my answer is Beyonce and my walk would 32 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 2: be from backstage to on stage with a microphone in 33 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 2: my hand. 34 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 3: Oh, making the magic happen right away. 35 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: I mean, if we can leave in the dream world, 36 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 2: I might as little be honest about it. 37 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 3: That's fantastic. Now do you ever walk through the theater 38 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 3: district differently now than when you first came to Broadway 39 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 3: with Sister Act back in twenty eleven. 40 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I do. I have a lot of memories now, 41 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 2: to say the least in the theater district. It's, you know, now, 42 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 2: having been in four Broadway shows and two off Broadway, 43 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 2: and a bunch of readings and things that rehearse in 44 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 2: the district, it really you know, I'm actually going to 45 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: be celebrating twenty years in New York next month, congrats, 46 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: And so you know there's every time I'm walking anywhere 47 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 2: in that theater district area. I have a specific memory 48 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 2: about most of the places that I've either worked in 49 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: or I have shows I've auditioned for and haven't gotten, 50 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 2: or the ones that I have, or things I helped create, 51 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 2: you know, did readings or workshops of but didn't necessarily 52 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 2: do on Broadway, things of that nature. So it now 53 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 2: has a lot of really great memories in that area. 54 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 3: Now you were in Harlem, right, That's where I'm in Harlem. Yes, yeah, 55 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 3: it's what's your favorite part of that neighborhood to walk in? 56 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 2: Well, I live now in the Hamilton Heights section of Harlem, 57 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: and I live one block from the Hudson River. So 58 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: my actual favorite thing to do is to walk over 59 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 2: to the riverbank park over here, and it's just beautiful. 60 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 2: I mean there is, there are restaurants, there's a carousel, 61 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: there's a roller roller skating rink, slash ice skating rink, 62 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 2: all of the trees and places to picnic and to barbecue. 63 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 2: I ride my bike through there for my cardio day. 64 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,239 Speaker 2: So you know, the river aspect of my neighborhood is 65 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 2: actually what keeps my mental health together because I can 66 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 2: just like hop over there one block and all of 67 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 2: a sudden being nature and out of the busyness of 68 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: the city. So I think that's been really important for 69 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: me now. 70 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 3: Since playing Smokey Robinson. Do people walk by you and go, 71 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 3: wait a minute, could that be? 72 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: Not so much now? But that you know, it does happen, 73 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: especially if I'm at an event in the theater industry, 74 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 2: people will definitely, you know, recognize me from that and 75 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 2: from other things that I've done on Broadway and off. 76 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: But you know, when the show was running that happened 77 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: a lot. 78 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 3: Now you earned a Tony nomination for playing Smokey Robinson. 79 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 3: Take me back to when you first got that particular call. 80 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 3: Where were you? 81 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: So, I at the time was living in the East 82 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 2: Village and I didn't even really remember that the nominations 83 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 2: were coming out that day. When I tell you, it 84 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 2: took me by surprise. I really was not expecting it 85 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 2: at all. But for whatever reason, my body woke me 86 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: up early that morning and I looked at my phone 87 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 2: as we often do. Unfortunately, first thing, and I had 88 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 2: noticed that the nominations were coming out within like the 89 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: next ten to fifteen minutes. So I was like, you 90 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: know what, I might as well, watch and see if 91 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 2: our show gets nominated. I had lots of friends. One 92 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 2: of my best friends, Stark Sands, who was nominated that 93 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 2: year for Kinky Boots. I wanted to see if he 94 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 2: was gonna get nominated. I wanted to see, you know, 95 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: how well our show would do, not really thinking that 96 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 2: I would be nominated, but also in the back of 97 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: my mind, you know, it was my first time being eligible, 98 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: so I thought, if it's going to happen, I want 99 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 2: to be awake to see it happen live and lo 100 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: and behold. Especially with my last name being Brown, I 101 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: was the first one in my category to be name 102 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: and my picture went up, and then my phone blew 103 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 2: up and the rest is history. 104 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 3: How do you prepare to embody someone as iconic and 105 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 3: still living as a Smokey Robinson. 106 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 2: So for me, it was really about his iconic sound. 107 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 2: I think you have to get that right in order 108 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 2: to play someone with such a legendary voice, and I 109 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 2: mean speaking voice as well as singing voice. So I 110 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 2: think the first thing I did was try to quote 111 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 2: unquote imitate his sound, but also bring my own spin 112 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: to it and also my own interpretation to it as well, 113 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 2: so that was the first thing I tack But luckily, 114 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 2: you know, we live in a day and age that 115 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 2: we have YouTube and so I can I could research 116 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,239 Speaker 2: a lot of the clips of him being interviewed and singing, 117 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 2: so I tried to get that down first. But then also, 118 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: of course I read his autobiography, which really gave me 119 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 2: a lot of insight to his point of view and 120 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: his mindset, what he may or may not have been 121 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: thinking throughout the show. So with the those two things combined, 122 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 2: I definitely was able to craft my interpretation of the 123 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 2: legend and the iconic voice and person that he is. 124 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 3: And you were ultimately able to bring that performance to 125 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 3: London's West End. Yeah, how did UK audiences respond? Was 126 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 3: it anything different the way they responded to you? 127 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: I it wasn't different. But that's what surprised me, because 128 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 2: you know it Motown being such an American art form 129 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: or an American music label. I didn't realize the impact 130 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 2: that it has had globally and overseas. Of course I 131 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 2: know about it intellectually, but I didn't quite understand that 132 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 2: until I got there. But people came to the West 133 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: End to have a good time. The audiences were rowdier 134 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 2: on the West End than they were on Broadway, which 135 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 2: I found to be very surprising because Americans are known 136 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 2: for our outgoingness, we'll say, but the UK audiences were 137 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 2: even more so, so much so though we even have 138 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,799 Speaker 2: to stop the show a couple of times, if I recall, 139 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: because of the rowdiness of the crowd. So that was 140 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 2: actually pleasing for me to have them be so engaged 141 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 2: in the story and to understand and know the music 142 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: and the songs so well. And I think that also 143 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: was having worked with mister Gordy Erry Gordy himself on 144 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 2: Motown in America and in London, I came to understand 145 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: that that was really important for him to take the 146 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 2: Motown brand global, and I think you know, when they 147 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: had their first hits in the UK, that really was 148 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: an important moment for him, which is why he was 149 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 2: so determined to make sure it happened on the West End. 150 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 2: And I think that that came full circle with Moltown 151 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: the Musical. So I was very honored to be a 152 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: part of that and the only one from the Broadway 153 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 2: company who got to experience that. 154 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 3: Will take us to back to Tony Night. What was 155 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 3: it like that moment and describe what that's like being 156 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 3: there and obviously being nominated. 157 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 2: So I have been acting for thirty years. I started, 158 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 2: you know, when I was a pre tea. I went 159 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 2: to Performing Arts High school. That's where I got bit 160 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 2: by the bug of theater. And so the Tony Warts 161 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: has been on my radar for a very long time. 162 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 2: And so to be pulling up to the red carpet 163 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 2: after having done my matinee from my Tony Award nominated performance, 164 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 2: to get out of the car and have the cameras 165 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 2: flashing and be on me and people wanted to interview 166 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 2: me on the Tony's Red carpet. I mean, I will 167 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 2: start crying if I start talking about it too long. 168 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 2: Got gif really was one of the best moments of 169 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: my life. And then to be greeted with such kindness 170 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 2: from everyone in the community, A lot of people had 171 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 2: nothing but kind things to say about my performance. And 172 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 2: then to be sitting there when they announced my category 173 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 2: and to have not gotten the award, I really though, 174 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: felt for the first time what they mean when they 175 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 2: say it's an honor to be nominated, because I wasn't 176 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 2: sad or disappointed whatsoever. In fact, I was relieved in 177 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 2: a way because I didn't have to make the speech 178 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: that I had been practicing since I was twelve, but 179 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 2: I was just I had a feeling that I did 180 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 2: not expect, which was, you know what, like, no matter what, 181 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 2: they can never take this away from me. I will forever, 182 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 2: you know, be a Tony nominee until I'm a Tony winners. 183 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 2: But you know, and so I think that that sense 184 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 2: of gratitude really set in. I remember very distinctively, it's 185 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 2: set in in that moment that I have nothing to 186 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 2: but pride for having, you know, gotten to that point 187 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,839 Speaker 2: and gotten that far. And then directly after that, being 188 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 2: whisked away to go do my first Tony Awards performance 189 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 2: with my cast in Motown was another magical experience. So 190 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 2: that entire evening was like, I you know, I think 191 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 2: about it now and I feel like I was living 192 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 2: through a dream, and I was living through a dream, 193 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: but it almost doesn't seem real. 194 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 3: And there's another part of your story that's a bit 195 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:51,839 Speaker 3: of a dream. You break your arm in an All 196 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 3: Star Baseball game. 197 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 2: Oh, you've done your research okay in eighth. 198 00:09:56,679 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 3: Grade, which led you to being cast in any how 199 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 3: do you have a moment like that going from a 200 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 3: trial by fire and then suddenly turning out to be 201 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 3: your path to a career. 202 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 2: You know, yes, so it should be pointed out. I 203 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 2: come from a very athletic family. My dad and uncles 204 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 2: were all high school and college football stars. Both my 205 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 2: brothers were high school and college football stars. My dad 206 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 2: just retired this past season, but was a high school 207 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 2: football coach, you know, my whole life. So you know, 208 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 2: athletics was a big part of my upbringing and was 209 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 2: sort of like quote unquote expected of me. So I 210 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 2: didn't like football. I wasn't into the running or the tackle. 211 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 2: But I really found a neck and a talent in baseball, 212 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 2: So you know, I played that all throughout my childhood. 213 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 2: And then in the eighth grade, in the All Star 214 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,199 Speaker 2: game that summer, I was sliding into second base. I 215 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 2: don't know why I was sliding into second base. I 216 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 2: was into the eighth grade, but I was sliding at 217 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 2: second base and I broke my arm and I couldn't 218 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 2: play anymore. And that very same year was the year 219 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 2: not only did my parents take me to Broadway for 220 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 2: the first time that summer, but also I started at 221 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 2: the San Diego School of Creative and performing arts. So 222 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 2: my whole world and thought process shifted in that one 223 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 2: year when I thought I would go on. You know, 224 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 2: I had high school recruits who had been following my 225 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 2: career because they knew my dad and stuff, that were 226 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 2: wanting me to come play for their high schools in baseball. 227 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 2: But then I got into the performing arts school and 228 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: that became my passion, and that became what I do still, 229 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 2: So it was a very integral time in my life 230 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:36,679 Speaker 2: to eighth grade. 231 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 3: What are the parallels here to being an athlete and 232 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 3: being conditioned and prepared, and the parallels of the rigor 233 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 3: of the work that you do as a Broadway performer, 234 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 3: which astounds me when I think about that. You know, 235 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 3: that work, that discipline, So what are the what are 236 00:11:58,520 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 3: the parallels in your mind? 237 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 2: I love that question because there are a lot of parallels, 238 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 2: and it's taken me a while to quite grasp the 239 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 2: fact that actually we are athletes. You know, what we 240 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 2: do is not only very athletic, but you have to 241 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 2: have the same discipline and conditioning off the stage or 242 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 2: off the field that the athletes do. So for me, 243 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 2: it has been a testament to my upbringing in athletics, 244 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 2: and with my you know what I naturally gained from 245 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 2: my family as far as discipline and conditioning, but thinking 246 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 2: of it in that way adds another level of respect 247 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 2: I think that we all deserve, especially those of us 248 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 2: who do eight shows a week, and you know, on 249 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 2: top of eight shows a week, you have auditions throughout 250 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 2: that same week, you have rehearsals, you know, when you're 251 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 2: in the preview process six days a week on top 252 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 2: of doing the eight shows a week. So it really 253 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 2: is really taxing on your body and your mind and 254 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: everything and your spirit and everything else. So I think 255 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 2: in many ways, my father especially has come to now 256 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 2: understand that I am following in his footsteps, and then 257 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,719 Speaker 2: I actually am an athlete. And we won't even get 258 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 2: into all the stairs you got to climb backstage and 259 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 2: the costume changes and the backstage choreography of it all. 260 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 2: So it really is like, you know, doing going out 261 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 2: there and playing the game. 262 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 1: We'll be right back with more of the Taking a 263 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: Walk Podcast. Welcome back to the Taking a Walk Podcast. 264 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:26,400 Speaker 3: I'm going to be speaking with f Marie Abraham, who is, 265 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 3: as you know, starring as David Siegel and the musical 266 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 3: The Queen of Versailles. So from one Broadway performer to another, 267 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 3: do you have a question for f Marirae Abraham? 268 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:46,199 Speaker 2: My question would be what is what is your ritual 269 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 2: before the show? Because we all have our own rituals 270 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 2: and things that we do every you know, every before 271 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: every show in one capacity or another. So that would 272 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 2: be my question. 273 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 3: Oh, that's awesome, Thank you for doing that. Yeah, you 274 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 3: toured Europe with with Hair for two and a half 275 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 3: years and you became close friends with Adam Lambert. He 276 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 3: is it true he had to lend you clothes in 277 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 3: the South of France. 278 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 2: You are a great interviewer. Oh my goodness. Yes, wow, 279 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 2: so we'll be okay. So this was back in two 280 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 2: thousand and three. We had just begun the tour and 281 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 2: our producer wolfgame Bosch Concerts at the time, they had 282 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 2: booked us to go to the Grand Prix and be 283 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 2: on a private yacht with these other pop stars named 284 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 2: No Angel, which was a pop group back then, and 285 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 2: we were all, you know, the cast of Hair and 286 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: No Angel, where we were the talent on the group 287 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 2: on the ship during the Grand Prix for this very 288 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 2: select you know group of people who were also passengers 289 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 2: on the ship. So we fly into Nice from Germany, 290 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: and you know, for those of you who understand the geography, 291 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 2: it's about what an hour or so drive from like 292 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 2: from the Nice airport to Monte Carlo, which is where 293 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 2: we got on the boat. So I got to the 294 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 2: airport and my luggage was lost. I had no clothes. 295 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 2: I'm in Monte Carlo for the first time, in the 296 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 2: south of France, trying to live this extravagant lifestyle on 297 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 2: this you know, exclusive yacht parked. I mean we were 298 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 2: literally docked or you know, we were anchored right across 299 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 2: from the Onasa's boat, the Onastas yacht. I mean it 300 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 2: was insane, and I have no clothes. So Adam Lambert 301 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 2: was my roommate and he was the only person tall 302 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 2: enough for me to borrow clothes from, so I had 303 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 2: to borrow his clothes the whole trip. 304 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 3: That is great. 305 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 306 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 3: Wow, So let's talk about the do Wop project. You're 307 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 3: now touring with it in The Avengers of dou Wop. Yeah, 308 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 3: how do you go from playing motown legends to preserving 309 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 3: do Wop? 310 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 2: Well, you know, it's sort of a natural progression. You know, 311 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 2: all of us met doing Jersey Boys on Broadway, which 312 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 2: is you know, which the four Seasons were basically a 313 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 2: do our group, but you know, sounds of the fifties 314 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 2: and sixties is really kind of what we focus on. 315 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 2: And then I did Motown after that, so I already 316 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 2: had sort of the background in this style of music. 317 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 2: But we decided to start the group because we need 318 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 2: side gigs. You're not always going to be starring on 319 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 2: Broadway or in hit Broadway shows that run for a 320 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 2: long time, or being able to act on a TV 321 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 2: show that runs for a long time, so we you know, 322 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 2: naturally need something other than you know, performing in those 323 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 2: mediums to do. So we thought it would be a 324 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 2: good idea to just get a group of guys together 325 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 2: who enjoy the same style of music, and we have 326 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 2: a pedigree in this style of music on Broadway. To 327 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 2: the guys in our group played Frankie Valley on Broadway, 328 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 2: another Dominic Nolfi, he played Tommy DeVito and it was 329 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 2: in the original cast of Jersey Boys. I of course 330 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 2: played Smokey Robinson. And then we have our base man, 331 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: Dwayne Cooper, who did Hairspray. He didn't do Jersey Boys 332 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 2: with us, but he was in Hairspray, which was across 333 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 2: the street from the August Wilson Theater where he did 334 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 2: that show. So we all, you know, naturally have an 335 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 2: inkling for this style of music, as it's been a 336 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 2: big part of our careers. So we thought we could 337 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 2: help make ends meet by touring the performing arts and 338 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 2: the symphony circuit with our show. At the time, we 339 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 2: were only doing like five six gigs a year. It's 340 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 2: now grown to about seventy five gigs a year, and 341 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:14,199 Speaker 2: we just released our fifth album and we have a 342 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 2: brand new show called Echoes of the Street. So it's 343 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 2: kind of been this little engine that could. I don't 344 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,360 Speaker 2: think any of us saw back then that fifteen sixteen 345 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 2: years later we'd actually still be doing this and thriving, 346 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 2: and there would still be a demand for it all 347 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 2: across the country and the world. We've gone as far 348 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 2: as China and Bermuda, So it really is has been 349 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 2: quite a blessing in disguise. It's like one of those 350 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 2: things that you never could have thought would work the 351 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,239 Speaker 2: way it has, but there is a demand for it 352 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 2: and a lot of people love this music. I think 353 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 2: it's universal. I think you know, it's our songs are 354 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 2: about mostly about love or about the experience of loving, 355 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,479 Speaker 2: you know, breaking up and things like that, and it 356 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 2: takes a lot of people back to a more innocent 357 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 2: time in their lives. The best part is that four 358 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 2: generations of family members can come to the same show. 359 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:07,920 Speaker 2: And I think that's what makes us so unique. You 360 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 2: can bring grandma and your mom and your kids to 361 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 2: the same show and it have it be appropriate for 362 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,160 Speaker 2: all the age groups, and even the kids will find 363 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 2: something new in this music. And we also do wopify 364 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 2: pop songs, so we make it relevant for the younger generation, 365 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 2: and we also are we have the nostalgia for the 366 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 2: older generation, and there's good music throughout, so it really 367 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:30,719 Speaker 2: is for everyone in between. 368 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 3: Talk about community and in terms of certainly the way 369 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 3: you just described audiences and all different types of audiences 370 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 3: and why you know, certainly Broadway and community around music 371 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 3: is so important more than ever. 372 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 2: Well, the reason why I think it's more important than 373 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 2: ever is because we're seeing the advance of technology and 374 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 2: we're seeing you know, things like AI that are coming 375 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,640 Speaker 2: for different parts or different corners of our industry. But 376 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 2: the one thing that is irreplaceable is the experience of 377 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 2: live music. Or live theater together with other beating human 378 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 2: hearts in the same place, having this one experience in 379 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 2: these four walls together, and I think that's something that 380 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 2: harkens back to the beginning of mankind itself. I think 381 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 2: there's always been the ritual of coming together and expressing 382 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 2: oneself through song or through spoken word, or through dance, 383 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 2: or through visual arts or some sort of the arts. 384 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 2: That really is what makes us human and you can't 385 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 2: replace with machines or technology. So I think now to 386 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 2: be on a journey to save doop and this specific 387 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 2: style of music I think speaks just to the universality 388 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 2: of music itself. I think we can all respond well 389 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 2: to good sounds and good stories and good memories, and 390 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 2: I think that's what we've tapped into. And I think 391 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 2: that's what keeps us going is because on one level 392 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 2: or not, every human can relate to love of you know, 393 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 2: even the kids can relate to loving their parents, you know, 394 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,199 Speaker 2: teenagers can relate to their first love, and adults can 395 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 2: remember all of the above and break up and all, 396 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:09,120 Speaker 2: you know, all the things that we sing about our 397 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,159 Speaker 2: universal themes that no matter what your ethnicity is, no 398 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 2: matter what your financial status, is no matter even what 399 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 2: country you come from. I think that was the biggest 400 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 2: thing to discover when we went all the way to 401 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 2: like Beijing, that there were fans out there who knew 402 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,239 Speaker 2: all the words in English and knew the music and 403 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,119 Speaker 2: could relate to it. And they still, you know, stream 404 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: us on Spotify and things like that. I think it's 405 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 2: because music is a universal language that we all speak. 406 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 3: And speaking to the rigors of Broadway, how does touring 407 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 3: with the Do Wop Project differ from doing a mere 408 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 3: eight shows a week on Broadway show? 409 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 2: So there are ups and downs to everything that eight 410 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 2: shows a week are is definitely not easy. We don't 411 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 2: we don't do We don't typically do eight shows a week, 412 00:20:58,000 --> 00:20:59,439 Speaker 2: you know. I think we cap it. We try and 413 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 2: cap it at shows in any you know, especially when 414 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 2: we're on our annual Florida tour. We'll pack them in 415 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 2: because we can perform you know, Monday through through Saturday 416 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 2: out there. But it's different that, you know, we're not 417 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 2: home all the time. We don't get to sleep in 418 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 2: our own beds, and it's typically one night ers or 419 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:18,440 Speaker 2: a couple of nights in the same town. If we're 420 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 2: with a symphony or so but you know, you really 421 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 2: have to. The travel is what takes a lot out 422 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 2: of us. And like as I said, we've been doing 423 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 2: this for over fifteen years, so we're not as young 424 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 2: of men as we used to be. So having to age, 425 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,159 Speaker 2: you know, while touring on the road and all the 426 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 2: things that come along with being so mobile and not 427 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 2: being with your family and your loved ones, you know, 428 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 2: takes a toll on you. And I think that's why 429 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 2: all of us two do appreciate when the Broadway shows 430 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 2: or the off Broadway shows do come along that we 431 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 2: do get to sit home and only do eight shows 432 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 2: a week only. 433 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 3: Now you mentioned with my f Murray Abraham question the rituals, 434 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 3: So how do the rituals differ from the Broadway rituals 435 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 3: versus the touring rituals. 436 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 2: So for me personally, I have one ritual that is 437 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 2: the same, which is I will work out at the gym, 438 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 2: you know, harkening back to the athleticism of at all. 439 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 2: I'll make sure I work out at the gym every day. 440 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 2: Every time I have to sing, I will make sure 441 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 2: that I get to work out in that day, which 442 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:26,239 Speaker 2: not only keeps me me fit for you know what, 443 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,160 Speaker 2: it takes to do the show. But also I found 444 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 2: that when my body is warm, my voice is warm, 445 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,399 Speaker 2: So it's sort of like my warm up is to 446 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 2: go to the gym, and I feel like I can 447 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,400 Speaker 2: sing a lot better once I've done that. As far 448 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 2: as you know the rituals doing inshows a week and 449 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 2: being at home, what makes it nice, especially once you 450 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,679 Speaker 2: get into the flow of the show, is that I 451 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 2: can make my dinner at home, and I can plan 452 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 2: out when I'm going to eat a lot easier. When 453 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 2: you're touring, they will provide a meal before the show, 454 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:56,640 Speaker 2: but you know, all throughout the day you have they're 455 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 2: trying to figure out how to eat and how to 456 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 2: eat healthy, which is another thing I try and do 457 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:02,959 Speaker 2: because you know, when you're traveling so much, you need 458 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 2: your immune system to be good because you're around people 459 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 2: on airplanes and trains and you know, automobiles and the like. 460 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 2: If one of us get sick, we all get sick. 461 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 2: We just went through this last month where one person 462 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 2: was sick and by the end of it, all five 463 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:17,239 Speaker 2: of us have the same sniffles and head cold by 464 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 2: the end of that month. Because that's just the nature 465 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 2: of things. So I think that for me, that's the 466 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 2: difficult thing is trying to figure out how to stay 467 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 2: healthy and to get enough rest and to get the 468 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 2: workout in when everything is so on the go and 469 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 2: you can't depend on there being, you know, the kind 470 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 2: of gem or the kind of food that you really 471 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 2: would rather have. 472 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 3: Is there a dream role that you haven't played yet, 473 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:45,679 Speaker 3: a character or show that you're just dying to do? 474 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 2: Ah, Well, it's a tricky question, so yes and no, 475 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 2: there is a dream role that I have that haven't 476 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 2: been able to play yet on Broadway. My favorite show 477 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 2: is dream Girls. I've been able. I've been fortunate enough 478 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,320 Speaker 2: to play Curtis Taylor Jr. A couple of times in 479 00:24:04,359 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 2: my career regionally, most recently last summer at the Muni, 480 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 2: which is the largest regional theater in America. Actually, so 481 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 2: I would love to get to play that part again 482 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 2: in New York on Broadway. So I think that will 483 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,120 Speaker 2: be my dream role. And then, but I always tell 484 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 2: people too, my actual dream role is something that hasn't 485 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 2: been written yet or that we're unaware of yet. I 486 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 2: really want to originate another character out of the blue 487 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 2: so that people haven't come to know yet. But will 488 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 2: come to know as me first. 489 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 3: And would that be something that you could envision creating 490 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 3: from scratch? 491 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love that process. I've been a part of 492 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 2: lots of workshops and new musical you know, twenty nine 493 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 2: hour readings we call them, and things like that. So yeah, 494 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,439 Speaker 2: something that I can really sing my teeth into and 495 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,479 Speaker 2: my creativity, my artistry into and create from the ground 496 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 2: up that you know has all to do with me, 497 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:58,919 Speaker 2: but also to do with that character. And for me, 498 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 2: it would have to be something a role that sings 499 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 2: and dances and acts. And most recently the show that 500 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:09,360 Speaker 2: I did off Broadway was called Joy the Musical and 501 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 2: I played Dan, who was Joy's boss from QVC who 502 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 2: hired her and gave her the opportunity to sell her 503 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 2: miracle mops. And that has been one of my favorite 504 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 2: roles that I would love to do again and do 505 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,120 Speaker 2: on Broadway because I got to do all those things. 506 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 2: I got to sing, I got to dance, and I 507 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:31,199 Speaker 2: also got to do dramatic and comedic acting. So I 508 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 2: really love getting to exercise all the different facets of myself. 509 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 2: I'm an artistry in one role and that has so 510 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,479 Speaker 2: far been in one of those roles where I get 511 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 2: to do all those things. 512 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:44,480 Speaker 3: Charle Brown, thanks for bringing us the joy and bringing 513 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 3: us everything that makes us happy. 514 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 1: Man. 515 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, my pleasure. Thanks for having me. 516 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:53,919 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a 517 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:57,880 Speaker 1: Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends 518 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:01,400 Speaker 1: and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking 519 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:05,360 Speaker 1: a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 520 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: and wherever you get your podcasts.