Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to be here with me today.
[00:00:04] Speaker B: Of course. So excited to be here.
[00:00:06] Speaker A: How's the tour going?
[00:00:08] Speaker B: It's going really well. We just hit two incredible cities. Well, three if you count our first city, Elmira, as well. Just got out of Boston. Now we are here in Hartford, Connecticut, and we opened tonight. So excited. And what a great place to be for New Year's.
[00:00:25] Speaker A: Absolutely. Having the best kind of celebration, because six is truly a celebration.
[00:00:30] Speaker B: Yeah, it's really fun when your own show incorporates confetti, 100%.
[00:00:38] Speaker A: So for those who maybe don't know, and I know there's a lot of us that do know. Can you tell us a little bit about six the Musical?
[00:00:43] Speaker B: Sure. Six the Musical is a adventurous, fun, fantastic show about Henry VIII's stuff. Six wives. And it's a reimagining of that. Of their. Of the wives, as if they were pop divas. So think like, you know, live performance, fun costumes, incredible eye looks.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: It's. Yeah, because it's kind of. It's kind of like a concert, but, like, it's more than a concert, you know, it's. It's kind of. It toes that line.
[00:01:14] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's half concert, half live theater performance.
[00:01:18] Speaker A: All fun, you know, and one of the things about it that I've always loved is that it doesn't have, like. It has, like, a beautiful, beautiful set and stuff like that, but really, it's about the six queens up there on stage, and they're doing all of the heavy work, and so it really puts a lot of. A lot of spotlights on all six of you.
[00:01:38] Speaker B: Literally. Yeah. I've never been part of a show that has such a minimalistic set, you know, minimalist props. It really is about the band, the actors on stage, and the story that they're telling.
[00:01:51] Speaker A: Absolutely. So as a. As an alternate, you cover multiple queens. Which queens do you cover?
[00:01:56] Speaker B: I do. I cover Aragon and Cleaves and Par. So for those who don't know, I will be the yellow one, the red one, and the blue one sometimes.
[00:02:07] Speaker A: How did they, like. I guess, like, how did, like, it come to be that you like? How do they choose which ones you're covering? Is it, like, vocal range? Is it just, like, where they need a person or, you know, they always.
[00:02:20] Speaker B: Say that the puzzle pieces. It takes a lot to know exactly where everyone fits. I know that for my journey, my first audition was for an open call, and they just said, bring in one queen and two pop songs and So I went in with Aragon originally, and then I sang a couple pop songs, and then they gave me Cleaves that first day. So then I was doing Aragon and Cleaves, and hilariously enough, I was also given Howard during my first auditions. Who's the pink one? So those are my three original ones. I then eventually went in to audition for Cleaves Bolin Par, and that was the first time I saw Parr. And then when I finally got my offer for the show, it was a Aragon, Cleaves Par. So it's really just like they kind of move you around, they see what you got, and then when they time is right, it works out.
[00:03:14] Speaker A: So with a show such as six, and it's really kind of taken on a life of its own. I mean, social media, it was everywhere. That's how I first got introduced to this.
Seeing it in Detroit and then I also saw it in New York, and there's a different energy there. Do you think there's a pressure to like to the show or like. Like being a part of it when there's like such a life outside, you know, it's. It's such a big show in that way?
[00:03:37] Speaker B: You know, I would say yes. And especially as an alternate, you know, sometimes we don't get as much work or practice in our roles as we would like sometimes. So there can always be that little bit of pressure that we always want to give our best, but the six community is so incredible that the pressure always comes from within, not from without. You know, we always want to do our best, but the Six community is so loving and so supportive that it's never. It never really feels like they expect. Expect something from us. We just want to give them our best show.
[00:04:07] Speaker A: I was going to say it's interesting too, because, like, on TikTok, granted, my whole TikTok is pretty much six, but, like, there is such a. There's such a celebration for the alternates, and like, there's like this. Like, everyone's excited when this person gets to be on and play this role and you get to see this, and it does change the show in such positive ways. But there's like, there is, like, the huge champion of the alternates and the incredible work that you do because you have to learn multiple roles and go on at different times to be different Queens.
[00:04:35] Speaker B: Yeah. The support is honestly unmatched in other shows that I've been in understudy and a swing for. Obviously, you know, there's always love for it, but this is the first time that it's it, like you said, has felt, Champ, like we've been championed. And that's such an incredible feeling. I don't take it for granted at all. And it really. It really makes the job worth doing.
[00:04:53] Speaker A: So is there. Has your time with six challenged you as, like. Like a stage performer at all?
[00:04:58] Speaker B: Oh, 100%, yes.
Usually the, like, the most. Sorry. Five, six, seven, eight. The most principal roles I'd covered before this was two, and so now I'm covering three principal roles. And the thing about that is that you are never hidden. Even when you are in the back, there's only six people on stage. Someone's always looking at you. So it's really challenged me to be more present when I'm on stage. I can't, you know, get lost. It's challenged me to be more connected to my fellow actors on stage.
And, you know, it's really made me so really have to be grounded in what I'm doing.
[00:05:44] Speaker A: I love that. I love that. Do you have different routines to getting into the mindset of each queen?
[00:05:52] Speaker B: When I have the time and the foreknowledge, really, it takes whatever time it does to, like, do my makeup. So it's really, like, getting into the mentality of, like, where does my posture sit? Like, what music am I listening to? You know, where am I leading from? You know, for Cleese, she's a little more of a party girl, so she can kind of be a little more loosey goosey with it. Eragon really has to be like, all right, where am I centering myself?
Where it's like, yep. Really have to think, like, oh, pride, respect, that kind of thing. And park gets to sit a little bit more back into, like, her, like, part of it all.
So all of that is, like, where. Where I have to, like, get mentally before we, like, get out there. And then, like, once XY starts, it's even in the, like, first walk down the stage. You know, it's like, where am I? Where am I?
[00:06:40] Speaker A: Okay, I love that. So it's all about kind of finding the themes that run through each one of these queens, because each have, like, a different kind of theme to them.
[00:06:48] Speaker B: Yeah. And we're all really encouraged to find, like, different ways to bring each queen apart. Like, if we're ever doing a run as an alternate and we're like, that actually feels a little bit too much like one of your other queens. Maybe we should find a different way to, like, deliver that line or a different way to, like, move across the stage. And it's Always, like, really interesting to, like, that. They really want us to, like, sink into these queens in our own individuality, but also, like, be sure that we're being honest to who the queen is at her core.
[00:07:15] Speaker A: That's. I mean, that's so awesome. And it's cool that they let you kind of have wiggle room within that. Having seen, I think, I think last time a tour here in Detroit, I saw it like four or five times. I'm not going to lie. Oh, gosh.
[00:07:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:07:26] Speaker A: So I got to kind of see the different. A lot of the, you know, there was a few different alternates, a few different swings, and one role could be exactly the same role, but completely different, you know, and so, like, getting to have a little bit of that wiggle room is probably really exciting as an actor.
[00:07:41] Speaker B: Yeah, and it's. It's exciting. It's also a little bit freeing because then you don't feel like you have to be a recreation of anyone else who's ever done the role. Like, you know that, like, whatever you bring to the role, you were chosen for it for a reason, and you don't have to be afraid to just, like, show up.
[00:07:59] Speaker A: I love that. So what themes of six do you feel resonate the most with you?
[00:08:04] Speaker B: With me, I mean, it's that line in six. It's your one of a kind, no category. Like, not even to, like, take it to me personally. But I know that, like, comparison is such a thief of joy, at least in my personal life, so. So I love that personally because I'm like, I love thinking that I don't have to worry about if I'm like this person or if I'm this enough or I'm not enough. It's like, I'm okay to be just exactly who I am, and I don't have to compare myself. And everyone is a queen in their own right. And I use queen non binary or non gendered. Everyone's gonna be a queen.
[00:08:45] Speaker A: 100%.
[00:08:46] Speaker B: Yeah. And it's just like, themes with friendship and, and owning your power and being true to yourself and not letting anyone else write your history for you, like, being able to take it yourself and write it yourself has been really inspiring for me. And I know a lot of the people I work with, a lot of people who listen to it, and I hope it continues to be relevant.
[00:09:14] Speaker A: I mean, I think that my next question was gonna be, why do you think the show has such an impact on audiences? But I think that is it just that it. It lets you kind of have your Own story and to be confident. It's really hard to not feel confident when you're watching these six queens find themselves on stage.
[00:09:31] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
It always is really powerful. And, like, even when I watch it today, there are still moments that, like, fill me with emotion and, you know, certain songs that make me tear up. It's as true today as it was the first day I listened to it and saw it. It's.
It really is trying to empower people to, like, you know, take control of their own lives and be exactly who they want to be.
[00:09:57] Speaker A: You know, earlier you mentioned that, like, if you have the time, you can get into the mindset. So as kind of an alternate, is it sometimes really last minute that you're finding out, like, you have five minutes, you're going on stage.
[00:10:10] Speaker B: We have been very lucky. I have heard stories of people who have gone on with, you know, 15 minutes before curtain or even, like, I think we had one mid show, not in the cast before me.
So far, in the, I think four to six months that I have been working, we haven't had any super last minute. I think we'll usually get a call at least two hours before the show, which is usually enough time to do our makeup the way we want.
You know, worst case scenario, maybe one hour before the show. But we have been pretty lucky so far.
Knock on wood.
[00:10:47] Speaker A: That's awesome, right? Let's not have it. Let's not have it start tonight.
[00:10:52] Speaker B: No, no, no, no. For sure.
[00:10:55] Speaker A: Do you have a favorite song to perform from the show? Because, I mean, like, I know everybody has their own favorite. Everyone has their own favorite queen, their favorite show, but is there one that you just like. You're like, this is the one I love to perform.
[00:11:05] Speaker B: Oh, God.
I think, personally, it's hard. I love all my babies equally, so you're gonna have to take all of this with a grain of salt. But performing no way as Eragon is always so fun for me now because it was terrifying when I was learning it. And I think one of the reasons it's one of my favorites now is because of how much work had to go into making it fun. And so, you know, even on my worst day, it's like. But, like, I got it. And it feels really good to, like, go into something like that confidently and then obviously, like, sticks at the end is all. Is such a party and such a joyous, like, celebration of the show and of each other and of the audience and I. There's no way of doing that number without feeling super connected.
[00:11:58] Speaker A: I agree that's my. Those are, those are two. I mean I love all the songs but like those are two of my favorites.
[00:12:03] Speaker B: We love our children equally. Yeah.
[00:12:06] Speaker A: Why, why was no way maybe terrifying at first? Just because it's, it is such like a. Vocally, like you kind of have a huge range in that one.
[00:12:15] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I have had a couple of friends who have been doing the show and they call that no way moment like getting shot out of a cannon. Because you have just finished introducing yourselves, you've just finished XY's. And for me, XY's is always where my nerves are the highest because that's the first time I'm on stage.
And then to know that you have to go from that into no way finishing your song, starting out the show basically and you don't get any water because you don't never get to leave the stage. It's just like learning how to like pace yourself. Learning where you can give more and where you can give less without compromising, you know, the performance.
It's. Yeah, it's kind of, you're kind of working with, with a little bit things to juggle, but once you find that balance for yourself, it's really exciting.
[00:13:11] Speaker A: Speaking of never leaving the stage, not only do you never leave the stage during this, but it's a one act show. You're straight through 90, 90, 100 minutes.
Are there any challenges to that besides maybe like not getting water?
[00:13:24] Speaker B: I will say that is the biggest one. But okay, you know, little known secret, peeking behind the curtain. The biggest issue when we were just getting started was learning when to go to the restroom.
Because once you're in that costume, you're in there, you don't want to take it off. There's a lot of like layers. So you know, you gotta balance like water intake versus like theater dryness versus knowing that you have to at least get through 80 to 90 minutes just like, and know that you're gonna be all right.
Luckily we've all pretty much figured that out. No emergencies.
But yeah, other than that it's, it's day like 80 minutes is pretty, pretty doable.
And it's. And it's great and we love it because it just keeps the energy moving forward.
[00:14:16] Speaker A: Yeah. Because it's a non stop show. It's, it's once you start, it's pretty much a straight ride through of, I mean of excitement after excitement. But like, yeah, I could, I could see how planning some of that stuff out beforehand, probably a big challenge.
So you have been in shows such as rent or 20 sided tavern, which I haven't got to see yet, but I'm really excited to see. How do you feel like those have prepared you for your time on Six?
[00:14:42] Speaker B: Well, Rent was my first time swinging, so that was the first time I ever had to cover more than, like, two roles. And I was covering all female ensemble and people ensemble tracks and Mimi and Joanne. So that was what really got me in, like, the mindset of, like, what do I have to do to, like, make sure I remember, like. So that's where I started my, like, understudy journals where I, like, would write down what I needed to do. And with Rent, it was easy because you could go off stage, you could look at your understudy journal and be like, oh, one scene at a time. Here's what I'm doing, this scene. And I could put it back.
It didn't prepare me. It did prepare me for it. Mentally. It didn't prepare me. Because with this show, there's no time to look at an understudy journal. So it's kind of. You really have to be more organized so that you can look at it beforehand. And then once we're on stage, it's kind of like, all right, move scene by scene. But you got to keep it all up here.
[00:15:42] Speaker A: Having the band on stage with you, is that, like, how does that influence you as a performer? Because I feel like that is. It's got a different energy to it than maybe having, like, like the orchestra underneath of you or, I know, like, for Rent, it used to be, like, behind you, kind of like platforms, you know, what is it like having them right there with you?
[00:16:02] Speaker B: It's so fun to be able to, like, physically see them on stage. And, like, the support that they give to the show really, like, echoes the support we feel from them, like, as individuals.
And it's so fun to be able to interact with them, to get to do little bits with them. Because, as always, like, the orchestra is always as much of a part of the show as the actors in this one. I love that the audience gets to know that as much as the people on stage know that, you know, everyone up there has a name and, you know, a connection to one of the queens. And it's really fun to be able to incorporate them that way.
[00:16:45] Speaker A: I think it was, like, way into, like, learning the show that I realized that they're, like, they have character names. Like, I thought those were, like, their actual names. And then I was like, why is every production Maria.
[00:16:58] Speaker B: No, I remember thinking the exact same thing. Yeah, yeah.
[00:17:05] Speaker A: Has there ever been a moment where you feel like you feed off of them? Like, do you, like, like their energy? Because, like, they're. They're out there, they're doing their work. The songs are electric. Do you.
Do you feel like you ever, like, feed off of that, or do you feel like. Like, you know, your show, you kind of. You stick with that.
[00:17:20] Speaker B: No, for sure, I feed off of it. And especially as an alternate, like, the band is also incredibly supportive. They're always so excited. And anytime we get off stage after a show, they're always like, you killed that. Congratulations. Like, can't wait to get you out there again. Again.
No, it's really. It's really fun. It's nice to know and see, like, even when all the queens are doing something, if I ever, like, look at the band, like, they're always being like, yeah, you got it. Here we go. And it's. It's.
[00:17:48] Speaker A: I love that.
[00:17:49] Speaker B: Oh, it's intoxicating. It's great. It so revs you up.
[00:17:55] Speaker A: So with this show, too, there's a lot of, like. It's not like a traditional audience theater experience. It's kind of more. It's a little more interactive, you know, like, you're. At some points, you're asking the audience to get up into it, and, like, you know, I know with Anna Cleaves, she always kind of invites the one person up to dance and, like, yeah. What's that energy like for you as a performer?
[00:18:18] Speaker B: Oh, it is incredibly different to be able to look the audience in the face, in the eyes, and, like, feel their energy that way. Because in a lot of shows, you don't break the fourth wall. You know, you don't get to see people's reactions to what you're doing, and you very rarely address them directly.
But when you're, like, walking across the stage talking in a monologue, and you can be like, you. Hey, yeah, you. I'm talking to you. It really is so fun to watch them, like, first get a little nervous, but then, like, you sink into the joy of it. Of, like, I'm a part of this. And I think that's, like, always what we want to do in the show is invite the audience into our. Our conversations, our emotions, you know, our experiences. And I think it's so, like, fun and incredible and artfully done that we get to, like, actively do it, like.
[00:19:13] Speaker A: Right off the bat, too. I mean, like, they're like, okay, you guys, you're gonna judge the competition. Like, we're gonna about to, like, right off the Bat you're like, oh, we are, we're. We're like, we're just as much of the show, even though we're not like, we're just as much of the show as. As these queens.
[00:19:25] Speaker B: You know, the audience is the seventh queen, 100%.
[00:19:29] Speaker A: I love that. I'm gonna have to get a shirt with that on. And now.
So you've been with the show for. For almost a year now. Almost.
[00:19:39] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:19:40] Speaker A: I think like 40ish weeks is when you was announced, if I did my math correctly. Oh, wow.
[00:19:45] Speaker B: I haven't done the math yet. Thank you very much.
[00:19:48] Speaker A: Are there any standout moments for you from your time on this tour?
[00:19:53] Speaker B: Oh, I mean, most moments are like, stand out pretty. Yeah. I think the one that comes to mind immediately was my Eragon debut. Eragon was the queen that I. Like, I said that I auditioned with first, so she was the one that I had spent the most time thinking of myself as.
[00:20:16] Speaker A: Sure.
[00:20:16] Speaker B: And I had already debuted Parr, which was kind of a whole whirlwind situation and was like, okay, I'm in the show. And then my next queen that I debuted was Eragon. And I just remember the music started for the opening number XY's and I had to hold tears back because I hadn't realized until that moment that this was a dream come come true.
That, like, I had spent a year since that point wanting this job and wanting this role specifically. And as much as I love all of my queens and I love doing them, that was the moment that I was like, oh, this is it. This is me doing it. And so it was, oh, magic of wherever we were. Because I'm a kid today, we are just, like, trying to sound fierce and confident and not like I was about to cry.
And we got there in the end after. After a couple seconds, I was like, okay, now I'm in it. But that first couple seconds was, boy, right.
[00:21:22] Speaker A: Because you're kind of standing on that precipice, you know, of. Just like, I've been working for this forever.
[00:21:28] Speaker B: Yeah, it was incredibly emotional.
[00:21:30] Speaker A: I do love that.
[00:21:31] Speaker B: Incredibly gratifying. And, oh, the gratitude flowed through me and still does to this day.
Wild.
[00:21:39] Speaker A: I love that. So my day job is. I'm a psychologist, so I always have to ask, how do you prioritize your mental while on the road?
[00:21:45] Speaker B: Oh, gosh.
It's always finding things that make you happy. I'm a big, crafty girl, so I like to, like, make things.
And whenever I am feeling a little, like, disconnected to myself, to the people around me, I'm like, okay, let's find myself a project. Let's reach out to the people around me. Let's go on a friend date, you know, go call my family. My friends and the girls here are lovely. Like, anytime anyone's having like a bad brain day, as I like to call it, they're like, what do you need? What can we do?
Because it can be hard on the road, you know, away from your family, especially around the holiday season.
But we really try to uplift each other, do anything that we can for each other, find the things that make us happy. I think there's a place next door that has puppies and a lot of the girls want to go.
So, yeah, puppies always help.
[00:22:43] Speaker A: Puppies always help.
I, you know, I definitely. You have to become a family of your own because you're right. Like, it is hard. You're pushing through right now. It's a. It's. We are New Year's Eve right now. Like, you're pushing through a holiday and that's tough.
[00:22:59] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:23:01] Speaker A: What. Is there anything specific you look for at your different stops along the road? Like, are there experiences or like, is there like, are you like a coffee person? Like, you have to have like the.
[00:23:09] Speaker B: Best coffee or, you know, this round, I haven't really. On one of my other tours, I was big on, like, cupcakes. It was like, I'm gonna go to like a local, like, bakery, bake shop, find a good cupcake.
Really this time I'm a little more of a stay at home girl because I'm trying to save money. But it's always fun to like, try local, local cuisines. We always are like, oh, what's this place, like, known for? Like, food wise. And a little group of us will go, like, find a good food. Like when we were in Boston, we all went to go get like a seafood boil and lobster rolls without getting oysters.
So it's always fun because we have to eat. So that's an expense. We can.
[00:23:56] Speaker A: 100%.
[00:23:57] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. We always love, like, restaurant recommendations.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:24:06] Speaker A: So what do you hope for the future of six and its impact on musical theater? Or like, how do you think it's going to be remembered?
[00:24:12] Speaker B: Oh, gosh, how do I. Two very different questions. How do I think it's going to be remembered?
I hope it's remembered as like an incredible badass, if I can say that.
Celebration of women empowerment and.
Yeah, we. And women and non binary empowerment. We want to make sure that people know that they don't have to shrink themselves, that they don't have to be what other people want them to be, and, you know, free to bloom and blossom and expand themselves to whatever they want to be.
[00:25:10] Speaker A: Yeah, it's absolutely.
It's got such a power to it. It's got such a power to it.
[00:25:17] Speaker B: It's so powerful, and it's hard to put into words.
And I know at face value, sometimes it might not be taken that way, but, like, having. Having spent so much time with the material and with the people, like, in the show, it's. It just means so much to me and to a lot of people, and I hope it stays that way for a long time, because it's a show that deserves it.
[00:25:43] Speaker A: I was gonna say, this is just one of those shows that, like, it feels like it's picking up momentum instead of losing momentum. And, like, I hear more and more people talking about it, more and more younger, you know, younger kids talking about it, adults talking about, like, this is just one of those shows that, like, has. It's not slowing down. And I think that is part of the impact that it's having on musical theater. I think we're gonna see more shows like this.
[00:26:06] Speaker B: I hope so. I'm ready. Put me in, coach.
[00:26:11] Speaker A: Well, thank you so much for being here with me today.
[00:26:13] Speaker B: Yeah, of course. Thank you. It's been a joy.
[00:26:17] Speaker A: Six runs, January 7th through the 12th, so get your tickets at Broadway in Detroit, and we look forward to seeing you when you reach the 313.
[00:26:25] Speaker B: Yeah. Let's go. Can't wait.
