Video: HADESTOWN Is a Family Affair with Jon Jon & Isa Briones

Welcome to Backstage with Richard Ridge

The Tony Award-winning best musical, Hades Town, has just welcomed two new stars who are father and daughter

John John Brionis and Issa Brioz had taken on the roles of Hermes and Eurydice, and I caught up with them at Civilian

I am thrilled to be sitting with both of you here in the rich. Merrimontes Atelier at the Civilian

Well, first of all, welcome back to Broadway, John John. Thank you

And welcome to Broadway. Thank you. Thank you so much. Happy to be here

This has to be like one of the greatest moments of your lives together

To be on Broadway together? Yeah. I mean, it's always been a dream to be on Broadway, of course

because growing up in musical theater, growing up in our household, it was just Broadway soundtracks all the time

all the time and I always practicing my my alpha bar my my Jason Robert Brown is

but this time I think after a while of doing more TV I kind of let it go as a dream

I thought like oh maybe that's not maybe that's not my path maybe that's not my dream

anymore but to have it come back around at this time and now with my dad I'm remembering

like oh right no this has always been my dream this is been like my first dream and it feels like home coming home you are home so

what's it been like for you I mean returning to Broadway with your daughter

you know Broadway has always been kind of weird when when I reached 40 I went it's too

late because all I could think of was to get on Broadway as a an ensemble because you

know and I went I'm seeing ensemble members and they're active and what's what's the word they're triple threats yeah

yeah i i can't do that anymore i went okay that's that that dream is gone and then i made my

broadway debut at the age of 51 i went oh it's never too late so when and and then after that

it was like okay i i did my broadway i'm i'm good but this came back around i went oh i do belong here

And I never realized I needed to be back on stage. I needed this for my soul

And then, to top it all, it was with... Well, I want to go back to rehearsals

because I understood you were a basket case, crying, alter rehearsals, right

Yeah. He's missing his cues. Yeah. Because he was watching me. You know the blocking, right

He's on a stool and she's down there. And I'm looking at her

her and suddenly the director went, John, John, pay attention. Oh, no

That's you. Sorry. And then I go, I'm sorry. And there's a tissue box there and I would just dabbing like, okay, let's see it again

Works that your role has water and tissues next to you at all time

And I still do. I still get teary eyed just watching, watching her

And it's, and you know, the story, it becomes more personal because it's like I have vested interest to make this work

because literally the person I love is involved in it anyway oh man sorry like I said this doesn't happen very often we were talking before we

went on camera I don't think there's a lot of sets of you know parents and children

there's a few of them but I mean this is a really really big deal yeah so

you know, talk about what it's, what do you remember about your first performance? Let's talk about this

Okay, your Broadway debut, they are so magical. So that first night on stage in Hades Town

a blur, what do you remember? Well, the thing is, I think leading up to it

I was very, I get very nervous, and I'm someone who my nerves, like, affect my voice a lot

And so I, and this, I was like, oh, this is going to be the biggest stage I've ever been on

or maybe not biggest spacewise, but just big and thinking like oh my god i'm going to be a mess i'm not going to be able to

sing any notes because i'm just going to be like shaking but for some reason that day i just i was

nervous but i kind of had this overwhelming calm that i was so grateful for and all of a sudden

i was like wow i guess maybe that's a sign like this is where i'm supposed to be and i went out there

and it just kind of felt natural. And even when our friends and family came

they were like, you seemed so okay out there. Like, we were more nervous than you were

I was so proud and impressed by you because during rehearsals, she would not be able to continue because she's so emotional and just crying

You know, all I've ever known in flowers are very, very emotional songs

and if you you can't help but connect it to your own life

because it's written so beautifully and there were definitely moments where I would be singing

all I've ever known and all of a sudden be like, I'm so sorry, can we move on and come back to this

because I just, I need a second. So dramatic. I'm so dramatic, yeah

But, no, but yes, what were you saying? No, just so proud of her

So proud of her. So when you took your bow, what was going through your mind that first

I was, I think the first time I came out was like, okay, this is, this is crazy, I can't

believe this. Okay, and of course there's the beginning moment where my dad comes out and he

greets everyone and he comes over to me and he kisses me out of the forehead and of course

I started to well up and was like, nope, don't, not yet, you have to sing. And so then we

were able to get through the whole show but then once we got to the bowes or just to the

final song that was a moment where I kind of let my brain go you know what soak this in like

you've dreamed of this moment this is the day that you never thought would come like soak it in

and like looking out at just all the lights I just started to get very emotional and that bow and getting to

bow next to my father it's just insane and how were you that night what do you remember about

your first performance with her on stage my wife asked me before I went

went to the theater, what is your strongest emotion right now? I said, you know, actually I feel calm

And I think I've been pushing it aside because of what happened in rehearsals and, you know

something like, calm, be calm. And I learned this being in Miss Igon that I, as one of the leads, I need to be as calm

as possible for everyone. Because most of the time, they're so much younger than me

And it comes from the top. It says the tone. So I thought, you know, I need to be calm

But curtain call, I lost it. I went, it was so wonderful and weird and scary that I went, oh my God, I'm going to break down right now

And I thought I was, but emotions just came out. It was, I love it

Oh, my God, theater. Yeah. Well, you know, Hades Town is a very special show

I mean all shows are special but there something really special about this one What is it Why do you think people flying from all over the world to see Hades Town in New York and what is the connection I think already things like Greek mythology have always been parables that have obviously lasted through time

and they're always, like every story we consume is some iteration of these original stories

And so already it's very relatable. It's things that we, it's archetypes that we've grown up with

but these archetypes are then kind of flipped on their head and they're making us the world today think about, like, okay, if these are

if these are stories that we believe in, why are we not implementing these values today

And also they're just, it's, it says it. It's like it's an old song

It's a love song. Like it's about love. It's about art. Orpheus is this artist who brings the world back to life

And at the end of the day, that's what art does. And we've had so many, like, I've met a lot of, like, art teachers, music teachers that come and they're saying, like, this meant so much to me

And, like, these schools are trying to cut more of our funding. And it's just so devastating when

that's the reality, but like, look at this show. It's art that is bringing people in, that is opening our hearts

It breaks down Euritisi's walls. It brings everyone, it brings spring again

Like, it's so powerful. And I think with Aeneas's beautiful poetry, it's just so hard not to let it in and let it break down the audience's walls

Yeah. Oh, good. Beautiful. Beautiful. Do you want to add to that

Like, what do you think it is? Well, to add to that, yeah, it is a story of hope, right

Especially when my character going, that's the thing to know how it ends

And just like in life, we say it's going to be the same anyway

Why even bother? But that is what living is all about, hoping to, hoping that this time around it's going to happen

Because if you resign yourself to the fact that nothing's going to change, it's not going to happen for you, then we're going to be doomed

We're people doomed. But if you keep on waking up and going, let's do this again, and then sleep at night and go, okay, tomorrow it's going to happen

It's the story of hope, isn't it? And that's what keeps us going

That's what makes us human. What's your favorite moment that your dad does in the show

We're laughing because there are many moments that are hard to get past during rehearsal

because they're so funny. He's a funny guy. But there's, okay, there's the funny one and then there's like the serious one

I'll start with the funny one. Oh, there's so many. But I really love doing way down in Hades Town, the first one

He just lets loose. He's gotten crazier and crazy. Jordan and I are just the whole time just watching him like wide-eyed

Like, what are you going to do this time? And he does this like leg thing and like goes down very slowly

Like way down. And then he's like, a train come rolling. clickety clack

His clickety clack is my favorite thing that's ever happened on a Broadway stage

It's, I wish there was, I hope there's footage out there that one day Hittie

sound will release, but he does this crazy like jump thing and it's just like staring

at me in Jordan and it's so intimidating and also so silly

He's just a goofball in that moment, which is so nice because so much of the show is

very serious. And it gets very sad. It's a tragedy. But that's one moment where there's lovety

And I get to look at my dad and see my goofy dad, you know? But I think my favorite moment is at the end of the show

When we sing, it's a love song. And my dad turns to me

And I do the traditional Filipino model film, just like a blessing

And that's just like a beautiful moment always. because at that point, the story has kind of faded

and we are kind of coming back to being the players who just told you a story

And in that moment, I can look at him and be like, that's my dad. And let's celebrate the story we just told

That's beautiful. Favorite moments of watching your daughter? I have a lot as well

But when I introduce her, there was one more so. It's okay Jesus

What is this? You know, there was one more When I say there was one more soul on this road

And then I point to the door, the big door, it's empty

And then when I say, Girl come on in from the cold and I see her That's

Yeah, that's beautiful Yeah You know, there are shows that come and go

but like you say, there's something that touches everybody with Hades Town, the visuals, I mean, the direction, the whole story, the acting, everything about it

Going into a company that was already, like, put together. Right. Did it make it easier going in together

Yeah, there's something really special about having, like, obviously the very close connection that we have being able to be like, okay, like, how did that feel after rehearsal and, like, how are you feeling

or being able to be like, ah, this one part is feeling weird

And then we get to discuss it and help each other. And I mean, all I've really done is joined pre-existing companies

And that is always so intimidating. And I mean, when I did it with Hamilton, I was 19 years old

I was a baby. I didn't know. And so everyone was older than me

Everyone had done so much more than me. And so going in, I was just so nervous and felt like I couldn't really

be comfortable or be myself or speak up. But the fact that we were coming in together was so

it's like you always have a safe space at work, which is beautiful. Beautiful

And this cast is just amazing. The nicest people. The nice people, the most talented people

And they accepted us and welcomed us. Everyone was so excited for us

So excited for us. It's just beautiful. I don't like saying this

I can claim this. I'm lucky. We're very lucky to be here. I love it. You mentioned Hamilton

I've spoken to many Hamilton cast members over the years, and I always ask them if they went

to the white room. Sorry. Meaning, did they go up during the show? Because that turntable

happens, the lyrics go on. You're like, oh my gosh, did it happen to you at all on the tour

of Hamilton? And we call this, well, white room and also Burr's Corner

and hoover's corner yeah and thankfully i didn't have anything too crazy it was more because also

i was usually playing peggy mariah and so there less too flub but i definitely one time was like daddy said to be home by sundown Daddy said to the town town town

And that's the thing is there's, when you're about to like met, when you're messing up things in a show

I feel like there are two or three different types of people. It's like people who just go silent and just blank stare

And as an audience member, you're like, oh no. And then there's just keep the train going and you just have an end to the tongue you hang and come

And you just keep making noises until you find it again, which for Hamilton is so necessary because that music keeps going

It's on a track. You have to catch up. So if you stop, it's so much harder to catch up

So if you just kind of keep the rhythm going, you're like, I'll eventually get it, I guess

But this time, like, has been rough for me because I've never been the lead in a musical like this before

So I've got a lot more words to remember. I also have a lot of props to remember

I keep forgetting the goddamn flower. Oh, no. I have to put the flour from my coat into my vest

And now it's become like a thing. And apparently this is whatever you're going to see goes through

the stage managers, when I go off stage, they're always like, hold up a flower

to be like, remember, but you're not alone. You're not alone. I'm sure it's all of them

Being a lead in a nice school is a different vibe. Yeah. I want to go back to your

Broadway debut because it was actually in the original production of Miss Saigon, right

No, he never did Broadway. I never did Broadway. Oh, you never

His Broadway debut was the revival. We started it. in London in 89, but I never did Broadway until 2017

All right, so let's talk about, I see, I thought you went on in the ensemble originally. No, I was in the ensemble

In the ensemble in the West End. With Laia Salanga. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, so let's talk until your Broadway debut at Miss Saigon

What do you remember about that magical night? I, oh, God, that's a blur

It was a while ago. Yeah, I remembered. I was older than a pharma

everyone I was even older than Eva's parents I was like oh my yeah and still yeah and I I

remembered oh this is Broadway talent everyone in the ensemble just yeah oh my God

it's so talented and I remember walking to the Broadway theater for our first

rehearsal in in the theater and I started getting I'm an emotional person we know we know totally I started I started I was

videoing myself I'm on my way to the theater and then when I looked up and went

there's the theater but it was it was yeah it was magical I'm on Broadway

there's something about that you know you're in Broadway yeah there's a voice the

fates they're telling you You're on Broadway. You're on Broadway. How does it feel? You know

But I remember your opening night, Matt. We all talked about that. I remember that. But you'd worked together on television before because of course you worked on your series, Star Trek Picard

Yes, but we didn't have any scenes together. I know. But we did in..

American Revolution. Gianni Versaute. I played his daughter and I said, what's going on? Yeah

So this is a little different. So you... So he worked on your..

on your series but you didn't have any dialogue or any scenes together. Everyone in the past was like, we got to work with your dad

I was like, cool. Awesome, I didn't. But Prasacu had a line together. Yes

Yeah, I got to see him be very scary. Totally. But that was really cool because that was like the first time I really

even though we didn't work a lot together, I just got to witness him working more than I ever had

And that was, that was really special to like see, His, you know, process is a funny word, but like, see him in the zone and creating such an intense character and seeing

And it was very kind of similar in a way to the engineer and the intensity of it

And but to see him like create it before my eyes was was really, really amazing

And now I get to see the creation again, but on stage. Okay, you're one of the nicest men I know

You got to do Ratchet. playing one of the most evilest doctors in the world

I mean, where do you channel that? Or is it fun playing a villain or a villainess or villainer

It's always fun because it's something that you... Well, because no villain thinks there's a..

Yeah, and that's exactly, and that's the thing. You have an objective

You want something. And how hard is it to get? And what would you do to get it

And, you know, if that is there, it's always... It's going to be, and it can be wacky, it can be over the top sometimes

and it can be dangerous, it can be beautiful, and all those stuff

And also, at the same time, I've met people like that. And you've always wondered, what makes this person take

What make the person keep going? And when you discover that, you try to have fun and you just let go

But as long as you're always grounded in truth, right? Because you can't just do what, you know, a character

Well, that shows you how great you are because I watched that show. And I was like, he's the nicest person in the world

He's so terrible, meeting the character on that show. It's like, you know. Every friend that I've had

If they see him first, either Miss Saigon, because he's scary, shit, Miss Igon, and Gianni

Rastachi and Ratchet, anything, they're always just like building meat by then

We're like, wait, wait, why is he the sweetest man in the world

He's so terrifying on screen. Because I am a dark side. Well, also, goosebumps

You have a huge following from your show, Goosebubbs. How fun was it doing that show

Oh, so fun. That was really the first time I got to work with people my age

And it's always, I mean, hey, it's so beautiful. The opportunities I've had to work with, with older actors, more experienced people who have taught me so much

But it also leads you to kind of be in the mindset of like, oh, I know less than you

I shouldn't talk because, like, you're going to teach me your wisdom

But this was the first time that I was around people my age, and we were all just like

this is pretty crazy what we're doing here, right? And we got to be in the same boat

And also very cool for me to, and a lot of the other actors were like

you've done this more than we have. So you're kind of the person we're looking to

And that was very new for me and a big lesson in, like, trusting myself

standing up for myself, also standing up for other people who didn't think they had a voice

because that was me before. And it was definitely a big, just personal moment for me as well as just, it was so fun

And leading a company. Yeah. Yeah, leading a company. I grew up with goosebumps I mean it was so cool I met the most like all five of us the core group of kids we all still like best friends We talk all the time and I so grateful for that experience

Well, because of the success both of you have had in other mediums, what's great about it, you know, we all learned, you know

we all went to the theater because of a TV person we knew or a movie person, like, oh, my God, they do this live

So, I mean, you're introducing a whole new audience to live theater, what that means to both of you

That's, it's very, it's very. exciting because I think there's a lot of there's always ongoing conversation of like

oh is theater going to die or or something like that and and that is I just don't

I don't think that's true that they can't be true it shouldn't be true and and I think

there are new audiences coming in every day and and you know there's there's

always talk of like oh stunt casting is so annoying or whatever and and and I

understand those those arguments but also it's bringing theater to people. Like, that's huge

It's keeping theater alive. And that's really, really exciting to see people at the stage door being like

I loved goosebumps and, like, I didn't know you could sing. And like, oh, I want to do this now

That's so beautiful. Yeah. And I really think everyone should be able to experience theater

Theater, it changes your life. Yeah, the TV, movies. Yeah. It tells you a story and sometimes it, you know, it touches you, but theater is a totally different experience

You sit there in anticipation as the curtain is about to go up

And once it goes up, literally magic happens. The light hits you, the music hits you, and the performances, it's right there in front of you

They're living it. They're angry. They're passionate. They're happy. they're laughing and you laugh with them and it's so palpable it's you can even touch it it's such a

different different experience and everyone should experience it because every movie star and tv star that

i've talked to said they love coming to the theater because it's there it's your medium and you can

take an arc you start from the very beginning and you have a whole entire story yeah and it's not

destroyed no yes live the whole life and you get one night over and they love coming back and like

walking that tight rope every night not knowing I mean, it's my favorite thing, especially with this show, because this show destroys people

Because it's so emotional. I mean, it's devastating at the end. But watching, I have little moments where I can kind of sneak looks to the audience and see how they're reacting

And it's, especially during Epic 3, when Hades and Persephone are finally coming together

that's when you hear the like, and you see all of a sudden like hands going up because people are just like so

overwhelmed by the beauty and the release and the relief of it

And I remember being in that seat when I watched, I mean, I watched back in 2019, I got to see I

Eva and meeting up there. And I remember being so overwhelmed by the beauty of the show

and the story they were telling. I mean, just Orpheus going to the world we dream about

and the one we live in now, I, was just over and I started bawling and I was just like that's so simple yet it just affected me so and

seeing the audience every night feeling the same way is just so special and you get to do that the audience in you

eight times a week and it's always different that's the magic of it my final question is it's a big question

because aneus mitchell and rachel shaftkin what a brilliant and the designers of this show and everybody

what's made it so special i know it's new for both of you this production but what's made it so special

of being back here and being a part of Hades Town. I love you, too

So I'm always watching before research. And I saw one that basically dissected

and told the story, the history of how this happened. And I found out so many things about Aniaz

And the more I understood, the more I realized that it's a genius

This is a work of genius. And the guidance of Rachel, Rachel, she's freaking amazing as well

So being involved in this show was so exciting. And to delve into that, when I got the offer, first I thought, can I do this

following in the footsteps of two legends how can I tell this

but they were the ones who say bring yourself that's the beauty of this this is this is

this is you know it's a myth we're telling a myth and you can

bring your own self into this story to tell this story and I went

I got it I know what to do with this and did I answer your question

yes you did beautifully for you I mean, I've already talked about it, but the message of the show is just so affecting and always has been since I first watched it

And the message of hope. Yeah. And, I mean, the last song, Cups, that message of the people who sing in the dead of night, the flowers that bloom in the bitter snow

And it's like the people who persevere and keep hoping, even when they've been knocked down over and over again

And that is life, that's activism. That is, and I feel like growing up, seeing my dad, this Asian American actor who has been through so much

who has been through so many hardships and continued, kept persevering, and has now paved the way for other Asian-American

American actors. Like that is obviously the Hades Town is about so many things, but since we get to

bring our own things to it, like to me that is the story. It's like that's, he persevered. He

threw the bitter snow, made it here and gets to inspire more and more people and change the world

I mean, I think we've talked a lot about how activism changes throughout the years, how

we'll be talking to some of our dear friends who are other, like, older Asian actors who

when they were coming up, had to be quiet or had to kind of bite their tongue sometimes

and do a hundred times more work than other people just to be seen

And now there's generations of Asian actors coming up being like, no, we're not going to take that

we're going to be loud and we're going to fight. And the fact that both of those exist and wouldn't exist without each other

like those are the different types of ways that we fight. And I feel like it's just really beautiful to see to be both generations in that together

and then telling this type of story that is about that, is about continuing to hope and continuing to fight no matter what

Jesus, you're good. Marker! Listen, it's been great catching up with both of you. I adore your dad. I've known

him for a long time. It is so great to meet you. And like I said, have the time of your

lives. I'm so glad you're back. Welcome home to Broadway. Welcome to Broadway

Thank you