Video: TAMMY FAYE Cast Celebrates Opening Night

When you create a new musical, like brand new, it's a huge undertaking

And everyone has worked so hard to make this happen. And I'm going to cry again, because I'm so proud of everyone

Hello, I'm Richard Ridge for Broadway World. The new Elton John, Jake Shear's musical, Tammy Faye, has come to Broadway's Palace Theater

And we're here on opening night to celebrate with the company, led by Olivier Award winner, Katie Brabin, and Tony Award winner's Christian Borrow

servers. Welcome to Broadway. How does it feel? Amazing. I've cried a few times today. I mean, I've

cried a lot along the way, but this is a really, really special moment for me and the rest of the

cast and everyone who's created this show together. We are thrilled. We're thrilled to have

arrived. And just telling this story now for an American audience, some who knew her, some did

what that means to you and her legacy. Yeah, absolutely. I think her legacy is more important than ever right

now, you know, that legacy of love and inclusiveness and non-judgmental and not pushing anyone out

and just arms open approach, you know, I think we need that more than ever. And I think this

story has reached us a very important time, you know, and, you know, post-election, you know

we've all been feeling it. And I know I'm a Brit, but I'm a woman of the world and, you know

and I feel it very keenly too I singing Elton John and Jake Shear songs What is What is that like It a dream It a dream You know I can really believe I standing here saying that I playing Tammy Fay on Broadway and singing Elton John songs Jake Sheared lyrics I mean it just

it's mind-boggling to me. I still will never kind of really truly believe it

I feel so exciting to be back at the Palace Theater. I'm very happy. What's made this so special for you, Christian? It's been connecting with a whole new group of artists and people

We've been having a blast, and working with Katie Brabman has been life-changing

And this whole team of Brits has been fabulous. Like you said, you talked about sharing the stage with Katie and Michael Serbris

what that whole experience has been like. They're just pros, and we've been taking care of each other

and they're just excellent actors that we get to play around with. It's been amazing. I think the reason that we're all here is that what she did

how she changed the world, was she delivered a pure message of love over hate

which is a message we very much need, right now. What's made this so special, Michael, with working on Tammy Faye

Honestly, it's been the people that I'm working with. It's an extraordinary company of

really great humans. I mean, incredibly talented people, but just really great humans

And at this particular moment in time, it's really good to be surrounded by people that, you know

you feel sympathy with. Singing Elton John and Jake Shear's songs, what is that like

I mean I had a lot of really great opportunities to sing great composer songs but I feel like this is you know just icing on the cake getting to sing these songs introduce them to America You open the show primarily with a big show number

What is that like at the Palace? One of the things I was most excited about with this show was singing this big production number

opening number, at the Palace Theater. I'm living my Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli Dreams

It's like being shot out of a cannon and the rest of the show, I'm like, okay, I did it

Katie is a legend she is one of the fiercest actresses I've ever witnessed

she is the most gracious, wonderful human and I would say it's been an honor to follow in

her footsteps and learning a show you know I basically learned this show in the bathrooms and in the balcony

of this very theater so it's been quite a journey and it's a thrilling

behemoth of a role and I am honored honored to play Tammy Fay. I think working

on Tammy Fay was getting to learn about her more than I even knew. And also just her message of love and acceptance

I think is really important, especially at this time. And I love that I get to represent Steve Peters

who was an AIDS activist and just passed away last year. I think getting to tell his story and be a part of his legacy

has been really important to me. What's made this so special for you with working on Tammy g

Alison Gwynn. She plays Jan, and we've become really, really fast friends through this process

And so I feel like we're our own comedy duo now. We should, like, do our own nightclub act

but Allison has made the show like really fun to come to work to every day

Well I grew up in the Bible Belt so I grew up watching these people on television and I think everyone needs to see this was a part of our history and if you don learn from history you doomed to repeat it

So here we are. Let's learn. This show's been so special because of the message of love except as being a gay man

and the icon that she has been to our community, and to tell her story, it's an honor

I love this company. I love the message of the show about inclusion

and it doesn't make fun of faith. It does make fun of religious hypocrisy

and I'm all for that difference. It's a funny moment for a director because you feel kind of exhausted

and a little bit apprehensive because you can't do anything. It's all of the company now. But also I feel very proud of it

They're a really fantastic company, and I think, you know, the process over here

where you have a longer set of previews and you really kind of almost like make the show again between first preview and opening night

It's a kind of extraordinary odyssey, and we've had a great time doing that. It feels thrilling. I can't believe it

I mean, it's just like, you know, so much work. And after 12 years, I mean, I started writing this show 12 years ago

So it's just, it's wild to finally get here. It's very special. I got my mom here tonight and in family, and it's going to be a really special night

I mean, besides all the amazing people, just putting this thing together

but also the legacy of my mother and how much we need that in this country

now of bringing divided people together really encourages me to just have that message out

there and it continues her message through this place. It's like a continuation of her life and it's so exciting