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Video: Thomas Kail on Making a New Musical For TV With UP HERE on Hulu
May 17, 2024
Tony winner Thomas Kail ('Hamilton') is the director of Hulu's new musical series, Up Here. Watch a video of Kail sitting down with Richard Ridge to discuss creating a new musical for television, working with the all-star cast, the day Lin-Manuel Miranda came to visit the set, and more.
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0:00
What have you enjoyed the most about working on this
0:03
directing it, and EPing it? I think what I'm most excited about
0:08
is that we made a new musical for television and we bring it right to your home
0:12
And that's something that Kristen and Bobby, Steven and I talked about constantly
0:17
Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, our other writer, who's worked in television, was someone who could really help us
0:21
sort of shape and hone the form. And we knew that we were gonna be able to provide a certain amount of knowledge about the musical form
0:27
having Sonia as our choreographer, Tom Kidd as our orchestrator. You know all the people in this show
0:32
And then also for us to put on screen Katie Finneran, John Hodgman, Andrea Burns
0:37
Scott Porter, who was in Alter Boys. You know, I mean, like, you know, Carlos, who was in Once
0:41
May, who the world didn't know could sing like this. And then on and on and on, let alone like all of these dancers
0:46
that we know from every show we see. And I just, I love to try to create a platform
0:51
to highlight the people that do it eight times a week. Okay, I love the look of the show too
0:56
I mean, the hair on Katie Finneran. Can we discuss this? I mean, Richie, are we giving you 1999 or what
1:02
Are we giving you 1983? We're giving you that flashback 1983 here
1:06
Yeah, you know, I, again, all credit to our department heads. You know, Kat Drowsin, who was our wigs
1:12
and Nikki Smith, who's a, you know, a theater, you know, a theater aficionado
1:17
and came from the theater like us, who did our clothes. And we just really wanted to make a world
1:21
that felt honest and not commenting, but really capture the period. And just, it's such a beautiful story
1:27
You follow all these incredible people. What do you hope audiences take away from this
1:32
Well, I hope people see the power of the musical. I hope people see that this can make you feel something
1:37
This can make you laugh. That can be right next to the thing that might even make you cry
1:41
And I think there's such a vulnerability in these characters. And I think that May and Carlos are just like
1:46
you know, bananas, talented. And so I'm really excited for people to see May sing
1:51
because I don't know that she can do that. I'm excited for people to get to know Carlos and see what he can do
1:55
because they know him from other things too. And I just think that we wanted to create a world that was vivid, it was vibrant
1:59
and felt like it could reflect back something that we all understand. Because what we're saying is
2:03
everybody has these things in their head that prevent them from moving forward
2:08
How do you navigate them? This wasn't just Lindsay and Miguel have them. We all have them
2:12
And I think that's what we wanted to try to explore. What was the first musical number that you filmed
2:16
and what was the last musical number that you filmed? The last we did was the finale, which we did uptown
2:24
Lin came by when we were shooting that. He was sitting on set with us
2:28
And I think the first one was, I mean, I think we kind of actually shot a little bit
2:34
in secret because we do all this stuff in Vermont. So top of the season, like we did that
2:38
And then the next one we did, I think might've been What If? on the streets of New York
2:43
Which is always a treat, let me tell you. Nothing like shooting on a hot summer night in East Village
2:51
just hoping you can get the shot off before they open the street back up. So we had a lot of fun making the numbers
2:57
Well, let's talk about that. You do a beautiful homage to New York and upstate
3:00
I mean, what was it like filming on location again? I mean, it felt good
3:05
I think when you take the musical and you get it out of the studio, there's something really thrilling about that
3:10
And I also will say the numbers that we got to do on stage are also some of my favorites
3:14
I loved the Stokes number, which is just bananas, right? Like that number is so crazy
3:22
Or Falling in Love, the number from episode six that Miguel sings, had a little like Conrad Birdie to it
3:29
So we were also trying to tip to the musicals that we loved in really sort of creative ways
3:35
And there's just something about being in this city and singing that is one of the great joys
3:42
So seeing characters walk down a city street, downtown or uptown singing, I mean
3:47
what's better than that? It's one of the great feelings. You know, I also love this
3:52
because it also introduces a whole new audience to like the world of musical theater and musical comedy
3:57
through television. It's the best blending of both of them. What that means to you
4:02
Well, I mean, it means everything because as you know, we in the theater want to share this thing we have
4:06
It's hard to come to New York. Theater can be expensive. It's hard to even go on the road
4:11
You know, it's like you might've missed the show. So here is something that comes right to you
4:15
Like we made a new musical and you don't have to go anywhere. You just have to open up your tablet, open up your TV
4:19
open up your phone and we're bringing it to you. So I think it will allow people to see that musicals
4:24
can be more than they even imagined. That a musical is something that can be for everybody
4:29
And how cool it is to have it on Hulu. I know. We feel really fortunate to have such a wonderful partner
4:35
with Hulu. And they just believed in us. And they said, you know how to make musicals
4:38
We trust you, go forth. And so the show that you're seeing is the show that we all imagined
4:43
I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy
4:46
I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy
4:51
I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy
4:55
I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy
4:59
I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy
5:03
I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy
5:07
I'm so sleepy. I'm so sleepy. in my head all the time
5:11
Now you've done it. Nice pants. Thanks. They're new. I mean, they're not new
5:19
I wear them a lot. Sounds like they have a very rich history
5:24
I know exactly what you're gonna say. I wasn't gonna say anything. Just enjoying the view. You don't need her
5:28
Mama's here. Okay, that's creepy. That's when you can really trust someone
5:43
to understand what you are all about. I came here to focus on myself
5:53
This could be a life-changing opportunity. You have no reason to believe that
5:57
What about this reason? It's funny, the devil's actually a very misunderstood card
6:04
Did you always wanna be a writer? I think I always knew I had something to say
6:08
but just afraid no one wanted to hear it. She doesn't like you
6:12
She just thinks you're rich. Hey, don't listen to her. You're doing great, buddy
6:15
What are you thinking about? Nothing. I've listened to so many different people
6:21
telling me who I should be. What are you doing? It's different with Lindsay because she's special
6:26
That is actually very sweet. It's time to give up and come home
6:30
I belong in this city. You've been hit by three cabs. At very low speeds
6:36
All those voices floating in her head, saying no to a million different ways
6:41
they don't see what I do. She doesn't appreciate you. She doesn't deserve you
6:47
This isn't your life, this is my life. I am sick and tired of everyone telling me
6:52
what I'm supposed to do. Boom. I need to find my own story
7:02
You're gonna be okay? I can handle it. I can handle it
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