0:00
I am so happy that you two are sitting here
0:02
This was one of these shows this season that I was like, I really hope they get acknowledged for what they do
0:07
Oh, thank you so much. We're very, very honored to be here. So say, what does this mean to me
0:12
You literally just opened, and now the nominations have come out, Tony nominations, and you're sitting here on this press junket
0:18
what it means to the two of you. I'm so relieved because I have a sort of familial devotion
0:23
and loyalty to our cast and our creative team, and I did not want to let them down
0:27
I didn't want their hard work to be lost. I wanted to be celebrated, so I feel great
0:33
Yes, I feel the same way, but also, you know, there's a dream when you go back four years
0:38
you're thinking, I wonder how it will go on Broadway. I wonder what it'll be when it gets there
0:43
Then to be honored like this is a real personal reward. Writing a Broadway musical is not easy, and you've done it so beautifully
0:54
I mean, what was the whole experience like? I mean, I talked to you both on opening night, the marquees are up, your names are everywhere
0:59
you have a whole new family of the cast you put together
1:03
The Broadway musical is one of the most collaborative enterprises I've ever been involved with
1:08
and I been involved with many collaborative enterprises from television shows to movies But this is the most extreme This is where everyone has to cooperate with everyone else because suddenly to make a transition from one song to another song
1:23
you need an extra line of dialogue or you need to cut a line of dialogue or you need a little bit more music
1:28
or you need a new song suddenly because of a situation or you need eight more bars
1:33
so they can do a dance and it's really been a wonderful process
1:37
and we very fortunately had great great people to work with starting with our director Walter Bobby
1:42
Yeah. What's been the biggest thrill for you? The collaboration and being inspired by Walter and our team, Josh, Rob, August
1:53
To watch those guys work and see what they bring. I want to stay on par with them
2:01
And then our cast, you want to give them the best material possible because they can do everything
2:06
They're so good. What gives you the biggest thrill when you watch how your show affects an audience at the end
2:11
when they're on their feet at the end? What gives you the greatest satisfaction? Well, that is very satisfying
2:17
But for me, it's when I hear laughter combined with weeping and sobbing, it's such a big thrill
2:25
to have reached people in that way. Because there's just no lying about that
2:31
I love the connection to joy and an authentic reaction
