Hey, welcome!
My name is Adam Kaplan,
And I'm Richard Blake, and we're coming to you live from TDF,
to talk about A Bronx Tale: The Musical.
I play Calogero, he is a teen in the 1960s who's trying to make his way in the world
against a bunch of major upheavals.
And I play Lorenzo, Calogero's father,
who is trying to be a good role model for his son,
and keep him from getting involved with the wrong crowds.
How do you do at that? Do you do a good job?
I think I'm… pretty successful.
Maybe you should see the show and find out.
- That's good. - Yeah!
Good plug right there.
For those who haven't seen the movie, and wonder — spoiler alert —
there might be a happy ending.
Might not, though.
We'll see. We'll see. We'll see. We'll see.
Okay, so we have your questions…
Richard, how did we meet in real life?
Well, it's actually an interesting story. How many years ago was that? Uh…
It was 2013, I think.
13? Okay. So in 2013 I was producing a musical in development,
and we actually had Adam come in and play one of the starring roles in the show.
And he was adequate, uh, so…
Thank you so much, we've had a really nice time with you all here today…
No, he was amazing.
And we used him in all the subsequent readings,
so we've had a relationship now for, going on five years almost.
Yeah. It's crazy.
I mean, I had seen you in lots of shows, and so, you know—
- You're gonna make me feel old right now…
- I am, I am. - All right, cool.
No, it was really cool for me!
I used to listen to you on the soundtrack of Legally Blonde, and I think I saw you
in Wicked, um, Hairspray, like many, many, many, many, years ago—
- Yeah, okay, you don't have to do as many "many"s.
(Adam laughs)
Yeah.
So it's been cool, it's been cool to work in two different capacities as well.
So like, to see you, and then when I found out you were doing this,
I was like, awesome!
Because I knew your work and I'd seen it,
and was very happy to have you coming in to play my son. So.
Keep going.
- That's all I have. - Okay.
Next question, you wanna—
Sure.
"Since you two know each other so well,"
"tell us something about the other person that's surprising."
"Any superstitions, bad habits?"
Um… I don't want you guys to know my bad habits. So I'm not going to discuss any.
Bad habits… one thing that I find funny about Richard is—
or cool, actually, is when we…
(Richard whispering) Don't wanna know.
- I'm gonna, like, brag about you. - Oh, okay.
Well, Richard's been in 16 Broadway shows,
and I think that's ridiculously cool.
But when I came to the show, our stage manager was like,
if you have any questions about the show, or about finance,
you can go up to Richard's dressing room, which they call the Richard Blake
School of Business… no, of Acting and Finance.
So I've just been knocking on the door and, you know, checking my portfolio.
- We're getting him set up!
These new tax codes and all that stuff, we're getting him hooked up!
You know, make sure he's set for life.
So, some people audit the course, you know.
I'm personally enrolled in the Richard Blake School of Acting and Finance.
I kind of think that maybe he should start taking some of my acting courses, too.
But…
- It's good that you think that. - Okay.
-(Richard laughs) -Anything that's surprising about me?
Uh… well, like I said last night, the only thing that I wanna add is that,
if given the choice for an alternate note, Adam will always take the high note.
If there's any possibility to go, to go somewhere,
he will always take you into the stratosphere, which is impressive.
Because most people don't always go for the harder option.
And I like that.
Thanks, Richard.
I would probably do the same if I still could.
You can!
Nah, I gave up on that stuff a long time ago.
I feel like, you're like, singing your face off every night in the—
I came up to Richard one night in the show, I think it was like a two show day,
and I said, you wanna just swap songs?
- I said yeah! He sings like—
First of all, I don't wanna work as hard,
because you have way more to do than me in the show,
but I want to sing a duet.
I wanna sing "In a World Like This".
Who doesn't want to sing with Christiani Pitts?
You know what I mean? That pop song…
- That's a great song. - That's a great song.
I feel like they should make just—
I know they already have the CD out, check it out…
- But I feel like… - A mixtape?
- Yeah! Right? - We should totally make a mixtape.
Except with a mixtape, it's other people singing it. But I wanna sing it on the CD.
We can be like, the first show to do a mixtape.
Yeah.
Some might say we're the next Hamilton.
So… did you see the movie?
- Okay, first of all… yes, I saw the movie like 100 times,
it's one of the favorite movies in my household.
My wife, her two favorite movies are Rocky and A Bronx Tale.
So it's something that's been in my house,
obviously I'm married to a good Italian woman.
And so… yeah, the movie's been a staple in my household,
so when this even came about, before I got it, I was like, I have to have this.
I have to get this. I want to be a part of this, because I love this story so much.
Yeah, we have it on VHS at home. At my parents' house, VHS.
- VHS… - Throwback…
Do you have a VHS player to play it on?
I think we have now, one of those VHS to DVD converters…
-Yeah!
But like, DVDs are being phased out now too, so…
Pretty soon we're just going to have Netflix to watch it all on.
So I did see the movie when I was growing up,
and then when I was in auditions for the show,
I watched it again, just to kind of refresh my memory.
And I'd seen the musical, I came in previews.
I was on a break from tour, and I came and saw you guys in previews.
And loved the show, but oddly enough, it was never something that I was like…
I feel like when I go and watch shows now as an actor, I'm like,
- Okay, where can I fit in? - Yeah.
And it was a show that I just sat back and enjoyed,
because it's a group of Italian-looking people,
and when you meet me, you're not like, Adam Kaplan, Italian boy.
So I wasn't like, this is exactly where I need to be. But it's called acting, so…
Personally, I was like— I thought you'd be perfect for it.
But also, Bobby Conte, who was the original Calogero,
he and Nick Cordero look very similar.
He kind of looks like a young Nick Cordero, so in the show,
there's the sort of question of,
- Who's his dad? - Who's his dad?
So I was very happy when he came, because I feel like we look very similar,
like we could be related.
-So I was like all right, I'm buying this. -You're welcome.
Um… did I do any sort of research to create the role?
Don't, don't pull that out.
I'm just getting ready for your research line here.
Okay.
He likes it.
Um… research to create the role.
I… yeah, I mean I watched the movie.
We're lucky that we have Chazz Palminteri,
who is the source material for the show, he's around all the time.
Are you laughing at me?
- Actually, I meant to give a love… - Oh, good.
… to Chazz. Much love, Chazz.
Much love.
I like that. We need one of these— there is an emoji like that.
-A three-finger emoji? Yeah, there is. -Yeah, there is.
I've started using it now that I'm in the show.
(they laugh)
- Like product placement, almost. - Right?
Um, so we're lucky that we have Chazz around the theater all the time,
and he's so accessible, and picking his brain, and he loves to tell this story.
So…
Yeah, I mean for me, I had that luxury, and I did spend a lot of time with Chazz,
I went to the Bronx, I took him around, saw his dad's route, bus driving route,
and just talked to him so much about what kind of, what kind of a family man he was.
But also, you know, I went and had a son in real life.
So that was, you know, for research, so I knew what it was like to be a dad…
- (Richard laughs) - Aww.
In all reality… but being a dad of a young boy really helped.
Because I look at things differently now,
and I think that I understand where fathers come from,
so I understood this character a little bit more, because of that.
Yeah. I already had my dad when I… you know, did the part.
So I already had that research there.
Where's the boo face?
- Real time questions… - Where's the boo face?
Is there like, a boo?
"You look much closer in age while out of character…"
Boo-yah!
I don't know who you are, but you— like friend me, on Facebook, on Instagram,
I'll friend you back, we're friends now.
Okay, I like this question… Travis asked:
I don't think I'm gonna like this question.
No, you will!
As a performer myself— Travis, he's a violinist—
sometimes it's challenging to remain focused when you're doing
the same performance over a long period of time.
That's very true.
So, for Broadway shows, how do you keep your focus and make sure
it doesn't get old, avoid making silly mistakes because of how comfortable it is?
Um... great question.
Because you've done a bunch of long runs.
Yeah. You know, this sounds kind of obnoxious, but… they pay us.
And what I mean by that is, this is our job.
And our job is to go out there every night,
and do a performance that's just as good tonight as it was last night.
And that means, as good as it was opening night.
You know, the people are paying the same amount of money to see us
as they did when we opened, so they deserve just as good of a show.
And that's where our training and our skill comes in,
to make sure that we use whatever technique and tools that we have
to go out there and give the same quality show, night after night after night,
in repetition.
Granted also, it is live theatre, so it's organic.
So every night, yes it's the same—
- It's like a living, breathing thing. - It's a living, breathing thing…
So it's different every night.
We don't talk to each other—
the mood might just be different with what I'm feeling,
with the day that I had, and it might influence an inflection here,
but that's a butterfly effect that goes, then Adam's response to me is slightly
different, and, you know, as long as we're paying attention and listening,
I think it's easy to stay in the moment.
Yeah. And for me specifically with this show, the third element —
you know I have the people on stage, myself, and then the audience.
I spend so much time addressing and talking to the audience,
and that changes on a nightly basis.
They'll laugh at different moments,
they'll like, gasp at different moments, so—
- We like our audience. - We love...
- No… - Love.
Richard, we love our audience.
- We gotta work with you on these emojis. - I'm working.
And, so, their reactions inform how I then say the next line,
and they're my scene partner in a lot of it.
So that affects my mood in the show, it affects the flow of the show,
so it stays organic, and you've just gotta keep it in the moment.
"Why do you think this musical is such a hit? And what do audiences connect to?"
You know, I think…
A: one of the reasons it's a hit is because of the movie,
people love the movie, so it's known.
- It's like, nostalgic… - Yeah, it's nostalgic.
It's a sort of a cult classic now, this film.
But also, I think it's rooted in family, and tradition, and neighborhood.
And those are all things that I think appeal to people.
It's a great story, the music, Alan Menken wrote a great score…
Yeah, and also it's very reminiscent of the 1960s, and it's…
Yeah.
And I think the piece in its entirety is nostalgic.
The story, because people know the movie.
The sound of it sounds like something from the 60s, and people just like sitting back
and being transported into something totally outside of
what's going on in the world today.
Yeah, and I think we do a really good job
of giving you an inside look to these cultures.
These sort of two different cultures, but particularly the Italian-American culture
here in this area, that kind of can be related to from anywhere.
So we get a lot of pride, people say— they probably don't want me to talk about this—
You know, we didn't get nominated, we didn't have any Tonys.
I say, we got more Tony's in our show every night
than any other show on Broadway, what're you talkin' about?
(they laugh)
I haven't heard that one, Richard!
I think that, that's the thing.
What it comes down to is, what makes people jump to their feet and walk out,
that's all that really makes a show successful,
and that's what we have every night.
- Yeah. - People just, they relate.
You've worked with so many legendary artists on this show, Chazz Palminteri,
Alan Menken, Jerry Zaks, Robert De Niro, Adam Kaplan—
do you have any funny stories about them?
(laughing)
See what I did there?
I mean, sure, there's lots.
But one of my favorite stories is when I got my haircut for the show.
Robert De Niro, he's very particular… like all of the little things in the show.
He's all about detail.
You know, he comes from the world of film, so everything's kind of—
Visually he wants to make sure everything is authentic, and detailed. So…
- And he grew up in Little Italy… - I mean, of course. Obviously.
- So he knows this world very well. - Absolutely.
So, he was at my haircut. You know, the first one.
And with the design— it was like this surreal sort of experience, like,
I was getting my haircut and he's like…
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, no… a little shorter here, pull it up here, that's good…"
And he's like, touching my hair, and I was like, this is, this is crazy.
Robert De Niro is like, stroking and combing my hair.
So I have that story for the rest of my life.
Robert De Niro combed my hair.
When I was, uh— and now I have the story that Richard Blake kept touching my hair,
live on TDF.
(Adam laughs) No.
When I was in rehearsals for the show— you know, I had a different process of
being put into the show, because I came in at about a year during the Broadway run.
And Jerry Zaks, who's, you know, this, I think four-time Tony-winning direct—
I mean like, legendary Broadway director, film director, TV director…
You know, came to work with me on all the material, and I have a lot of monologues
in the show where I'm addressing the audience.
And so one day I was called to rehearsal,
and it was Jerry, his associate, and our stage manager.
And they just sat in the audience, and I stood on stage,
and they were like, okay, go.
And it was just me on the stage, the three of them sitting in the audience,
and I was like… well, this is surreal.
Because you see in the movies, people like, rehearsing on a Broadway stage,
or auditions for Broadway, and it's normally in a small room, and in a space.
But like, to be rehearsing on the Broadway stage just me,
with these legends in the audience, that was really cool.
- We talked about this last night— - Oh yeah!
"When Calogero witnesses a crime as a young boy, it changes his life forever."
"Did you ever have a life-changing experience?"
Besides meeting me?
I don't…
They mean a life-changing experience for the better?
(Adam laughs) Shut up!
You see how our relationship is, right?
Wait, so this is— it didn't really change my life,
but I actually did witness a crime once!
I didn't know that I witnessed a crime.
But when I was young, I was at a sleepover with the kids from my dance studio—
I was a dancer and stuff like that…
So it was like me, one other boy, and like, all girls at this sleepover,
and we were outside.
Me and one of the other girls were outside, and the house behind us,
there were people moving around, and people came out and they waved at us,
because they saw us looking at at them, and they waved at us, cool.
We went back inside.
A couple of hours late, the cops come, and that house got robbed!
And those people were actually robbing the house.
And we had to go down to the police station and look at mugshots…
and it was kind of cool.
You know, as a kid I was like, oh wow, I'm gonna save the day,
and pick out the person who, you know, like, robbed this house.
That was the only crime I've ever witnessed, though.
One of the other questions that we have is,
have you ever committed a crime that you're willing to admit to?
So, when I was a kid,
I saw these kids having a sleepover from a dance studio, and…
(Richard laughs)
And I actually went and robbed a house, and I waved at them, and…
The perfect crime, I got away with it.
The only thing about that story is, you weren't even —
your parents hadn't even thought about having children yet.
Yeah, yeah. (they laugh)
"Calogero falls for a girl his crowd doesn't approve of."
"Have you ever experienced a Romeo and Juliet-type situation"
"where friends or family objected to a relationship?"
- I haven't. - No.
My family's always been super cool, and…
Yeah, my family has always been super progressive, and…
Yeah.
… and let me make my own decisions.
One more.
Okay.
"What would a show about your life be called?"
Um…
Uh…
Still Going!
(they laugh)
Wow, I hadn't really thought about that.
I just saw "I, Tanya" recently, so like, I'm gonna say, "Me, Adam".
Mine would be like Almost Famous.
- Almost Famous! - Just kidding.
Almost Famous, the Richard Blake Story.
Just kidding.
Well, awesome.
Thank you guys so much for tuning in.
Check us out at the Longacre Theatre, come see A Bronx Tale.
I'm Adam Kaplan.
I'm Richard H. Blake.
We'll see you soon.
For more infomation >> My Duet with Jessie J "Flashlight" on Smule! Singing with Passion - Duration: 3:22. 
For more infomation >> Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI QUATTRO PRO LINE | XENON | LEDER | OPEN DAK | LM VELGEN | PDC | TREKHAAK - Duration: 0:54. 
For more infomation >> Geek Squad Same Day Scre...
For more infomation >> ◤TBB前k leh feh大踢爆!◢ 他呼籲大家別再看了，原來一切都是騙局! - Duration: 8:06. 
No comments:
Post a Comment