Odyssey Unscripted Episode 9: She's Back Again! (Feat Veronica Cabling)

On this episode, we sit down once again with Veronica Calling, Associate Director of Odyssey Dance Theatre. You may remember Veronica from Episode 2, where she shared part of her story alongside her dad, Derryl Yeager—founder and artistic director of the company. But this time, it’s all about diving deeper.

Hosts Ian and Athena take the lead as they unpack Veronica’s journey—from growing up surrounded by the company to navigating the transition from performer to director. Along the way, she shares candid insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and plenty of funny stories that reveal what it truly means to grow up in—and help lead—the Odyssey family.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:17

Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen. Woo!

SPEAKER_02 0:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 0:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

Hello.

SPEAKER_04 0:25

Welcome to the Odyssey Unscripted Podcast. My name is Ian. I'm going to be your lovely co-host today. And I am joined by Athena. And our wonderful special guest, Veronica. Yeah. Yay! We're so excited to have you back for our second episode. I don't know if you say I'm back, actually. Uh-huh. Of course. It's really, really exciting. I was talking to Veronica earlier today on the bus, and she was like, You want to have me on the podcast again? And I was like, Yeah, like I feel like there's a plethora of things that we need to kind of go into about what you do for the company and just like your life. It's so, at least for me personally, if you'll allow me to I am like so inspired by all of the things that you have done and just the way that you like work behind the scenes to kind of help make things work. I know.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

Thank you. But it's becoming it's really interesting.

SPEAKER_04 1:16

I feel like I'm always intrigued by like the the people who don't make it a big deal that they do a lot for us. You know, like that, I think the um what's the word I'm looking for? Like the the modest, not modesty. Humble. Uh yeah, yeah. Humbleness is like really Sit down. Oh my gosh. I'm gonna I'm gonna cut for just not cut, actually. I'm gonna move on to a different topic for a second. Yahya has taken over my entire life, and it has just become so prevalent on this trip so far.

SPEAKER_02 1:45

She said so many times when you're asking me to do this, you're like, yeah, yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 1:49

It doesn't help that Darby was sitting right next to me, and she loves when I say it. It's like her favorite thing that I've ever said. That's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_01 1:57

I didn't even like collapse.

SPEAKER_04 1:58

I didn't, well, and that's why like it becomes so second nature to me, and now like other people are finally starting to realize that it is something I say in literally every single sentence I speak, that now it's like it's taken over my life. And I was worried that it was going to offend the Germans. I was really, really nervous. I know, right?

SPEAKER_00 2:14

That is good.

SPEAKER_04 2:18

Oh my gosh. So, anyways, though, um yeah. I'm really excited to have you here. We're really excited to have you here today. Yeah. Uh um, so our kind of idea for this episode, we wanted to give Veronica a second chance to kind of get even more info out. A second chance. I know, right? A second chance is always great. I love a second chance. Um, to just kind of talk about where you have come from, especially in relation to the um company, because you mentioned on the first episode that you like grew up in the company. Like as a little girl, you were helping make bones costumes with Cheryl and like doing all the stuff.

SPEAKER_02 2:53

Whether I wanted to or not, literally like trying to watch TV, and mom's like, here's some bones to cut out. I was like, dang it. She found me again. Right, it's like chores. Uh it was chores. That was my chores. Don't clean your room, cut out these bones. That's what I had to do. That skeleton bones.

SPEAKER_04 3:07

I mean, in comparison to what we had to go through, like I would have loved to cut out bones all day. Like, but I can imagine that after a while it would have started to get a little still.

SPEAKER_02 3:14

Those little finger ones are you'll look at them next time and you'll be like, oh my gosh, the little d just they'll suck too. Every little bone.

SPEAKER_04 3:22

No, there's so much intro intricacy that has to go into it. It's really interesting. I um and in that same kind of vein, like you it is like a family business, essentially, which is like I think is a lot of the charm of like what Odyssey does and the way that we work as a family, I think. It's really beautiful to have that kind of aspect to it. And I was just kind of wondering, like, what other duties did you kind of had, like before you became part of the company? Yeah. Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_02 3:49

Um, I mean, I would even say I was part of a creative process. Like dinner at sitting down with the family, we would be sitting there, and my dad would be like, you know, we're eating something, and he's like, So I have this idea about Frankenstein. What do you think? And I was like, what if? I still am that type of person of like, let's go crazy and like come up with crazy ideas, but that's how my family dinner was was just like, let's create. So I feel like I was part of creating things that maybe I wasn't choreographing necessarily. Um, but even then my dad would like bring me into the studio sometimes and like he's like, Oh, I only have an hour to do this rehearsal. Um, so I want to come up with some choreography. So he would choreograph on me, and I then I would either come in and teach it or he would teach it to the company, yeah. But he would have at least created it. Right. Because back then the rehearsals weren't as long. It was definitely like three days a week or something like that situation. Um, it wasn't a full-time kind of job, so it was like we only have a certain amount of time. So definitely I was creating and um and then costumes for sure, building sets. Um, my mom, or or oh my gosh, costumes for sure. Like, I mean, one time she was like, we had to make these giant pig suits for let it be, and it would be like, Yes, the piggies. So this is how they were created on my body at four in the morning. My mom would knock on the door, and then she's like, Can you just stand up? And so I was like, There it's just swaying as she's wrapping foam around my legs and up my body, creating like because she doesn't have a there's no pattern for these things, right? So she's literally just like figuring out, she's like, I just need a body. So I was the body just standing there as she's wrapping the things around me and like putting on the layers, so creating costumes on my body. Wow. And helping you know and then some and a lot of times my mom would go back and forth, like, Well, what if we did this? You know, and she still does that with costumes like how do we make this a little bit better and make more sense? So yeah, I definitely remember getting woken up at like four in the morning for those piggy costumes. Oh my god, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_04 5:39

Yeah, that's were any of your other siblings like kind of in the same boat as you? Was it really like a family, or were you more of a like a head forward person?

SPEAKER_02 5:47

I was around the longest, I think. Because um both my sisters, my older sister and my younger sister, both danced in the company. Um, and everybody in in my family is um artistic in some way. My brother writes books, my other brother designs. Um, so I we all kind of had a role in some way or shape or form. My brother would do the whatever, create. He's like all into like web designing and so he did a lot of that at the beginning in the beginning stages. Yeah. Um, but a lot of them got married. Veronica didn't get married right away, so she was still at home. Still in the piggy. I wish I was dating somebody so I could have this thing. No, I was just like, that's that's how it was. It was I I my family will say I was the golden child. I am the middle child, which tends to be kind of like that a little bit. But um, but it was definitely my um all my other siblings got married. Even my youngest sister, who's like 13 years younger than me. She actually got married two weeks after I got married. So it was like we were that close in like I was 10 years just hanging out with mom and dad. Not dating anymore, gave up on dating, was like, whatever, carrying with mom and dad. So um, so I think that did kind of give me that I was I was just around.

SPEAKER_04 7:03

But I that's really interesting, the way that you can you can almost feel like your influence on a lot of the things too. Like it's very prevalent. Like before you got in here, we were talking about how much of a hand you had in the creation of like Chicago and Romeo and Juliet. And again, it's the humbleness. You don't really are like, oh yeah, I choreographed this and then I made it this good.

SPEAKER_00 7:21

Anytime I ask anybody, like Darby or Peter, I'm like, who choreographed this? The answer is almost always V. And I'm like, how? Like, how are you doing that? It's crazy, especially with like Chicago and all of those ones.

SPEAKER_02 7:35

I can only imagine. We were, we I don't know, how we probably did that in about a week and a half, and it was like a situation where Daryl was like, okay, at night, he'd be like, Okay, come up with this choreography so I can teach it to them, and you can choreograph the tap piece in the other room at the same time. So then I would be teaching the tap, and then he's like, Veronica, I forgot this part. So then I'd run to the other room, teach that part, and be like, and all that jazz, and then be like, okay, wait a minute, and then I go back and then just do the tap. And it was like, it was bonkers. And then I would, I was choreographing in my mind like the trial part with the the oh yes, yeah. My mind, I went to a crazy spot. But really, it was a competition in my mind because I had overheard some people in the company being like, This is too easy, I don't like this. Like, nobody in the company liked the piece when we choreographed it originally because they didn't they didn't think no, the whole, the whole show. The whole show. They were just like, oh, this show, whatever, you know. I would just hear things, and you know, I stay quiet and I hear those things. So then I was like, you know what? Screw them. I'm gonna make this the hardest piece I've ever done. So that's where the trial came from, was like it was out of despite. But now I look at him like, oh my gosh, that was kind of brilliant. Like I used what I was feeling and like threw it in there. But Daryl was like, let's just create on the spot because he is so good about creating on the spot. But I at that point was like, I can't do that. So I stayed up until two in the morning. Like, I remember exactly where I was sitting on the couch and being like, Oh, okay, like here's some of the smooth and do that. And then the next morning I came in, I was like, all right, we're doing this, and then everybody was like, just like boom, went to focus mode. I was like, finally, there it is, there it is. Listen, here we go, we're gonna go. And they were and they like focused in, and it was and it ends up being one of my favorite pieces because also I see the competition between Daryl's choreography and my choreography because we were also choreographing at the same time in the same room. So he would be like, he'd hit play, and I'm like, I'm still talking over here. Like, Daryl. So we're like, oh, okay, then we were using using that in the trial. It like it became the most brilliant piece, but it was definitely a yeah. I don't know how Chicago happened. I mean, I do, but I like I lost a lot of sleep. I definitely was on like four hours of sleep, just like choreographing for a good payoff.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

But I was like, it's fun, and yeah, it's a fun show. Oh my gosh, the choreography in the show is like amazing. We were learning, we were learning it, and I was like, wait, like we're when we were like when you were teaching us no no, you saw me like every eight count, I was like, Yes! Yes!

SPEAKER_02 9:54

You guys were so sweet, and I was just like, that was another thing. I was like, oh my gosh, they were so sweet to live. Oh my gosh, we love we love this choreography. I was like, wow, like I don't know, that I think validation a lot, especially when you're working with adults. Yeah. Like, okay, cool, like I'm doing a good job. But I don't think you get that as much with adults because they're just like, and you guys are in here to do the job and whatever, so it's like you'll stay quiet. But I was like, oh, that was so nice to hear that validation. I'm like, oh, okay, cool. I felt like it was cool, but like, oh yeah, maybe it's not that people that I watched, no, no.

SPEAKER_04 10:25

I was like, this has Veronica written all over it. Like uh, no, it's true. Even like when we do your combos in class and stuff like that, like it it you have such a specific style to you, which I think like makes your choreography so inventive and interesting, at least to me personally. But I know I'm just gonna sit here and talk about how much I love you the whole podcast. Like, no, like truly, but like interview her. No, like literally, literally. Um, but like, yeah, it's it's just so interesting to like see the way that it all kind of carries out. And then when I saw Nono for the first time, I was like, oh yeah, like this this is so it's just the the movement. I'm such a nerd for like choreography and like the the intricacies and all of the different motifs and everything like that. Like all of the way that you carry the invention of it into the way that you choreograph the piece is just like I mean, all of the gestures, I mean, I literally do this like every single I cannot it's all the little tiny stuff, little storytelling it's just so and was there any other moment in Chicago that kind of like sparked that creativity for you? Like, are there any other pieces that kind of like stuck out to you in that regard? Or like how did um your choreography kind of differ from Daryl's in a way that almost like challenged it, but still allowed like his mind and your creativity to kind of like blend together, if that kind of makes sense.

SPEAKER_02 11:44

Okay, so in our living room space, because I actually prefer working in a space, like this would be an ideal space for me to work in. I'm not sure. And also I would close the curtains, I don't want to see, I just want to feel. And so I hate studio space, because then I just sit there and I look and I'm like, ah, this isn't cool enough. Instead of just like feeling how it comes. So I'm definitely one that I I don't so he's sitting on the the chair or on the couch, and I'm just like literally Charles student doing all the moves like doing all the movies. He's like, do it again. I'm like, okay, okay, you know. Um, and I think what it happens is like it would come out of he would give me one move and then I would improv after that. He's like, Oh, I liked that. And he's like, do that two more times. And I was like, but what if we add an arm this time? You know, and so then I would up that with like how can we twist it a little bit versus doing the same thing twice? Or so it was just kind of like a back and forth.

SPEAKER_04 12:29

Yeah, yeah, very collaborative thing.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

Yeah, very collaborative, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:33

Yeah. Do you think that you're more of like a collaborative kind of person as well, or do you think that you do like your best work like internally and then you bring it to the surface after that?

SPEAKER_02 12:43

Oh. Uh I think especially working with my dad, I've I've become very like I kind of know when to step in, when or not, like um, or or how to work with him. Um because I've tried other collaborations and I realized like everybody works differently. So there was some that I was like, ooh, I I overstepped my boundaries there, you know. Like, you know, and so I I'm scared to do other collaborations, but I've I would love to. I'm open to it. Um I think I'm more insecure when I'm by myself versus doing it with somebody with with my dad. Like I have more like okay, yeah. This this could be, you know. I I trust his instincts of like there's I mean definitely times where I'm like, is this gonna be funny, dad? Like, I don't know. And then there's like, you know, I just need to trust that he he has a bigger vision here and and could see it bigger than I can and just okay, do the moves.

SPEAKER_04 13:34

And he always does. Yeah, it's oh there's always something. Like when you said he's able to just like spit it out on the spot. It's like incredible.

SPEAKER_00 13:41

The entirety of like the Grinch duet, he just did it. Like in one single.

SPEAKER_02 13:45

And he probably literally didn't have anything planned. He's just like, um, and he's like, oh do this.

SPEAKER_00 13:49

It was crazy. I was like, it was really kind of like I was really intrigued by it. I was like, dang, he's really just spitting all of this out right now. No, truly, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:58

Yeah, that is such a talent and gift, and I've I've tried to get better about like being okay with coming to the space in the studio and like I have nothing prepared. But I'm like, I have to be like, guys, sorry, I have nothing prepared, I'm just gonna figure this out on the spot because I'm so insecure about that, versus like, okay, let me come in.

SPEAKER_00 14:13

Those are my favorite days, is when you come in and you're like, I don't really know what I'm doing, but like, let's just see.

SPEAKER_01 14:18

I love that I love it.

SPEAKER_02 14:20

They're spaced out, but then there's definitely days of like, okay, I need to have something because I feel like I don't want to waste your guys' time or so, even like just creating this new thing that we were working on. I was like, I'm really insecure about this, but I just want to like create and play, but like I I don't know because I everybody's staring at you, so it's like we've got to move. I gotta move, I should move faster, you know.

SPEAKER_00 14:40

No, no, so you're so good about like keeping the room like engaged and like entertained and cute, yeah, but you don't need to do that. But you know, I know I just love what you do.

SPEAKER_02 14:49

I'm very empathetic and like I'm very aware of the space, yeah, yeah, and so I'm always trying to like motherly keep everybody happy.

SPEAKER_00 14:58

And you're you're really good at it. I mean, you in your bell costume, like I have no shame. I have no shame. That's my absolute favorite thing about it.

SPEAKER_02 15:09

Because I can sense so I was thinking about this because I was like, you know, I we started talking about like playlists, so I'll jump in on playlists. I think about everybody before I started class, and I'll notice like you're singing um no good deed the other day. I'm like, oh I'm gonna put that on the playlist because I know he's gonna sing that song. Or you know, and or I'll notice like somebody's down, and then I'm like, you know what? I heard Carson the other day, he was like jamming to this song, so I'm gonna put that on the playlist because I know he likes Michael Jackson. You know what I mean? Like, I'll but I I genuinely kind of like feel people out. Not that I'm going up and be like, are you okay? I'm giving their space, but I'm sensing, and so I just calmly just put it in the playlist to help the room. And I like I always try to make sure there's one song, like musical theater or something, something that everybody's gonna sing to. I was like, people are gonna sing to this song because I know singing makes you happier. So it's like I'm literally like my playlist is forming the space that I want to create in there and like helping uplift people that I feel like are down, or you know, not bring them down, but yeah, yeah. I'm trying to, you know, help create a better space. Because, you know, I know, I know you're always gonna go to the back corner to do your warmup. Because that's because you're just I I sense that, and I was like, I just I'm not gonna come to you and be like, How are you this morning? You know, I was like, give her her space. She's gonna she's gonna wake up by 10 o'clock. She'll be there, she'll be ready to go. You know what I mean? Ian's gonna be right there in the front and be like, I'm gonna nana stay with you, and like he's like, and then he's gonna do half of it on his own and do his own thing. And I know that. My leg, you know, lifted above my head. You always do it and you go to your leg, and I was like, maybe we should follow you one day, and I'm like, I'm gonna start following you. Oh my god. Because I would follow I'm the Pied Piper, so everybody follows me.

SPEAKER_04 16:50

So if I follow Ian, then everyone else will follow you right now.

SPEAKER_02 16:53

We're coming with good ideas here.

SPEAKER_04 16:55

Uh-oh.

SPEAKER_02 16:56

But I just love, I love the space. I love, I love creating a beautiful space where people can blossom and a positive space as well. And so I think it all starts with my playlist in the morning with class, or when I can tell like people are stressed out. So you guys are stressed out and you're having to get your costumes ready, and I was like, there's like a bell costume over there. I was like, maybe just let me put it on and be like, there goes that baker with it. Who cares? Like, let me just be Belle for a minute and like Disney dreams came true for me, but then I was like, it entertained you guys, and maybe, but maybe not, maybe that annoyed. I don't know, but I know in just making people happy.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

What kills me about that specifically was when you came out in the Tiana costume, and then you were playing dig a little deeper and you were like dancing in front of Daryl, and he was like, And all of us were like, come on, Daryl, you got because that is our household right now.

SPEAKER_02 17:51

I am trying to get him to like do anything. I'm like, oh my god, and there's nothing. So it doesn't face him because that is literally right just me at home.

SPEAKER_00 17:59

That atmosphere that you create like truly makes this job like what it is. You know, because like we are a family and like we're having fun. So I always say I always say if like we didn't have this group of people, or if like we didn't have the atmosphere that we do at this job, it would feel like almost impossible to do because like the shows we're doing are so hard and like we work a lot and we're constantly like being really, really mean to our bodies. So like if we weren't having fun, it would be like cruel. What's the point, right?

SPEAKER_01 18:32

Truly, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:33

And I feel like I mean, before I became the associate artistic director, um my big title badge. Before I became that, I like I definitely had other directors and other people in charge, and I I kind of observed over time what I was enjoying, and like noticed myself, like, oh, there was a period where I kind of hated dance. And I was like, was it just me or was it maybe the environment that was created? And I'm not gonna put blame on just them. I like honestly, I feel like we all go through phases, yeah. But I definitely was like, I can help affect that energy just by my presence and like how I choose to come in. Like I have hard days, but then I know that you guys are dancing and you're looking at me. So if my face is literally just like I'm over it and I don't want to be here, that's not gonna help you guys succeed or succe. Succeed. Yes, uh succeed in it.

SPEAKER_01 19:24

I just did it. I just did it.

SPEAKER_04 19:26

She did it earlier too. She did it.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

Yes, I do, I combine words. Um, but no, I meant six, seven. Yeah, but just happened to you. Whatever that is.

SPEAKER_04 19:36

Um, I started that time. I just did it. It's true.

SPEAKER_00 19:46

I've never done it. Oh god.

SPEAKER_04 19:50

Well, that was my one pass. I'm never doing that ever again.

SPEAKER_02 19:54

That's your influence.

SPEAKER_04 19:55

It is, it is. Anyways. Anyways. Uh but like there is something to be said about how important an atmosphere is, like, in a general. Absolutely. Because like, if you think about it in the grand scheme of things, like if you go to like a boring cubicle office job every day and you're just sitting in a giant white room with a bunch of people just tapping on keyboards, it's like that. I mean, to me personally, that sucks the life out of me. So it's like there has to be some way that we, especially as the creatives that we are, can bring that light into the space in order for us to because like you said, like creating it. Yeah, we are like constantly like attacking our bodies and our minds and trying to like find ways to be inventive that have never been invented before. It's like it's it's a lot to be an artist. So it is really important to have people like you and Darby and even Daryl, like he has a huge influence on the way that things go here, obviously. Like it's super important, it's very, very important. Yeah. Um, and to that point, I wanted to ask when you first started to transition into the company, like, how was that going from being like part of the family business and helping out, and then like becoming into the madness but in a different way? Like, what was that experience like for you?

SPEAKER_02 21:07

So being the director's daughter. Uh it's like so. I mean, I joined the company when I was 15. So I will say I was very young, and everybody else was in their 20s, uh late 20s. Um, so I kind of was the oddball. I had no friends really, nobody really wanted to talk to me. I was like, oh, I'm Daryl's daughter, kind of thing. So I kind of was outcasted a little bit. So I just did I was doing it because I loved it. And but also Daryl, I was Daryl, my dad, the same guy. Um, he he didn't want to favor me in any way. Right. I was never given a part. I was always the I was always in the back row, which I was fine. I was just happy with it. It was like cool, you know. I wasn't like, oh, I should be in that part. So it wasn't until like six or seven years later that um I would understudy a role and then I would teach it to everybody who got to do it. And I still wouldn't get to do it. And then I was like, that's not fair. Like, how come somebody this is their first year in the company and I'm still teaching it to everybody and understuding it. But then the next year I didn't even get to understudy it, but I'm still teaching it to everybody. There was just some weird things, like you know, and obviously things happened, but I was kind of like, I'm just gonna bring it up. And so I said something, but I was like, I I would just love the opportunity. And so I just knew that I always had to kind of like be prepared for something. Like there was one girl always getting injured, and I was like, you know what? I'm gonna start learning her parts. And like she like was sent out in the in the ambulance thing, and Daryl goes, Who can do this part? And I was like, and he literally scanned and was like, anybody else.

SPEAKER_00 22:36

I was like, Whoa!

SPEAKER_02 22:39

A shady yeah, and it was a whole menage section too, and it was like a double like thing, and I was like, I can do it, 19, let's drink pigments. But I was like, I just believed in myself, but I I was bold in that moment, and he gave me the shot and he was like, Oh, okay, like good job, you know. But it was never, I just never, I was always like fighting for that attention because especially when it's your dad, you're like, you wanted that approval kind of thing. So I mean, it definitely was harder to be in the company with with that kind of thing. It's like if you didn't like what the director said, we can't go home and be like, Dad, the director was mean to me. He's like, you were mean to me. You know what I mean? I didn't like what you said to me. So that dynamic has definitely been something that even to this day, I still sometimes I have the little like innocent girl that gets like sad about certain things, and like, oh, you know, but but I I just choose to let it go because I was like, I better not live my life being upset about things that you know sometimes I can't control and whatever, you know, move on. Yeah, um but I think I just grew into I've I I've figured out what worked for me and and eventually like I think every role that I finally did get to do, it was like I was the third year choice or the third pick. I was never I was never the first pick, really. Um I shouldn't say that. There was a couple things I got to do. I was the first pick. Finally later in in the career I read. The first 10-15 years, I was, you know, just dancing because I loved it, and I was honestly young, you know. There's so much to learn.

SPEAKER_00 24:00

But out of my own curiosity, we were literally talking about this in our house the other day. Were you or were you not the original Juliet in Romeo and Juliet? I was not the original. Oh, okay. I was like so certain that you were not.

SPEAKER_04 24:12

But you were the second, weren't you? Second. I see. I see. Which going into that, that also brings up a good point. Because you helped with the creation of Romeo and Juliet as well. Um and what was that like going from like creating it to then eventually getting to do it and perform it on stage? Because we've heard like your experience being in the show, and like this show, oh you know, means like a lot to you. So like what was that kind of like putting your heart into it and then finally getting to like be the person to exude that on stage? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 24:40

Well, so I was in the piece when we were creating it, I was just an ensemble member.

SPEAKER_03 24:44

Right.

SPEAKER_02 24:45

Um, so it was it I came from it as an ensemble member in my creation process. So that's why Osaiah to me, I feel like is the heart of the show because I put so much thought into like how important that should be. And so I really didn't even think about Juliet's story. I was like, oh cool, Romeo and Juliet, they're least, but what is the ensemble doing? Right. That's more important to me. So I I really wanted to focus on that more. Um, but then when I got to be Juliet, I was like, oh, let me play with this this whole aspect of it and the acting part of it. And I I just love, oh, she's I mean, I mean, actually, it was really fun to be an ensemble member too, actually. And and once playing Juliet and being on that side, I actually missed and wanted to be back into being the ensemble member because I was like, I miss the group, the experience because then you're not really dancing with the group, you're just sitting there watching and being like, Oh, my friends are amazing, and be like, oh, I would I would love to because I got to be a part of that and feel that, and I was like, I don't need to do that anymore. Now I have to be like, oh, emotional, you know, but then like diving into those emotions are so fun too, as well. So um a beautiful, beautiful journey either way, but I didn't like to play both sides and creating it. Um I mean it was just Osiah and and actually quite a few of the songs did I help. Like we were just kind of throwing in hey, this song might work, this song might work, you know. But like um it's like the the um oh my gosh, the it's from the movie. It's it's the death scene song. That was one I played in class one day, and then they were like, What is this from? I was like, Is it from Romeo and Juliet? And they're like, Oh, we should use it. I was like, Cool, well, I just gave that to you. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_04 26:15

There you go.

SPEAKER_02 26:16

Wow.

SPEAKER_04 26:17

Yeah, that is really interesting, especially because um, like we've heard the a similar experience from like Peter and Darby, where like Peter, when we were doing the Tibbo quartet, um, he was like, Oh, like I didn't get to do that cool stuff when I was doing it. Like, I want to do it with you guys. Like, it is definitely something that um it's easy for it to get taken for granted, I would definitely say. Because everyone wants the the big, shiny, important role.

SPEAKER_02 26:38

You can see that, but then you're like, oh, I don't realize. Yeah. Because once you're there, you're looking back and be like, oh, I kind of miss the well.

SPEAKER_00 26:44

I mean, I was just in our last episode we did, I was just talking about how much I love being like a little drunk girl in the club scene. Like, yeah, so if I didn't have that, I'd be so sad. Like, it truly is. Like, I love this show. I love like getting to like challenge myself like when it comes to acting and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_02 27:01

And you may somebody may look at it and be like, that's the smallest role, like how dumb. And you're like, actually, this, like, I'm living for this show. No, I'm having a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_04 27:08

No, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. We were talking about that on like the episode that the three of us did. Like, I mean, something that like has always stuck with me that you said is like the analogy of thinking of there's always a camera on you, like when there are those like giant group scenes. Like, it's it, I feel like it calms me a lot because like there's always, I mean, in every dancer, there's that part of your brain that's like, oh, like you didn't get chosen to do it. So like obviously you're not good enough. And it's like when you think about it in terms of the way that you're setting the atmosphere, especially in a show like Romeo and Juliet, like there truly is no small part. Like what you're doing, if you're just like sitting on the side of the stage at the table at Chicago and you're like, whatever. Somebody's watching you, right? It's gonna be boring for the audience. Like you need to bring the energy into the piece when it's as structured the way that it is. Um it's like it's so it's so affirming to know that like there will never be a moment where like I will not be seen. Which like you're just being on stage in general, like that's something that like has definitely growing into like being in this profession, I think it's helped me a lot to realize that none of the work I do is ever going to be insignificant because it's always going to bring me to something new or like bring me a new perspective or whatever, whatever. Oh, thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 28:20

I think I and maybe I'll say just like as we grow up from like studios where it is like it's competitive and just like I want to be in the front, I want to be the soloist. So then you come into this world world, it's the same world, but like go into the professional like performance mode that you're thinking, oh, I didn't get that part. Like, I guess I'm not a good dancer, and you start to like just slowly we just beat ourselves up so much. But taking it to that level of like, I actually, you know what, I am part of this story, and oh my gosh, like even though I'm inside this like mechanical bush thing, Cinderella's in front of me and the spotlight's on, and I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm spotlighted too. You know, like you literally, that's what I did in my brain to like realize, like, you know what, I am just as important because I am part of this story, and regardless of what I'm doing, even though I'm like, I have years of training and I'm you know, I'm supposed to be all this, it's like actually like when you put that aside, it's like, you know what, do the job and just have a good time with it. Right. You actually have the best time doing those, the jobs that you may look at as like, oh, that's not gonna be put on the resume kind of thing, you know, right.

SPEAKER_04 29:16

Because that freeness is almost like the affirmation you need to be like, all right, like I'm gung-ho, like let's go as far as we can with this. Which I mean, and there are definitely times where I feel I can take it a bit too far, and I'm like, all right, I need to tone it down a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 29:29

I try to tone you down, but I also love when like I was like, I love exploring left scene, I love creating and see what comes in the studio. That's like honestly my favorite part is like when we start playing and seeing all the different versions that I was like, you know what, I have seen it 25 times, but that is a version I have not seen. I was like, good job. Right. Like I love that. That's like so exciting to see in the studio space.

SPEAKER_04 29:47

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Um, so kind of moving on past that. When did you stop dancing with Odyssey for like a little bit? Like when did you kind of how long were you on the company and then when did you kind of start to transition into other work?

SPEAKER_02 30:03

So I did uh I can't even tell you a year.

SPEAKER_04 30:09

It gets to that point.

SPEAKER_02 30:10

Yeah, it's at that point, you know.

SPEAKER_04 30:12

You think I'm 25, but I mean, I wouldn't be surprised to hear otherwise.

SPEAKER_02 30:16

I I will say I kind of went in and out for a while there. Um I went and did like an Alaskan cruise and worked with Disney, and so I got a whole experience with that. Um, and found out that it just cruise life was not for me, but I got to experience that. And then um I also went and did a nine-month bus tour of I was on the National Tour of Footlus. Um yeah, I was like, Fullus. It's not just for you. I play that one for me, that song.

unknown 30:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 30:43

Um, but I like I so I got to experience the bus life and and doing musical theater in that sense, and then um, and then I would work at Tuacon and do musicals there in the summer because I was like, oh, this is easier in my body, and then like get to do like the concert work, hard dancing throughout the year, and then like, oh take a break, but still get to perform, and then but also exploring the different ways of performing, um, which helped put it in my back pocket. Um so I was in and out a lot, I think, for a while there. Um, but it was kind of when I got injured, um maybe like eight, nine years ago, I would say, doing a nice little hip action. Yeah, and I felt a little terror in the back of my hip. And it was like it literally just like felt like it was. I was like, oh, I'm just gonna sit here, and I was like, oh, it's not feeling so good. So I just kind of was like, I think maybe my body's saying it's time to not be doing this so hard. Um, and it was never really talked about with my dad of like, well, let's let's have you do this. It was just kind of like I was already in the teaching mode, so he was like, Okay, so you're teaching this, and I was like, cool, okay. And then I just did it. But we never literally had a sit-down conversation of like, okay, now you are gonna become this. It was like I just kind of from the injury, I kind of just sat back and then started helping people. Which was that was a whole transition too of like I literally was just dancing with you, and next month I'm now like just the person in charge. So there was like a fine balance of like, how do I give notes or to somebody that was like you were my peer, and now I'm like giving you notes. Right. Uh huh. So I slow slowly formed into that. Yeah. But it took some time, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_04 32:22

Yeah, it it always is like the simplest stuff too. That's what gets you.

SPEAKER_02 32:25

Like it's uh, yeah, we I would do in a ballroom class and I was just like, yeah, and I was like, that's weird. I don't feel weird. And I I don't know if it's just like with the time, the age and stuff, you know, um which is bound to happen. But there's been times too, and even after that, I still went and did a couple more musical theater shows in the summer, um, and like, you know, was living my best life. But um, but I just knew I was like, I just don't know if I can get back into like doing the hardcore dancing stuff. But then I started to find a joy in being the behind the scenes um and enjoying helping people succeed and and see them flourish, yeah, and found such a joy in that that I was like, oh, I'm really I'm I'm okay. Um being in the back and not being like, oh I'm the star or I'm on stage. I need to be on stage, it's like, oh, I don't care to be on stage anymore. Like, really, I feel that transition has happened for me that I was like, I don't need to be on the stage. Right. I enjoy the backstage stuff. I love I love being in the wings and seeing the chaos that happens. Absolutely. Oh, yeah. I'm there in like the performance mode, and then go on the chaos. Like, I love that. It's so fun and so entertaining to watch. That that is that's something that I I I enjoyed.

SPEAKER_04 33:40

Absolutely, yeah. Well, and I mean, in the two years that we've been on this company, like you you've made a few appearances on stage.

SPEAKER_01 33:47

On stage planned.

SPEAKER_00 33:50

I always have things planned. Oh my god, wait, I cannot wait.

SPEAKER_02 33:57

The third podcast with Veronica when you find out what I actually did in the season. Right. Just the confessions from Veronica when I did my goodness stage. Wait, actually, wait, that's a really good idea. It is well, I kind of love like trying to sneak on stage and not let Daryl see. It's so funny.

SPEAKER_00 34:13

And even just to surprise the dancers because I think it keeps you guys on your toes and like Well, I remember one day this year during Thriller, like you there was like talks of you like joining for the clump, and I was like, but then somebody said, like, oh no, she's not gonna do it, like she doesn't want to put a costume on, or like whatever. And then I'm literally up in the air and I hear your voice right behind me, going, Woo! Yeah! That's what she made. And I never saw you I emerging. You knew it was like that's it. Yep, she's here.

SPEAKER_03 34:42

She's here. I love that.

SPEAKER_00 34:44

Those are my favorite, or like when you're like just in the side of the wings, like yelling in our ears, and I'm like, I just have to like pretend that it's not a person screaming. I love breaking people on stage. And it really, it really helps. I have okay, but I have a video like from last year's Christmas show of like us doing snow, and I'm like recording the stage, and then it's just your voice in the background, like, woo, yes, get it. Like, but like genuinely, once we reach that circle part, like I needed right.

SPEAKER_04 35:16

I guess it's all about the energy.

SPEAKER_02 35:20

So I know that circle part, that's when you're like, oh, we're gonna pull up. And you're like, one more, they're so tangled up. Yeah. So that's when I'm gonna be on time, like, you got it. Yeah. Because I've done it before, so I know I know when when you're feeling that it is needed.

SPEAKER_04 35:34

My favorite Veronica on stage moment is when you got to make your debut as the COVID ball. That was like absolutely because I knew that you were ecstatic to be in that costume.

SPEAKER_02 35:44

Like they were screaming, bloody murderer. Like, I was so happy. Because it was a black light. Like, I'm I hope Daryl doesn't see me because it's so exciting. He did not.

SPEAKER_00 35:53

Didn't you come out like a good amount of three shows and he still he had no idea?

SPEAKER_02 35:58

But he could hear that people were singing. So you you came out on stage, what were you? I was like, I don't know. If you didn't see me, you don't get to see me, you didn't know.

SPEAKER_04 36:06

The trick-tree dance that we do during thriller, it's a black light dance, and like it's just chaos and so many different characters and all this other stuff. And last year we had a dance called Covid Catillion, which was like a ballet piece and slash hip-hop piece that was kind of like it was, you know, it was about the COVID times and everything like that. And at the very end, our lovely assistant director, Carson, would come out in this giant germ costume, assistant director of the podcast.

SPEAKER_00 36:32

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_04 36:33

I was like, wait, Carson Artists, the director of Honesty.

SPEAKER_00 36:38

You get my hair.

SPEAKER_01 36:39

They're playing with the pencil for it. I see, I see.

SPEAKER_04 36:43

Yeah, yeah. But um I said it, I said it. Yeah. Just one.

SPEAKER_01 36:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 36:49

Just one, just one. Ooh yeah. Oh yeah. Um but he would come out in the COVID ball costume and he would like hop around and he'd try to infect us and whatever. And it was, I think you were just always enamored with it like from the beginning.

SPEAKER_02 37:03

Oh, I I if I could be any role, that's I would want to be that.

SPEAKER_04 37:06

No, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 37:07

So I was like, how can I get in that costume? And then I was like, hey, mom, does this thing glow? And she's like, 'cause a flashback, she was like, it does. I was like, it's in. Like, let's make this work. Like, I I don't need to tell anyone else.

SPEAKER_00 37:19

No, literally.

SPEAKER_04 37:20

And personally, I feel as though it should be a regular character. Like, uh, for sure. You know what I mean? Like, not even in the scheme of COVID Catalan. What is that thing floating across the stage?

SPEAKER_00 37:32

And you have to come back to the show and see if you missed it, and then you know, exactly. Yeah. Okay, but also, you did make an appearance on purpose and like with consultants from Daryl in our other Christmas show when you had to go on for soldiers. Yeah. Because like a little story. Um, Allie, lovely Allie, she in the middle of our Christmas show doing the stupidest dance known to man, break time at Macy's. She dug she does a roll and she bursts a cyst in her knee. Random. So just so random. And then I just can't do the rest of the show. And I, of course, she's the tallest girl on the company, and I was the understudy for the soldiers' dance, and it's a height line.

SPEAKER_02 38:13

So that wasn't gonna be new. I looked at you and I was like, I was like, even if you knew it, which I didn't know if you knew it, but I was like, I was like, I don't think I could put you on stage, and it wasn't something that I like wanted to do. I was like mortified and terrified to be out there.

SPEAKER_00 38:27

I remember like reviewing it, I was like, I guess like I'm I'm the understudy, like I'm gonna have to go in right now. And then you were like, Athena, I gotta do it. I gotta do it. It can't be you. It's not your time. Like, I remember Daryl saying that was like the most terrified he'd ever seen you to be like on stage.

SPEAKER_02 38:48

Oh yeah, because it was such a pristine, like line situation where I couldn't like fudge anything and be like, oh, I messed up apart. It was like, it was just super clean. So like I think I was just deer at headlights the whole time. I was just using my peripherals and get the lines and oh my gosh. Because now I'm at the point too, I teach it and it's out of my body. Right. And I like I'm watching it and I like I remember, but like it's physically like I start reversing it all too now. I haven't started, I was doing that yesterday with you guys when you were like running something. I was like, oh, let me just see what's in my body. Yeah, and I'm watching it. I was like, I'm doing it totally reverse now. Even though I talked to you literally like two weeks ago, it's now reverse because I'm I flipped the thing. So I was terrified to do that. Wow. I there's videos of it, I don't want to see it.

SPEAKER_00 39:29

I'm sure it's okay if it's still like in the video, like uh in like the actual video of our Christmas show, he like splices it between different nights. So like one night it's Allie, one night it's Veronica. One night it's Allie. Next shot is Veronica. It's really funny. Oh man. But like I remember being so impressed. I was like, wait, like work. Like she didn't. I don't know. Like if like stepping into that from like not having ever like learned, even though you did choreograph it, but like I'm the same way. Like once I put it on someone, it's it's gone. And I'm like, wait, what's next? I don't remember it. Like I'm that person that's like, okay, hey, I don't remember what it was. So like I don't that's scary. That's really scary.

SPEAKER_02 40:09

I've had to do quite a few jobs where I was a swing, and I think that also was a very humbling experience and helped me to learn was just like, okay, if you have a chance to go on stage, it may be the only time you get to do this track. So live it up. Right. And so I think that's why I'm like, I have this moment, like, here we go. I don't want time to shut it in. I'm gonna do it the best I can. It may not be the best, but like, and I was uh I was swinged like 15 tracks. Oh my god. Guys and girls. So I had like note cards for everything. It like just train my brain to just accept like formations and like you start to be like, okay, it's always my downstage arm. So if I'm on this side, it's this arm, and like you just you start to change how your brain works, which kind of helped me like with with teaching, but also like knowing how to like just jump in for those kind of things, and also you come to accept like it is what it is, right? Where instead of being like, I messed up, and oh my gosh, you're like, well, whatever, you know, yeah, you move on. It's live theater. That's that's the joy of it. Like sometimes it's not perfect, and I I think that's what I enjoy too, watching the company's something about like I love watching people mess up or confess all like I'm gonna be able to do that. I messed up that part, you know, yeah, because I'm like, oh yes, live theater.

SPEAKER_00 41:16

It's like it's I love the imperfections of live theater. I love that too. As an audience member and also a performer, I am always in the audience, like getting distracted because I'm thinking, like, oh, I wonder who's quick changing right now, or I wonder what's happening right there. I wonder if they have any pre-show rituals. Or like I am that person that's like, oh, I just heard something off stage. What prop did they run into?

SPEAKER_02 41:38

Me too. I literally like it's like now I can't even just sit and watch a show because I'm like, oh, that wasn't clean.

SPEAKER_01 41:44

Right.

SPEAKER_02 41:45

Like, why is that prop? Why are they holding that problem? Like asking all the questions I do as the director. I'm sitting there like always asking myself questions. And like, now I just can't even just watch a show. Yeah. This could be better. This doesn't make sense. Like, this isn't even my show. Like just sit, just enjoy it. Get the popcorn and just watch. Yeah. That's like that's what I need to do. But whatever.

SPEAKER_04 42:06

That's it's so hard, actually, because I feel like I'm the same way too, where like I can, I it takes a second for me to take myself out of like the dancer-teacher moment where I'm like, okay, like I just I'm here to enjoy this, so I just need to stop. But there's always gonna be that little part in my brain, like, oh, what's the point at? Yeah, it's always gonna be back there. But yeah, that is um interesting that you say that because I was also wondering, um, like in terms of teaching, like, how do you think that has kind of informed because I would definitely say that you still dance, like you dance with us like a pretty decent amount.

SPEAKER_02 42:35

Every once in a while when I throw my leg up, you guys are like, ooh, and I'm like, true, dance.

SPEAKER_04 42:39

Like, how do you think your teaching experiences that you've had have kind of meshed into the way that you approach like not just the company, but like the rest of your life? Because I know that like teaching can be extremely imperative in like bu building the foundations of personalities and not even just for children, but like for us as well.

SPEAKER_02 42:56

Yeah, okay. You might have to tell me because I might like go off on a tangent then. I um I I love to travel, and for a long time I was doing, I would save up my year and go spend it on one trip that I would go do humanitarian work. And so one year I went to India and I went there to teach English. I'm there, I'm going, I don't know what I'm doing here. I don't even know how to speak English. I do five, six, seven, eight, like that's okay. And I'm sitting there with my the the head director of it, and I was kind of like, you know, I teach dance. And he was like, What? He's like, We have this, we have this group of girls that would love to learn how to dance. And so I was like, Well, let's do it. And he's like, Okay, after your day of teaching English, we're gonna do a class after. I was like, Cool. And they they showed up and literally was supposed to be like an hour class, and we were there for four hours. I kept like turning on a song, and they were just like, Come on, let's keep like kept dancing more, like I was teaching like like body rolls just simple little things, and they they just c didn't want to leave. And and I like we weren't speaking very much English. But we were speaking so much beyond that through dance that I was like, whoa, this is like way bigger than just like okay, you can do a parouette. Yeah. I was like, there's something emotionally helping these girls get through, like, they don't want to go home because their lives are not good there. That they feel joy here. They'd rather stay here, even if they're gonna get beaten for showing up late at home. You know what I mean? And so I I I found so much joy there. I ended up going back like three or four more times to India to go teach more as well because I was just like, I just love it there. But I was like, well, okay, why do I have to go there to have that same experience? Yeah. Why can't I find it in the in the States as well? Or wherever I am, and why can't I create that same environment of like it's beyond just doing moves? I think it's also creating an environment where people can grow and be those their best selves and and creating a positive environment, helping people to discover themselves and discover things about themselves, learn about themselves through dance. That's why they're here anyway. They love it, so like let's keep growing together. We all have that same commonality. Um, but yeah, it's it was something about like dancing beyond a language was so cool to me.

SPEAKER_04 45:13

Um now wait, go back to the question because I feel like that was part of it of like the reason why I and then how did that kind of influence the way that not only you bring it to Odyssey, but just like the rest of your life, the way that it translates? Right.

SPEAKER_02 45:30

No, I know, I know, I don't think anybody uses that phrase anymore. This is when YOLO. And also I would say I was like FOMO, a therapist, like yeah, and YOLO. I I my husband has lost so many people in his life. Um, his mother just recently passed away and he lost his dad when he was really young, and he's had this conversation with me so many times, he's like, What are we waiting for? Why are we saying, okay, when this happens, then then we'll go do that thing. And I was like, You're right. So he's like, it's Easter. You want to go see the the Redeemer, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil? I was like, Yeah, let's do it, you know? And we're like, we just made it happen. And so we just started to live our lives that way. So I will give credit to my husband as well, but like I think I've been one that's definitely like I'm I'm like a YOLO person, like you know. Um Ramsey said you want to go out in the river and yeah, and do it. So I didn't fully get in. But I was like, you know what, my feet need some healing, I'll put my feet in the there. So it's nice. But I was like, I'm not gonna, I don't want to miss opportunities because I feel like life is too short. Um, so you don't know when it could be your last. And so might as well, or even even in your dancing career, you don't know what a simple like knock on wood, injury could like take you out that suddenly you're like, oh yeah, I have all the time. Like, I'll just wait until that it's like, no, like let's let's be present in the moment and like do the best you can in that moment because even if it's um there was a couple times where we were supposed to go to Germany and on tour and we were supposed to do a show and we rehearsed that one show and it was just gonna happen once, and there were three other shows we're gonna do. And then that show got cancelled, and so we had rehearsed that whole time. Oh, it was it was Romeo and Juliet. Oh my gosh, speaking of, and so um I I thought about it and I was like, yesterday in rehearsal was then my last time to get to do Romeo and Juliet for the season.

unknown 47:20

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 47:20

And I was like, oh, I wish I would have done had done it like full out. Right. I wish I and that was in a rehearsal space, it wasn't even on stage. And so moments like that, I think it's made me kind of like, I would love, I I want to be present in the moment and do it the best, be the most full out I can, yeah, enjoy the most, enjoy the like fullest without you know, having no shame, being Belle. Yeah, like I'm just gonna I'm gonna just jump, dive in, and and and enjoy it to the fullest because I think it's too life's too short. So I think I I take that into my class as well as like and into my space, into my life.

SPEAKER_04 47:53

Absolutely, yeah. YOLO Red YOLO Holy Libre. It's it's so um it's it's so incredible to hear you speak to that because I feel like that outside of the dance world can get so lost on people a lot of the time. Like, I definitely feel like I am a person where like I I was just saying, if you'll allow me, that like my resolution for this new year was that I wanted to do things without looking for a reason why. I just wanted to do it because I wanted to do it. Like I have that drive, I wanted to put myself out there and just see what happens. And I think like that kind of stems off of the whole like, what are you waiting for? Like, yeah, why are you waiting for someone to tell you to do it? Just do it because you want to. Yeah. It's and then when you bring that into this like world of dance, it's like you said, our careers are just so like short and it's so unpredictable a lot of the time. It's so easy for us to just get knocked out and knock on wood, just like that. Yeah, like it's so wonderful to have that kind of philosophy from the jump about the way that you approach things because like you you never know. Yeah, you never know.

SPEAKER_02 48:54

Like, who are you to not be great? Right, you're the one that's holding yourself back from that. True, you know, and we're our worst enemy. So I think I I I bring that into the space of like I want people to be the best, their best selves. And so I was like, go for it. Yeah, you want to do that? And you're like, should I try it? I was like, yeah, do it, let's see what happens. Yeah, you know, because if I'm like, oh well, I don't know, let's stay safe. I was like, let's let's break boundaries and and go for it and then see what comes out of it, you know? Absolutely. You know, we pull back, but like, why not reach for the stars?

SPEAKER_04 49:26

Right. And you'll still land on the moon if you miss. Yeah. I mean, yeah. Well, on that note, I wanted to ask you one final question. Oh, this is the final one. Do you have a story from your time on the company that you'd maybe like to share? Some kind of like funny anecdote or something that's really stuck with you, or just something really quick so we can kind of wrap it up a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 49:51

Um, well, I gave you my my love story, I think, in a different podcast. Check that one out.

SPEAKER_04 49:56

Episode number two.

SPEAKER_02 49:57

Where I cried. The one tier, the movie tier. No, there was something major. Um, because I've had beautiful moments on stage where I learned life lessons. Um, should we do a funny one?

SPEAKER_04 50:11

Should we do a I feel like a funny one would be good. I feel like you have so many funny stories. Okay. I wouldn't have multiple.

SPEAKER_02 50:18

Everything's an experience.

SPEAKER_04 50:19

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_02 50:20

Um, okay, so we're in we're in Europe performing. I'm doing a duet, and it's this fun little playful thing. We have these cute little dresses on. I had like two little buttons right here on my chest. Doing a duet, and I go over this guy's back, and somehow my button gets stuck on his belt loop there in the back side. Ugh. On the back side, and it twisted. So it was completely wrapped around. It was something we could just pull, like, you know, slide out. It was like I would have to like backflip around to get out of it. So my head is literally like down here in my chest, like trying to get it, and he's literally like this. It felt like two minutes. It probably was only 10 seconds, but man, that that time was just the longest thing. I was like, this is a duet.

SPEAKER_04 51:01

Right.

SPEAKER_02 51:03

Just one of those things that, like, yeah, you just like, oh wow. Yeah, that happened. Yeah. Here we are, live theater again. No, right, literally.

SPEAKER_00 51:11

Wardrobe malfunctions are a nightmare. Because there's like nothing you can do, like, really, to prevent it.

SPEAKER_01 51:16

If it happens, it's just a duet. Please.

SPEAKER_02 51:20

Just because we're doing Romeo and Juliet. Yes. We're in Turkey. And we had, I know, right? Turkey. I just happened to throw that out there. Uh so we have this proceeding stage, and it was one of these, like you've experienced it now. Sometimes the the um they're on mechanical things and go real slow. It was like this. Like 30 seconds to close this thing. So it's it's maybe only 20 minutes into the show, and we're like getting to uh it's uh Juliet's solo. So I sit down and I'm just kind of swinging my legs and getting ready for like it's not so easy, you know. I'm just sitting there and I'm thinking in my mind, Romeo, Romeo, wherever out there, Romeo. The music's not playing. And I play with my hair and I'm just acting, schmacking out of this. All of a sudden I hear and I'm like, keep acting, keep acting, what's happening? So they close the curtains. I guess the computer shut down. Oh so luckily the way the show works is that like by the end of act one, everybody's already in act two costume. So they're like, we're gonna take intermission right now. So we took intermission there, like at the beginning of the show. Took intermission, and so then when we got to like the end of act one, it we like we did the closed curtains and we opened them right away, but came right back when into act two. But it was like I remember they're like, okay, we're gonna go back. And so I get back to the spot, I was like, okay, Romeo, Romeo, to like open up, and I was like, thunderous applause. Let's go. I was like, I must be acting so good. I think honestly, it was probably applauding for just like it starting again. Right, right. And in my hand, I was like, it's for me. They're like, yes. I was still here, I was here the whole time. Just Romeo, Romeo, Romeo. Anyway, crazy. You never know. Yeah. And then just kidding, no, that's it.

SPEAKER_04 53:21

I would say, listen to me.

SPEAKER_01 53:22

No, I listen to everyone.

SPEAKER_02 53:23

I want to hear every single one of your stories. I'm like, okay, guys, you want to hear this story. I feel like some several guys would have been like, you throw out things that are like that's not real. And I was like, it is not. This has happened in my life. So my god. I got the whole clepera, a bucket, list of things.

SPEAKER_04 53:39

A roll of eggs.

SPEAKER_01 53:42

For sure.

SPEAKER_04 53:42

Well, thank you so, so, so much for joining us. You are so sweet. We can do a third one.

SPEAKER_02 53:48

Now accept that we can do this uh just Veronica's things that she's like on the website.

SPEAKER_00 53:57

So he can find out. Find out and be like, wait, that happened?

SPEAKER_02 54:00

Absolutely. Because I think yes, it does. He does. We have a good little banter in our relationship of like well, okay, one more story. Please. Please. So I'm doing cats, and I'm being rumple teasers who's like a little more mischievous cat. And there's this giant train, and I get inside the train, there's this light, and I was like, oh, and I was like, my shadow. I'm literally thinking like a cat, okay? That's what a cat would do. So I, and this is during this whole like ballad song is going on in the front. I could care less about that. I was like, oh, that was my shadow. All of a sudden the lights go off. I'm like, why'd it go dark?

unknown 54:38

It got dark.

SPEAKER_02 54:39

I was like my light. So I like come out of the train and I'm like, okay, like just you know, still acting, whatever. I was just literally in a cat mode. Come to find out, my dad was up in the booth and he's like, uh, turn the lights off on the train. Veronica's way like scene stealing big time.

SPEAKER_01 54:53

I have no idea.

SPEAKER_02 54:54

No idea. Because I was just in my world. I didn't think, I was like, oh, it's everybody's focused over there. I'm just like, kick cat, kid cat, do my thing. Totally turned off the lights on me. Like, it's like he has no shame in telling me just like, yeah, you took it too far. I was like, okay, cool.

SPEAKER_04 55:08

You know, really method act as a cat name.

SPEAKER_02 55:11

Yeah. That's okay. Don't give me a toy, have fun. Have a good time.

SPEAKER_04 55:17

Oh my gosh. Thank you so very much. Thank you, thank you. Say goodbye. See you guys later.