Kimberly AkinboThe hit Broadway show, which captivates audiences with its unique blend of heart and humor, has just begun its first national tour, starring Emily Koch As Debra and Jim Hogan As Buddy. Both actors were understudies in the original Broadway musical, and now they’re stepping into the spotlight with starring roles in the critically acclaimed musical. As the show opens in San Diego and other cities across the country, Koch and Hogan bring fresh energy to their characters while staying true to the spirit of the original show.
In this interview, Koch and Hogan discuss the excitement of transitioning from understudy to lead role, the differences between the Broadway and touring versions, and the challenges of performing in different venues under different conditions. They also share ways to stay vocally and physically prepared on the road.
You have just launched, how is it going so far?
Emily Koch: It’s going well. Like, we had a great time. We said everything was going so well that we were skeptical. [laughter] That’s how it feels.
Jim Hogan: Waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Emily Koch: Yes, exactly. We’ve been in this business forever, so we thought, “Are people happy? Oh, wow. This is great.”
Correct. Hope you don’t have a Paul Rudd or Meryl Streep moment Only murders in the building soon.
Emily Koch: Exactly.
I saw this show on Broadway and loved everything about it.
Emily Koch: We all saw it Off-Broadway before we were part of it, which I had never actually done, but I bought a ticket in the lobby of the theater after the show to see it again, still in the theater. hall.
Oh wow. Both of your characters are fully realized. Jim, I would kill to play your role. It must be fun to get on stage every night and be these people.
Jim Hogan: Yes. I mean, you’ve said it yourself, it’s not often that we get the chance to make material of this caliber, so we do feel very, very lucky to be a part of it.
Were you guys alternates in the initial competition?
Jim Hogan: Exactly. Spare, yes.
Did you need to re-audition for your role?
Jim Hogan: Luckily for us, we didn’t.
Emily Koch: Yes, we don’t. I used to be on call for the mom and aunt I now play. We’re all lucky enough to have quite a few shows to go on. I think knowing that the tour was coming up, I thought they might just come and see us, which was nice because I mean, as an actor, that’s not typical. I feel like you always have to re-audition for something, even if you’ve been doing it for years. So, it’s a real luxury that we don’t have to do that.
I’ve never been a backup or a backup, but just knowing me and my situation, I get so uneasy every day thinking the phone is going to ring or I’m in the background going, “Hey, someone just stubbed their toe. You gotta keep going!” I mean, how do you get ready for a show when you’re on standby?
Jim Hogan: Well, that’s the most fun part of the Broadway experience for me. I’ve been a sub many times in my career, but I’ve never been an off-stage sub. So, like, we went to shows every day, six days a week, and there were a lot of weeks where we didn’t go to shows. So every day you show up and you don’t know what you’re going to do. You can watch the show as many times as you want, but until you’re truly immersed in it, it’s a mesmerizing experience.
So sometimes you show up and you just hang out and enjoy the show backstage. Then on other days you will receive a 20-30 minute notification. So it’s a little crazy in that regard.
Emily Koch: Yes. I feel like it’s always in the back of your mind. Like, from the moment you wake up, you could potentially be leading a musical that day. But you can’t live exactly like that, because that would also make you completely crazy.
It’s like a very delicate balance of finding moderation throughout the day. I feel like that’s the skill you really excel in, because if you think you’re going to do this show every night, you’re going to drive yourself crazy. So, I feel like I’m always like, “I’ll do some voice check-ins. I’ll go to the gym and get myself ready. But then, I’ll go on with my day.”
What was the fastest time you were told it would take to get on stage?
Emily Koch: On any show?
certainly.
Emily Koch: So, that’s so much fun. I did it both ways because I started out as Elphaba’s backup evilbut then I took over from Elphaba. So, I both went in half way through the show and shouted out half way through the show.
So, I look at it both ways, and I think it’s a particularly weird thing because you have to be completely green or completely go green. So, I feel like it’s like a minute’s notice and then you’re thrown in there. I felt terrible that I had to do this to someone else once too. But this is live theater.
Watching the original cast on the show, as you’ve always done, I’m sure there’s something that you took from their performances that you brought to your own? I think through sheer penetration, something seeps into you.
Emily Koch: Oh, so many.
Jim Hogan: 100%. Yes.
Emily Koch: I mean, as you know, having seen it, their cast is truly incredible, some of the best acting I’ve ever seen, just period. So, I feel like what we’re doing now is honoring them because they are who they are, so we’re really free to be ourselves in the show.
Sometimes there’s only one way to say a line, and I’m like, “Bonnie Milligan That’s right. I would say this. And then, sometimes I think, “She is herself here. I can trust that I can be myself here. It’s very inspiring to have someone like that, be your own individual.”
Jim Hogan: We’re also lucky enough to be able to work with the original creative team day in and day out so we can address issues, ask questions, and move forward Jesse Stoneour amazing director, and was like, “Hey, this is how it’s done. This is how I look at it. Bara, bara, bara. You can meet in the middle. It was a really great experience.”
Are you working with the original director?
Emily Koch: Yes. David Lindsay-Abel, Jenny Tesori. Danny Medford. Very spectacular. All the old colleagues, all the people you wanted to be in the room were there, which was really cool. Especially as theater fans, we’re like, “Are these people in the room with us? This is crazy. Yeah.”
How do you guys prepare and maintain your voice health-wise? Especially traveling to different elevations across the country because I know you’re in Denver right now.
Emily Koch: It’s definitely an adjustment. We were lucky enough that we had toured before, so I think as soon as we got to Denver we were like, “Okay, we gotta get on the treadmill.” Like we know, acclimate.
But let’s be honest, we’re pretty simple. We try to eat well, get enough sleep, drink lots of water, and take supplements if we’re not feeling well. But we try not to rely on it too much, because I feel like that really puts me in a bind if I’m like, “I have to do 50 things before I sing.” I’m like, “No.” I just sing and then we can Start there.
Are there any major or even minor differences between the show I saw and the one you brought to San Diego?
Jim Hogan: There are many differences. We have some new stage elements, some new choreographic elements, some new set design elements. So if you’re a fan of Broadway shows, you’ll love enjoying these new experiences. If this is your first time seeing it, I think you’ll enjoy it just as much. It’s really cool for us to be a part of both productions.
Emily Koch: Some sets switch depending on which side of the stage they are on.
Jim Hogan: There are some mirrors involved.
Emily Koch: Some mirror because of how they packed it into the travel set. So it was really fun at first, kind of like, “Oh wait, I have to get in here.” And then, I would say, Deborah was skating this one and she wasn’t skating this other one.
Well now I really can’t wait to watch this show again.
Jim Hogan: That’s the best part about it, you’re going to get these huge laughs and you’re going to have these really bittersweet beautiful moments. At least for me, it’s everything you want in a musical theater experience.
Kimberly Akinbo Currently playing at the San Diego Municipal Theater. For more information and tickets: Broadway San Diego
