Stage Whisper
Whisper in the Wings Episode 620
(upbeat music) - Hello everyone out there and welcome into an incredibly exciting new whisper in the Weems from Stage Whisper. I have to continually pinch myself about today's show because finally, finally we are talking about one of our favorites, if not our favorite show of the 2023/24 Broadway season. And we have such an incredible guest to talk to us about that. Joining us today, we have the actress J.G. Makapugai who plays the role of Molly Hay in the Tony Award winning show, "Suffs the Musical." It's now playing at the Music Box Theater and you can get your tickets and more information by visiting telecharge.com. I cannot express to you how much we love this show. We saw it downtown at the public and we immediately knew this is gonna come the Broadway it has to and now that it has found its home on Broadway at the Music Box, it's even better. I guarantee if you see one show this season, see this, it's so important, especially for these times, but I'm not gonna just sit here and rant and rave about it. The perfect person who can tell us more about the show, of course, is our esteemed guest. So let's welcome them on. J.G., welcome on to Whisper and the Wings from Staid Whisper. - Thank you so much. That is the warmest welcome. Oh my goodness, we can just click Save and like exit now. I'm just, I'm very proud of the work that's been done. - Yes, oh my God. I mean, you are a part of truly, I think when we look back in, in the future Broadway history books, this is one of those shows that's gonna be its own, you know, mark on the timeline, up there with things like Hamilton and come from away in that. This show is so incredible and so powerful. So why don't we start for anyone out there who doesn't know? Can you tell us a little bit about what "Suff's the Musical" is about? - Of course, "Suff's the Musical" is about the women's suffrage movement and specifically it starts in 1913 at the beginning of the woman's march, the set up for the women's march and leads into the years leading up to 1920, the women's suffrage movement. But it is in its most purest distillist form, it's about the fierce badass women who fought for our right to vote so that we can have choices and be free. And it is an incredible story about progress and about what it takes to make change, even if it's hard, even if it takes long, a long time, but it is about a show about progress and really fighting for what's important to you. - I love that a thousand times, yes, yes, yes. Yes, what a brilliant story to being told. And a lot of things I guarantee that people just don't know about the suffrage movement and about truly just the march and the demand for women's rights in general. There's so many characters I don't think are highlighted, there's so many moments I don't think are highlighted, and I'm so glad that your show is bringing that to the forefront. - Well, that's true. I mean, when you think about what we've learned in our history books, you know, to quote from Hamilton, who lives, who dies, who tells your story, there's very little that's spoken about the right to vote, the women's fight for the right to vote in the suffrage movement. Maybe it was one line about Susan B. Anthony. And so what I love about Shayna Taub, who wrote the music, the book, the lyrics, is that she wanted to create something for women and girls. And when she got this book from our lead producer, Rachel Sussman, it was all about, it was jail for freedom. It was written by Doris Stevens, who's one of the characters in Suffs. Shayna read it and it felt like a thriller. It was, she couldn't believe that the women's suffrage movement was fraught with so much drama. They were jailed, they were tortured. There was so much infighting. There was so much that was going on that she just read the book from beginning to end and she's like, why did I not know about this? I, and the people, the characters who were real life people were coming off the page and were speaking to her and she's like, I have to write this story. I have to do this. And it began, I think like a 10 year journey of page to stage to let this show come to life. That is incredible, incredible. I'm curious to know, how is it that you came upon the piece? Well, what's interesting is, before we met today, I went back into my email history to take a look at when I first auditioned for Suffs and I kept scrolling all the way back to 2020, March of 2020. We know what happened in March of 2020. And I had an audition for a musical called The Suffragists. And it was going to be done at the public theater. And at the time, Suffs was a different story title and it was going to be done in 2020 in line with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. And I looked at the dates and I was committed to another project and I couldn't do it. And I was crushed because I had already committed to something else and then the world changed. And it obviously didn't happen at the public that year. And so cut to two years later, they were getting ready for the public run in 2022. So I had auditioned for it then and then I booked it. And so I've been with it for the last couple of years. And there's no guarantee that any show that you do will ever get to Broadway. And so I just knew that if I were part of it at the public theater, which is my favorite theater company, that we were going to make the most of it, and it just felt like we were part of not just a regular show. It felt like part of a movement. Something like this had never been done before. A story centering women in this way where we weren't talking about the romance. A love story between a man and a woman. And while there's a wonderful time and place and it's been done so many times, this felt different and important and exciting in a way that, yeah, I was thrilled to be a part of it. So it's been since 2022. It's incredible. What a journey. Holy cow. I remember when we were at the public, and Shayna was always in it, always in it on stage. But there were some times they're just like, hey, Shayna, you OK? And she's like, yeah, it was in the middle of the scene. And I realized what I want to do with this number after we're done with the show and we go to Broadway. So while Shayna's acting on stage on the back of her mind, she was connecting how she was going to edit the particular scene that she was in. So she's a genius. Well, absolutely. That is incredible. I do want to turn a little bit to the development of the show, because you played this brilliant character, this brilliant role, Molly Hay. And I mean, there is a brilliant overarching story. There's a great through line, but some of these sub stories that we learn about are really fantastic. And your role and your relationship with Jen Colella's character is incredible. So can you tell us a little bit about what it's been like developing the show in its current form on Broadway, as well as this fantastic role? Oh, thank you. That is so sweet of you. So yes, I play Molly Hay, who's basically the right hand to Carrie Chapman Cat, played by the incredible Jen Colella. And when Suffs begins, you see the first scene that you see on Broadway is Alice Paul played by Shaina, meeting Molly Hay and Jen Colella. And me and Jen portrayed like the old guard were the NASA Suffs, the National American Women's Suffrage Association Suffs. And Shaina represents this young youthful energy, this young gun. She'd been in London-- and this is not part of the show. It's just for my research. She was in London learning more about the more aggressive tactics to make change. And that had not been done. Me and Jen represent the old guard, Shaina, and represents a new guard. And Jen was mentored by Susan B. Anthony. So I am Carrie Chapman Cat's right hand. And I'm from Chicago, Illinois. So the way I liken it, if Jen was the leader of the Suffrage Movement-- I can say Jen-- Carrie Chapman Cat was the leader of the Suffrage Movement. She's the Michael Jordan of American Suffrage. I am Scotty Pippen. I am her right hand. I'm there to be with her and follow her through. Because when you see our show, you see Alice Paul with her crew of young women, young guns that are really trying to take over the old guard. And we call that group from rehearsals, the Scooby Gang. They're the Scoobies. And so with me and Jen just being two, you've got the Scooby Gang. So it's like us against them. And our different ways of how we feel like the Suffrage Movement should move forward. So what I love, the difference between the public run and what we did on Broadway, was are they or aren't they? And I feel like it's OK to reveal what that means. Because why not? People come here. They love theater at a deeper level. But it's a little bit of a spoiler, but not really. If you know history, then you'll know that Carrie Chapman Cat and Molly Hay were in a relationship together. And so even as a matter of fact, I don't know if you know this, but they are buried together in the same plot in Woodlawn Cemetery and the Bronx and the Tombstone release here lies to united in friendship for a cause, a great cause, for over 38 years. I don't know. I don't know. The sweetest thing, you know? So they-- well, they couldn't say it in real life because the world was not ready for a gay couple in the early 1900s. They were committed to each other. And what we did at the public, there was hints at it. And on the Broadway run, we make it very clear that they were together. And it's so satisfying because you want to share that part of our history as well, of women's history as well. And yeah, I'm really proud of that. And I also love that in this Broadway run, they worked hard, even though with my-- I didn't have a ton of lines in setting up the story for Carrie and Molly's relationship. It's the facial expressions that I gave in the show, the little things and nods that I have to show status and power and to show that the two of us are equal in every way, shows the respect of women getting it done, holding each other accountable, and not being perfect, but also you can fight and disagree and still move in the same direction. And while that happened between me and Jen, it also happened with Alice Paul and her younger subs that a lot of things we didn't agree on, but we all knew that we wanted to fight for women's suffrage. So on a broader scale, even if you disagree, if you've got a common goal, you can get there. Yes, put that on a t-shirt, stream it on a banner. I mean, absolutely. And that's a good lead into my next question, because you mentioned that beautiful relationship that you have with Carrie, which is amazing. It's just one of the many small stories and small messages that pop up in the show, which makes it so timely and so powerful. But is there a particular message of thought? You were hoping the audiences walk away with from the show. Oh, yeah. The first thought that comes to mind is the world is in a tough place right now. We're in an election year, and it can potentially go in a very scary direction if we go back to a past administration that is not about taking care of people. That if you see our show, I want you to feel moved by it and inspired so that it will inspire you to want to take action on anything. And I get that it's hard. I get that it's tough. I still feel that same way. But I think about this quote that Shayna has used for the development of all the subs, readings, and the production of the public and Broadway. It's from the Talmud. And wait, I want to make sure I get this right. I want to make sure I get this right. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. And it's from the Talmud. And it's like, when I first read that, I was thinking that, yes, I know it's hard, and I'm not probably not going to finish it. Because deep change, even the suffrage movement, took about 100 years to happen. But we were able to get it done. They were able to get it done. Because they didn't abandon it. So when people see our show, I want them to feel compelled to take action on anything, anything that feels important to them. Because there's so much that needs to be done. And only great change can happen with individual people coming together. And then I also think about the young children and teenagers that are coming to see the youth of America that come to see Broadway musicals. There are a future. They're the ones that, and I hope that when they see our show, that they're like, oh, change is possible because it has been done. Because these women made it done. So anything that's gonna get people to vote, to take action, to feel that their voices are important. And if they're young, that you know what, it is possible to make change 'cause it's been done before. - Yes, yes, yes, absolutely. - Yeah, like, one of the most thrilling days at SUTS was the day that President Biden backed out of the election. So that day, it was like an hour before our 2pm matinee. So we were all talking about it. We couldn't go over the shot that it was with their deep respect for our president, but knowing that change needs to happen, it wasn't moving in the direction that we would win in November. And when he backed out, and he recommended Kamala Harris to be our presidential candidate, we were so full of hope and we were feeling it. And then the audience was feeling it. We had to do a matinee. So the thrill of one of the thrills of my life is the curtain comes up, and you see Jen Kalella about to lead our ensemble in singing the song "Let Mother Vote." You hear chanting. You heard chanting. I was facing up stage. Jen is facing down stage. The whole ensemble is facing up stage. And you hear everyone chanting, and it was a male voice that started it. Started the chant, "Kamala, kamala, kamala." And so it was this wall of sound, and it felt like, I mean, they even recorded it. I think it was like a minute long. It, I'll never forget that experience about people coming together in the theater to support a cause. And now it just feels completely different. Full of hope, full of excitement, full that like it might be my be able to make a change come November, and it will be a woman of color leading the way. - I'm getting misty, I'm just thinking about that. - I said, though, I love what you said about having leadership in our country that reflects what our country looks like, you know? And that's what I loved about SOPS, the truth is, I mean, I know this is gonna be a podcast, but I'm Filipino. And Molly Hay is a white woman from Indiana, but I'm a Filipino from Chicago, Illinois. And when Shane and our creators were developing the show, the women on stage reflect what the women of our country look like today. And while, you know, the movement, and when it happened in the 1900s, they were white women, and also the black suffragists, they were also in our show, people that are not highlighted. Now you have, I'm an Asian American actor, we've got a trans actor in our show, we have a disabled actor in our show. So the women of today contain multitudes, look like different, completely different types of people. And so it's an honor to share the stage with all these different kinds of women every night. - That's, well, we keep touching on the fact that this is such a timing show, that you're dealing with so many important things. And as we mentioned, you know, the landscape here in America, especially has done a complete 180 in just the last month. So I'm really curious to know, who are you hoping have access to subs the musical? (sighs) You know, I want everyone to be able to see our show. And right now it is a saturated category, all fighting for audiences to come see the show. I want people of both sides of the political landscape to come see the show. I want Democrats to come see the show. I want Republicans to see the show. I want children, even when I look out in the audience, I'd see grandmothers with their daughters, with their granddaughters. I want more youth to come see the show, because I feel like, I feel like the audience for Broadway always skews older. And so whatever we can do to continue to get young people to come to see the show will excite me, because I feel like our older audiences are getting it. They're thrilled. Like you should see some of these senior bus groups that come to our show that are all wearing like votes for women banners. It is very, very sweet. But, you know, before back to school happened, I was seeing a lot of like teens also showing up, little girls wearing like full-on suffragists costumes, and it's very sweet. But my dream is for more young people to come, at least like, I get it. Broadway shows are expensive right now, but if they can acknowledge that like, you can go see a big show like Back to the Future, but like, let's make the palette of your theater play it a little bit more nutritious and delicious, because you can do that with us, because all of my friends, or the people that I come to see our show, they talk about how surprised they are. They're like, you guys are like sexy, you're fun, you're funny. It's like, yeah, we are all of those things. And like the music is so good. Like, yes, like I know how good the show is, but people continue to be like surprised, because they think it's gonna be a history lesson, and it's so beyond a history lesson. Our show is so much fun, and it's so entertaining that I feel like that's what I wanna say. I want more young people to come. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - For the second part of our interviews, we love giving our listeners a chance to get to know our guests a little bit better. Pull the curtain back, if you will. And I wanna start with our regular first question, which is, what or who inspires you? What playwrights, composers, or shows have inspired you in the past or just some of your favorites? - Oh, you know, the shows that come to mind and the composers that come to mind are the ones that highlight AAPI's. That's the truth for me, because being an Asian American, I don't see a lot of my stories being told on stage. So, the shows that speak to me most, inspire me the most are the ones that are about our stories being told. And some that aren't like commercially popular right now, but I'm hoping one day will. Paolo Tirole is a Filipino composer who wrote this Filipino American song cycle called "On This Side of the World." And the music is just so beautiful. And explains like a specific part of the immigrant story that's related to Filipinos, but when you listen to the lyrics and the stories, you're like, oh, this is the immigrant experience also. We've all gone through these feelings of conflict, of being an American and being expected to be an American, but also having this allegiance to the country land back in the Philippines or whatever respective countries. So I love Paolo's work so much. David Henry Huang has a play that is coming onto Broadway, "A Yellow Face." And I respect him so much. I was fortunate to be in his musical "Soft Power" at the public with the music written by Janine Tisori. And the collaboration between DHH and Janine with Lee Silverman, who's also the director of subs, was pretty magical. And it was an AAPI story. It was David Henry Huang's "Fever Dream." (laughs) It was a play with the musical. And it was genius, but it was like there are... I think people think that when you have like an Asian story on stage that it's gonna be, again, another history lesson. But no, you've got a good team, you've got good Raiders. It's just a regular musical just like anything else. So, yeah, those are the, those are the, that shows that come to mind. One's at center, like the AAPI story. Oh, there's another one that's in this coming up this month that I'm buying my tickets for, it's in September. See what I wanna see. John Michael LeCusa, it's Off-Broadway. And it's an all Asian cast. And it is about three separate stories. I think a Japanese writer. And I'm thrilled to see that and see friends like Kelvin Munlo and Anne Sanders and Jack, no, Zach Pizer, they're gonna kill it, thrilled. - That is an amazing list there. Some wonderful artists that you name, big fans of as well. And some wonderful shows as well. I'm very excited about several of the times you listed. I would love to know, what is your favorite part about working in this theater? - I found my people. Oh my gosh, I found my people in theater. My degree is not in theater. I started out as an ad exec in Chicago, Illinois. And I wanted to perform, but I had no idea how to get involved in it. And I auditioned for Disney World on my day off. I got hired to work at the Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. And I met theater folk for the first time in this show called Tarzan Rocks, celebrating the music of Phil Collins. We sang You'll Be in My Heart a whole lot, several times a day. But I just, you know, when I was working in the corporate world, everyone was nice. Everybody was, they're good people, but they weren't my people. I just didn't feel connected to them in the way that like our community comes together. And you also work in the community. It's like that we just get it in a way. It's a, we're crazy. I feel like all of us are crazy in the best way possible. We've decided to dedicate our lives in service of art and telling the story. You never know how long a show is gonna last. Job and stability is very high. And yet we commit to it because we believe in this cause. We believe in art as changing the world. And we believe in storytelling to make people happy. And for me, it's about, I want you to see all different kinds of people on stage. I want you to see Asian Americans on stage. We're committed to, I'm committed to being part of this community because it's just, it's my family. - I love that. That is a brilliant, brilliant answer. Well, now we've arrived at my favorite question to ask guests. And that of course is, what is your favorite theater memory? Ooh, oh man. Okay, can I be egotistical and like talk out? I mean, the only thing that I'm coming to mind right now, that's coming to mind right now, is like a moment in regional theater and summer stock. I was playing Amnerus in Aida. I can't play that role anymore. It was a different time in a different place. But I just remembered being super insecure because I felt like I didn't know how to do the role. I didn't know how to engage with the audience. I didn't know how to be funny. And a costume piece really defined the character for me. So I'm trying to describe it. I was a, I played Amnerus, but my costume looked like a peacock, okay? So I have a dowel holding one side of the feathers and then dowel holding the other side of the feathers. And I just remembered being really nervous because I'm like, I can't believe I'm about to open my feathers in front of this audience, singing strongest suit. And I was nervous. And I remembered opening up one of my feathers this way and opening it this way and going downstage. And the audience looked up because they were so impressed with how beautiful the costume was. And I never felt so expansive. And also I'm not a dancer, so I'm wearing clunky heels and I'm just going. And the clunky, I'm like flying on stage. And the audience was like, this woman is crazy and unhinged. And she's a peacock princess. And I love it and it was one of the best experiences of my life in Daytona Beach, Florida. But it like a costume that can make you feel so expansive. And that's how you know that it's not even our show. What we do is so collaborative. It's not just about the music. It's not just about being able to belt or sing well. But like you can find a character with your costume and the audience can see it too. I don't know why that is the most random story, but it's what came to mind right now. - I love that though. That is such an epic memory. Thank you so much for carrying that. It's incredible. Well, as we wrap things up, I would love to know if our listeners would like more information about Suffs the Musical or about you, maybe they'd like to reach out to you. How can they do so? - I mean, I'm on social media. Suffs is also on social media. Suffsmusical.com and @SuffsMusical on Instagram. My name is J.G. Makapugai. You can go at J-A-Y-G-E-Makapugai. It'll come up. I'm there. One day I'll have a website, maybe one day. (laughs) But you can find me there and I'm on Facebook. Do people still use Facebook? I don't know. Okay. - Well, J.G., thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today and for sharing your amazing show and just all that you should. This has been such an amazing conversation. I wish we could go on and on, but I truly, really appreciate your time today. Thank you so much. - I appreciate you. I'm so thankful that you're putting this positivity into the world. I really am. Thank you. - Thank you. My guest today has been the incredible actress, J.G. Makapugai, who is playing the role of Molly Pei in the Tony Award-winning musical, Suffs. It is now playing at the Music Box Theater and you can get your tickets and more information by visiting telecharge.com. We also have some contact information that we will post on our episode description as well as on our social media posts, but you need to run, don't walk, get your tickets now, not yesterday, not tomorrow, now, for this creator's pick musical, this Tony Award-winning musical, this live affirming and changing musical, Suffs, which is now playing at the Music Box Theater. And we want to add for our American listeners that election day is November 5th. Make sure you are registered to vote, have a plan to cast your ballot and do your democratic duty. You can find out how and where you can register to vote by visiting vote.gov. The future demands that we fight for it now. So until next time, I'm Andrew Cortez reminding you to turn off your cell phones, unwrap your candies, keep talking about the theater. In a stage, we spare. Thank you. (upbeat music) If you like what you hear, please leave a five-star review, like and subscribe. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram at stagewhisperpod. And feel free to reach out to us with your comments and personal stories at stagewhisperpod@gmail.com. And be sure to check out our website for all things stagewhisper and theater. You'll be able to find merchandise, tours, tickets and more. Simply visit stagewhisperpod.com. Our theme song is Maniac by Jazar. Other music on this episode provided by Jazar and Billy Murray. You can also become a patron of our show by logging on to patreon.com/stagewhisperpod. There you will find all the information about our backstage pass as well as our tip jar. Thank you so much for your generosity. We could not do this show without you. (upbeat music) ♪ Hear anywhere near your town ♪ ♪ Break me down ♪ [BLANK_AUDIO]