♪♪ If anybody needs an oven, we're selling one.

It's right there.

Andrea and I are selling one from "Six."

Right here.

Yeah, no big deal.

Discount price.

I'll sign it for you, too, so... Yeah.

There you go.

Signed oven.

♪♪ Scribner: The lives of Broadway performers are busy.

They only have a few short hours between their matinee and evening performances, and they're giving us an inside look, from grabbing a bite to unwinding, plus a backstage tour.

Have you ever wanted to see what we do in the time sandwiched between performances?

Follow along and find out.

This is "Broadway Sandwich."

♪♪ We're at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

The last time we were here was to celebrate the first Broadway show in history with an all-female creative team -- "Waitress."

And today, we're celebrating another chapter in her-story -- the all-new musical "Six."

Woman: New York City, we are... ♪ Live ♪ ♪ Listen up, let me tell you a story ♪ Scribner: The show was written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss back when they were students at Cambridge.

But this isn't some typical history class project.

It's a histo-remix about the six wives of Henry VIII.

And as they say in the show, these aren't the queens as you remember them from PBS.

They've been reimagined as pop stars in a competition to prove who suffered the most as the king's wife and, therefore, should lead the group.

"Six was" nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The original cast recording debuted at number one on the Billboard charts.

Today, we're meeting Andrea Macasaet.

Andrea plays Anne Boleyn, Henry the VIII's second wife.

She was brilliant, bold, outspoken, and ultimately beheaded.

Oh, my goodness.

Andrea.

Hello.

Great to see you.

Good to see you, too.

How was your show?

It was so good.

You know what I just realized?

That was your sixth show of the week.

Ooh!

Ooh!

♪ Six ♪ So before your seventh, in the time sandwiched between, what are we doing today?

Okay, we are gonna get food at UT47.

Great.

Starving.

And we are also gonna go to physical therapy.

Physical therapy is life.

I'll follow you.

Yeah.

Let's go.

Let's do it.

♪♪ So how did you get into theater in the first place?

Like, local karaoke.

♪ When I was 6 ♪ What was your song?

"On my Own" from "Les Misérables."

Wow.

And then how'd you get into the theater?

There was, you know, a call out for children's chorus for "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at a local theater.

Mm.

Okay.

Other than that, I'd been in, like, "Celebrate Jesus" at church.

Amen.

You know?

I started taking theater seriously in high school.

Mm.

And that's when I considered it being a career choice for me.

Mm-hmm.

I thought, "Okay, I'm gonna do the acting thing.

Let's go."

Yeah.

And started booking shows.

Yeah.

Started booking shows.

Right.

And then there was a moment in my life before "Six," right before "Six," where I said I didn't want to do it anymore because... Why not?

...I was getting rejected for jobs and it just took a toll on me mentally.

Yeah.

There's something about that thing where you're almost gonna change the direction in your life.

Yeah.

You were changing course, but there was a part of you that was still curious and that still lived inside.

Yeah.

There was a fire still burning in you.

Yeah.

I saw the open call for "Six," And something in my gut said, "Leave school and film your tape."

Go.

They called me a day later, and the rest is history.

Wow.

Her-story.

♪ Her-story ♪ Wow.

Good riff.

Wow.

Thank you so much.

[ Laughs ] So what'd you get into during the we shall not name big break of life?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I wanted to create opportunities for young Filipino artists.

I offered 10 artists mentorship and coaching through musical theater.

Make it crescendo versus taking it back.

[ Singing indistinctly ] Yeah!

That was good.

Using a platform well.

Yeah, just trying.

That's responsible and a beautiful thing to do.

[ Singing indistinctly ] Okay.

We got to go to P.T.

Oh, okay.

Let's go.

Okay.

[ Laughs ] That's good.

♪♪ [ Horn honks ] So you -- Oh, thank you.

Yes.

It's Andrea from "Six."

No big deal.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

So, look.

Okay.

So he recognized you.

And you're getting recognized all over town because you're in one of the hottest shows on Broadway.

What is the best part of that for you?

I get to do it with my best friends.

Yeah.

So I'm never alone in anything, and any of, like, the big things that happen to us, we get to experience it all together.

Yeah.

It's been amazing.

I grew up in Winnipeg.

I didn't think that New York City, Broadway, was in my trajectory of life, and it was.

And now I'm here.

So I'm just trying to, like, live, live it up.

She's just trying to live.

Let's just live.

I'm just trying to live and enjoy every second.

'Cause I don't know when it's gonna happen again.

That's right.

You never know.

Yeah.

So what is your piece of advice for that 7-year-old mini queen in the audience... Ahh... ...who might want to do what you do one day?

'Cause she might be watching.

Yeah.

I think just be yourself and know that you are beautiful and totally worthy... Yeah.

Amen.

...and you can do anything you want in this life.

Do you hear that, mini queen?

Do you hear that, mini queen?

See you at the show.

You can do it.

Boop!

Scribner: So what kind of toll does it take on your body to do eight shows a week?

And have you ever done a long-running show before this?

No.

"Six" is my first long-running show.

Mm.

What I've learnt through "Six" is how to conserve energy and still be able to do eight shows a week.

So, Zoe, what's different about treating someone like Andrea, who's such a pro and doing eight shows a week, versus kind of a normie person, maybe a muggle-type person, who's, like, you know, tripped and fell on the sidewalk?

The difference usually is, we're trying to stop injuries before they happen or catch them in the really early stages.

It's more maintenance than it is actually treating an injury.

Ooh, yeah!

Scribner: Better.

Oh, yeah.

The comfy spot.

Way better.

Explain what cupping is and what it does for you.

So basically, your blood contains all of your good healing factors that help your body, you know, restore itself.

You'll see with Andrea how it kind of brings the blood more to the surface, which is oftentimes why you can get bruises from cupping.

Do you have to kind of hide those with your costume, or you just sort of... No, because I wear that green armor.

It hides all the bruises.

What does that feel like, Andrea, when she pulls the skin into the heart-shaped box?

♪♪ It hurts so good.

That's the right response.

Yeah.

They almost look like little, like, sushi nigiri because you got the fish and then, like, underneath.

♪♪ Look at that!

Yeah!

So good.

Oh, my God.

I know.

That is so cute.

It's so cute.

Well, this has been so nice.

Thank you for showing us.

Yeah, of course.

Yeah.

And we've got to get you back for your second show.

Yes.

Let's do that.

Yes.

So let's do it.

All right.

This is our "60 Second Sandwich," Andrea.

Okay.

Great.

60 seconds, I'll put on the clock.

Answer as many as you can in the time given.

Okay.

And all of these were submitted by watchers, viewers who love you.

[ Gasps ] Oh!

Great.

All right?

Okay.

You "ready" ready?

Wow.

I love you, too.

Okay.

I'm so ready.

Let's do it.

Boo.

All right.

If you could play any of the queens from "Six" for a day, who would it be?

Aragon.

Why?

Because she's so fierce and I want to be Beyoncé.

Come through.

What do you do to get pumped for a second show?

We listen to lots of music, and we laugh a lot.

Love it.

Favorite thing you've learned about Anne Boleyn?

Ooh, that she was really good at poker.

What?!

Yeah.

Amazing.

Deal me in.

All right.

Molly11sings -- "Favorite musical overall and favorite musical you've been in."

Right now I love "Legally Blonde."

[ Gasps ] And I really liked being in "Seussical: The Musical."

You'd be a perfect Elle Woods.

I want to see your name up on that list.

Ooh!

Who is the most memorable person you've seen in the crowd at the show?

Ooh, Lea Salonga.

Ha!

Ah, queen.

Hey, Lea.

Most funny or memorable onstage mishap.

Oh, my goodness.

When my hair fell out of my buns in Minnesota.

Oh, that's awkward.

Drama.

What language would you like to learn?

Ooh, I would like to learn... [ Stammering ] Spanish.

Yeah.

Why not?

For sure.

Oh, okay.

"Your expressions are amazing.

And your delivery makes Anne's lines hilarious.

What's your favorite Anne Boleyn line?"

Oh, my God.

Uh... "I'm, like, dead."

Same.

Yeah.

Ah.

One minute and 5 seconds.

You answered a lot.

Ah!

That was amazing.

We got to go.

Great.

Okay.

♪♪ "Six" does totally rule, I just have to say.

It does.

Have you seen "Seven," though?

"Seven"!

Ah!

Um, I think we have some extra time.

Okay.

Do you want to learn some choreo?

You know I want to learn some choreo.

Let's go.

Okay.

Okay.

Ready?

How's it go?

This is the end of "Six."

Okay.

So we go... one of a kind.

♪ No categories ♪ Way too many years lost in history.

Step-touch.

We're free to take... ♪ Our crowning glory ♪ I'll never forget that.

For five more minutes.

Mm!

Hey.

Pas de bourrée.

We're Six.

Ding!

Ding!

We are... We are... ♪ One of a kind ♪ ♪ No category ♪ ♪ Way too many years lost in history ♪ Step-touch.

♪ Free to take our crowning glory ♪ ♪ For five more minutes ♪ ♪ Dee-dee-dee-dee ♪ Uh!

Uh!

♪ We're Six ♪ Huh!

Whee!

Hey!

Okay, so we're sitting here in the theater.

You play Anne Boleyn.

So how much of you is in her?

Like, where -- What is that interplay like between you and your character?

Macasaet: Well, it's all me on the stage.

Yeah.

At this point now, I'm not even acting.

Uh-huh.

I'm just having fun with my girlfriends telling this incredible story.

♪ I'm sorry, not sorry about what I said ♪ ♪ Don't lose your head ♪ So this rock show is all-female cast, all-female band.

Yes, yes.

It's such a diverse group of people who've put this incredible show together.

What does that feel like, and what does it mean to you to be a part of such a moment?

It's incredible.

Mm-hmm.

I am the somebody that I needed when I was younger.

And it's very, very fulfilling to see little girls in our audience see a female drummer, see different body types and different shades of color on that stage.

And they can sit there and be like, "Wow, I can do that.

I can do that, too."

Mm.

"Oh, I can be that, too?"

It just creates way more tangible possibilities for the next generation.

Yeah.

When you sing these songs and you do this show, what does it mean to you as a Filipino, as a Canadian, as a woman, all the identities that you hold?

Yeah.

What's coursing through you?

What's that currency like?

I'll never forget the moment that my family watched the show on opening night.

Mm.

And they had said, you know, "We immigrated to Canada over 40 years ago, and we support your dreams.

We support the dreams of our nieces and nephews.

And never did we think that we would be flying to New York City to watch our niece, our daughter on a Broadway stage."

I could just see the tears welling in their eyes, and that is worth everything.

That's beautiful.

Yeah.

Can I see your dressing room?

Okay, so right now, we can't have anybody back there.

Oh, okay.

I understand.

But I'll FaceTime you.

Ooh, fun!

And we'll do the things.

Can't wait.

Let's do it.

Okay.

I'll meet you on... the Internet, I guess.

Yes.

We are here in my dressing room.

This is where I get ready.

Got some fan art up here.

These are pictures of us in Chicago... and my parents.

Super-cute.

Do you ever do naps in your room?

I have this wonderful couch here.

Oh, that's rich.

What do you keep in the fridge?

Please let it be like "Cribs."

Let it be just, like, full magnums of Cristal.

No, there's some leftovers in here.

Not a lot.

Not a lot.

Some drinks, some leftovers.

Thanks for spending the day with us.

Yeah, happy to do it.

Gonna get ready for the show now.

Love it.

Have a great one.

Bye.

♪♪ Jerry: How about the little pink, fluffy ones behind the Veronica?

They used to call me that in sixth grade -- the pink, fluffy one behind Veronica.

You know what?

Yes.

You know?

And then it hurt me then.

But now I go, "You know what?

I am the pink fluffy one behind Veronica."

Exactly.

Yes, you are.

So yeah.

So get into it.

This is "Broadway Sandwich."

Today I wanna be startin' somethin'.

[ Horn honks ] Hey!

Beat it, buddy!

We're trying to film here.

It's dangerous out here.

This episode is sure to be a thriller because today... ...we're at "MJ."

♪ Ooh ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Scribner: Michael Jackson was one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

And now his signature moves and iconic songbook have come to Broadway for the very first time in this four-time Tony-winning musical.

♪ They told him, "Don't you ever come around here" ♪ Scribner: Now, a show about MJ needs an all-star creative team, and they've got it.

The show is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony-winning director and choreographer and my friend Christopher Wheeldon.

He also choreographed and directed "An American in Paris."

This show has a special place in my heart because I participated in the early workshops of it.

Today we're meeting up with Ayana George, one of the best singers I have ever heard.

Ayana is making her Broadway debut as Katherine Jackson, Michael's mother.

Yes!

Ayana!

Garen!

Hi!

Great to see you.

It's great to see you and to be seen.

Yes.

How was your first show of "MJ" for the day?

Amazing.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah?

Good?

I'm so excited to rock with you...

Yes.

...on your time sandwiched between shows.

Yeah.

You wanna be startin' somethin' right about now, right?

Oh.

You -- Uh-huh.

Okay.

This is gonna be good.

Let's do it.

I'm excited.

So, what's on the list today?

Well, we're gonna go to New Leaf and have a little lunch.

Okay.

And then I have to stop by Seasons.

The flower place?

The flower shop that I absolutely love.

Yes.

I love that.

Yes.

Perfect.

So, yeah.

I'm so excited.

Then maybe, if there's time, I could get backstage or see a dressing room tour or something?

I say let's do it.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

Come on.

Yeah.

♪♪ Yes!

This looks good.

It's really good.

So you've been singing forever.

You've sung with some of the greats.

How did you break into the biz?

I started singing professionally at 19.

I was in church, in the church choir, and one of my fellow choir members was a background singer for several artists at the time.

And I remember asking him, like, "I want to do a session.

Like, call me.

I want to do background."

And he actually did.

And my first session, I walked in, and I knew from the moment I walked in that studio that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Wow.

So how did you initially get involved with "MJ"?

Jason Michael Webb, the music director of "MJ," we met at a party in 2016, and immediately he was like, "Ayana George, I know you.

I want you in my show."

And I'm like, "You know me?!

Oh, my God.

Okay, yeah.

What's the show?

I'm doing it.

I don't even care."

I ended up in his show "The First Noel," so he introduced me to the musical theater world and Broadway and all of that.

So what happened when you got in the room for "MJ"?

I walked in, and I'm like, "Hi.

My name is Ayana," and there are, like, 10 people sitting at the table.

Yeah.

And I literally went and shook everybody's hand, like, "Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi."

Yeah, I was super-, super-nervous, but so happy to be in the room.

And I knew that I had a job to do.

And I think I did it.

Yeah.

I think I did.

They had you sing, like, a few bars from the song, the whole song or what?

Yes.

I sang a few bars from "I'll Be There," which is -- which is my number.

♪ I'll be there with a love that's strong ♪ ♪ I'll be your strength ♪ ♪ I'll keep holdin' on ♪ David Holcenberg, he said, "That was a treat!"

And it just stunned me because, you know, everyone was kind of, like, stone-faced at first, you know, no expression.

Okay.

But when he said it, I was just like, "Okay, yeah, yeah.

You did it.

You did it."

It was at that moment that I decided I'm not gonna be afraid.

The things that I was running away from, now I'm gonna run toward.

And I've been doing it ever since.

It's really profound to hear that from you, because to me, you are someone who has such innate talent and such a transcendent gift, that to know...

Thank you.

...that you struggle with feeling like you... Yeah.

...are less than ever or that you don't belong in rooms is really affirming for, I think, anybody listening.

So you and I were lucky enough to be in the room during the labs and workshops for "MJ."

Yeah.

That's where we got to know each other.

Mm-hmm.

And we had a lot of conversations about "MJ"... Yeah.

...'cause we were trying to tell this story and do justice to this music and what it means to everybody.

Mm-hmm.

But "MJ's" controversial.

So what do you say to people who aren't sure if they're wanting to come to see the show or sort of what they can expect?

I say come see the show to honor and celebrate the musical legacy of Michael Jackson.

That was beautifully said.

So the pandemic, you know, opened up lots of new possibilities for all of us, right?

Yes, it did.

Yeah.

I went back to grad school.

Mm-hmm.

Congrats on that.

You started a hair line.

Thank you.

I did.

With my hair being natural, a lot of the choices that I had for protective styling and also for doing different things, they didn't match my natural texture.

Limited selection.

Exactly.

So you came up with a solution and created your own line.

That's great.

It looks like us.

So, yeah, I'm proud.

I'm proud of this.

You've always danced when you perform, right?

But dancing on Broadway in a Broadway show eight times a week is different.

Yes, it is.

Sure.

So how's that going for you?

How's it feeling?

It's going good.

You know, I haven't broken anything or hurt anything, so it's going great.

I'm doing this at 50.

Okay?

Yes.

But the beauty of it is, I'm doing this at 50.

Yeah.

I'm into that.

And I feel so blessed and just happy that I'm able, you know, and I think I'm -- I'm keeping up with the kiddos, so... You're more than keeping up.

And you know what else is a blessing?

Kneepads.

Kneepads are a blessing, yes.

On that note, shall we?

Yes, let's do it.

♪♪ It smells amazing in here.

This is like paradise right here in Midtown.

So tell us about the shop.

The shop has been open since 1989.

Two gentlemen who are business partners opened it up.

It was the Broadway community, I think, that was really able to help them build the business.

As the different shows started to recognize the shop and see the quality, they would order from them.

Mm-hmm.

And that was kind of the first push for them to get going.

So we're gonna make a couple bouquets today.

What do you think?

Yeah?

Fantastic.

Sure, sure.

But before we do that, I like to think of myself...

Yes.

...as someone who can identify plants here and there.

I'm not a pro.

Right.

But maybe you could, like, give me a little quiz.

What you think?

Absolutely.

How about the white ones?

Hydrangea.

Hydrangea.

Very good.

Very good.

Thank you.

Nailed it.

And right next to them, the pink, the little cone flowers?

Flaming Katy.

It might be, but the technical name is Veronica.

That's what I was gonna say actually.

Uh-huh.

Till you mentioned that.

You know, you have Veronica, flaming Katy.

Okay.

And the purple?

The tall purple.

That is a delphinium.

Yes.

Oh, I know.

Sunflowers.

Lilies.

Dr. Seuss balls.

Can I get a half point on that?

No.

All right, Jerry.

Jerry's tough.

Jerry's tough.

Jerry's not playing around.

Yes, he is.

I love purple.

Purple.

Okay.

And I love hydrangeas.

And hydrangeas.

Great.

Allium?

Very... Oh, eee!

Put a lily in there as a center flower.

Yes.

Beautiful.

And then how about we add a couple of bouvardia?

Color, yes.

I think we have enough flowers now.

And I'm gonna show you how to put them together for your own bouquet.

Yay!

All right!

Very good.

Thank you.

Sounds great.

♪♪ ♪♪ Here you go.

Scribner: Jerry!

Your beautiful bouquet.

Jerry!

Beautifully done.

This is gorgeous.

Great choices.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Stunning.

This purple.

Ah!

Love it.

Well, it looks like we have to get you back to your show.

You got to go back to work.

I got to get back to work.

Thank you so much, Jerry.

You're very welcome, both of you.

Jerry!

Jerry!

Thank you so much.

My dressing room is gonna beautiful because of you.

Enjoy it.

All right.

Have a good one.

Talk to you later.

Bye.

Thanks, Jerry.

This is our "60 Second Sandwich."

I gonna put 60 seconds on the clock.

Answer as many questions as you can in the time given.

Okay.

Sound good?

You ready?

Yeah.

Okay.

I think.

I'm right here with you.

Yep.

Mm-hmm.

60 seconds starting now.

"You harmonize so beautifully."

That's sweet and true.

Thank you.

"Can that be taught, or is it only a God-given ability?"

I think it can be taught, yeah.

Okay.

Well, you need to help me with that because I need help with harmonizing.

Jflug318 -- "Song or artist that gets you hype before show"?

Ooh.

Alex Isley.

Lalah Hathaway.

Michael Jackson.

Yes.

Israel Houghton.

A lot of hype.

Maverick City Music.

Yeah.

Oh, yes, I love those.

Annacamel39 -- "Your Broadway debut was incredible, and it blew me away."

Oh, thank you, Anna.

Thanks, Anna.

It blew everyone away, for sure.

"What are your dream theater roles?"

Hmm.

I would love to be a Muse in "Hercules."

How about a new role for Ayana George?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

"Got a tip for memorizing lines or lyrics?"

Write them down.

Mm-hmm.

Love it.

Mishtimusic wants to know the most challenging part of "MJ."

The high notes.

And dancing with kneepads on.

Yep.

Uh-huh.

Oh, yeah, that's hard.

"What's something besides performing that you're really good at?"

5 seconds left.

Cooking.

"What's your favorite thing about being on Broadway?"

Ooh, my cast.

I love them so much.

Oh, what a great answer.

They're my family.

That's it.

And the audience.

Oh!

And the audience.

Of course.

Yes!

You were wonderful.

Oh, thank you.

Shall we roll?

Let's go.

Let's do it.

Yeah.

♪♪ I remember in the studio you mentioning feeling a little bit intimidated when you came into the sort of Broadway zone... Yeah.

...'cause it was a new experience for you.

Yes, it was.

So how do you feel about that now?

I got to the point where I just realized, you know, you're here because you belong here.

This was not, you know, given to me.

It wasn't a favor.

It wasn't a hookup.

You know, I actually went in that audition room and earned this role.

That's right.

And, yeah, I'm very proud of what I was able to accomplish.

I would just not be doing this show any justice if I didn't say, can we hear you sing just a little bit?

Oh, my goodness.

♪ Isn't it lovely?

♪ ♪ Isn't it rich?

♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-ohh ♪ ♪ That I'm on "Broadway" ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm, "Sandwich"?

♪ [ Both laugh ] That was the most beautiful song I've ever heard in my entire... [ Scatting ] [ Scatting ] Hey.

♪ Hey ♪ Come on, Garen.

Hey!

Thank you.

You just made my life.

Thank you.

You just made my life and our viewers' lives.

Oh, you made my life.

I love this.

This was fun.

Can I check out your dressing room?

Of course you can.

Yes!

Oh, wait.

No, you can't.

[ Laughs ] Oh, well, maybe we could Zoom.

Let's Zoom.

Perfect.

This is my humble abode here at the Neil Simon.

I see the gorgeous bouquet in the corner.

You got to show us that.

Yes, I already put it in water.

Look at that.

Beautiful, Ayana.

Oh, my God.

You are playing Katherine Jackson, one of the most iconic moms in history, really.

Where does Ayana connect with that role?

Well, I'm a mom, as well.

I have a beautiful daughter, Maya.

And just wanting to bring out the best in your children and wanting to encourage them to be themselves, which she definitely did with Michael.

But it's definitely the motherhood thing that we have in common, for sure.

And you have to do a second show now.

Wait.

Before we go, I have to show you the best part of my dressing room.

I'm ready.

Okay.

So this right here looks like a beautiful, you know, chair that you just lounge in, right, in between shows.

But she actually... Don't tell me.

...turns into a bed!

I have never seen that in all my years.

Oh, my God.

This is one of the best gifts.

My man bought this for me, and, baby, I'll love him forever.

Yeah, I would, too.

Well, thank you so much for the tour and spending the day with us.

We adore you.

Well, Garen, this has been so much fun.

I've had a ball talking to you.

I love you.

But a sister got to go and do another show.

Oh, I totally get it.

I wish I could stay.

But thank you so much for being with us.

We adore you.

Yes, thanks for having me.

Love you.

[ Smooches ] Take care.

See ya.

Bye-bye.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪