
“The Phantom of the Opera” and “The Book of Mormon”
Season 3 Episode 8 | 26m 46sVideo has Audio Description
Sara Esty (Meg in "The Phantom of the Opera") and "The Book of Mormon"’s John Eric Parker.
Garen spends time with his former "American in Paris" co-star, Sara Esty! Now, Sara plays ballerina Meg Giry in "The Phantom of the Opera"! Then, "The Book of Mormon"’s John Eric Parker and Garen rehearse with Broadway Inspirational Voices.
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Broadway Sandwich is a local public television program presented by WLIW PBS

“The Phantom of the Opera” and “The Book of Mormon”
Season 3 Episode 8 | 26m 46sVideo has Audio Description
Garen spends time with his former "American in Paris" co-star, Sara Esty! Now, Sara plays ballerina Meg Giry in "The Phantom of the Opera"! Then, "The Book of Mormon"’s John Eric Parker and Garen rehearse with Broadway Inspirational Voices.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪♪ You know the inside.
I mean, like... Scribner: What does it smell like?
I'm not going to tell you what it smells like.
[ Laughs ] I mean, you -- Would you like to smell?
[ Laughter ] Old wood.
Let's go with that.
[ Upbeat music plays ] ♪♪ 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 the 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."
♪♪ Today, we're at a show this has been viewed by over 19 million people on Broadway alone and 145 million people worldwide.
It's the longest-running show in Broadway history.
"The Phantom of the Opera" is here.
[ "The Phantom of the Opera" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ The Phantom of the Opera is here ♪ The impact this show has had on the theater community is huge.
The New York production alone has employed over 6,500 people.
Through one of the most iconic musical scores in Broadway history, the show tells the story of a phantom who haunts the Paris Opera and falls in love with a young soprano.
The Majestic has been "The Phantom's" home since it premiered here in 1988, but it's not the first musical heavy-hitter to play here.
Other shows like "Carousel," "The Music Man," "South Pacific," and it even eased on down the road in "The Wiz."
Today, we're hanging out with one of my favorite people in the world, Sara Esty.
Sara plays Meg Giry, the confidante and best friend of Christine, the soprano at the center of the story.
Sara is an amazing dancer, singer, actor -- a real triple threat -- and she played Lise, my partner in "An American in Paris" on Broadway.
Sara: [ Squeals ] My love!
Hey, Sara.
Hello.
Oh!
Mm.
How was your first show?
Hi.
It was great.
It's so good to see you.
So good to see you.
I love you.
[ Laughs ] Okay, so you just had your first show?
Yes.
You have a second one later tonight?
I do.
We don't have much time before you have to get back, so what are we doing in the time sandwiched between today?
I thought, first and foremost, we would go get some food.
Ooh, I'm hungry.
A little -- A little nourishment, you know, a salad.
And then maybe some self care, a little ballet... Oh, my God, I haven't done ballet in so long.
...last, a little warm up.
That'll be great.
Yeah, you could do that with me, and then we're going to do it all again.
Sounds perfect.
Let's go.
Let's do it.
Come on.
Alright, cutie.
Ooh, that's you.
Yeah!
♪♪ Look at this cute for us.
Aww.
Okay.
Here we are.
Alright, so were in a ballet company for ten years before Broadway.
Mm-hmm.
I was in the ballet company for ten years before Broadway.
At the same time.
Isn't that kind of crazy?
Yeah.
Did you always know you'd end up in New York?
I think...
I mean, yeah.
Every time I visited New York throughout high school and just any time I would watch, you know, a movie musical or go to see a live show, dance or theater, I would cry and I wouldn't really understand what that was about.
And I knew.
I didn't know what capacity, but I really hoped it would be theater.
Yeah.
So.
I had the same thing.
Like, whenever I would see a show, Broadway show -- which, by the way, "Phantom of the Opera" was the first show I ever saw on Broadway.
I was seven years old.
Really?
Yeah.
Aww.
I got this feeling, watching a performer under a spotlight, having an experience, and I'm getting it right now -- just it kind of chills that currency that goes through your body of like, "Ooh!"
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
They're connecting with something transcendent.
And so I have the same feeling you did when you were a kid.
Yeah.
Like, I knew I'd be in New York.
I didn't know what would bring me here.
Yeah.
But for us, it was the exact same show, which was "An American in Paris."
Yeah.
♪♪ I went from doing "West Side Story Suite" onstage in a ballet company.
In a ballet company.
First time since high school, singing on stage, and being like, "Whoa, this is something."
And then getting an offer to go do "American in Paris."
Wow.
And knowing that that was the time.
That was the time to go.
How did you get to "Phantom of the Opera?"
So it was my first Broadway audition ever, just for fun.
Like I wanted to see what the experience was like.
And so fast forward.
My agent called me a few years ago now, saying they're looking for a Meg.
And I was like, "Let's --- let's do it.
Let's try."
They had me come in and dance and sing and -- and I think, like, a week or two later, my agent called me and he said, "Hi, is this Meg Giry?
Am I speaking to Meg Giry?"
And I was like, [shouts].
"No, she's not here."
"No, I'm not here at the moment."
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
"Hold on, let me get her."
I was like, "Who?
Wrong number."
You know, whatever.
So it was kind of this amazing, beautiful, full circle moment.
♪♪ I got so lucky because after the shutdown, they decided to put the entire company back into rehearsal, which hasn't happened in 30 years.
Wow.
I mean, I got all the history.
Andrew Lloyd Webber was there for a lot of the process.
What a cool welcome for you, too.
It's like you kind of got to do a new show, ish.
I cannot believe -- It was the perfect way to enter this show.
Well, this was so good.
We don't have that much time before your second show, and we're going to go to ballet class.
It's been a while for me since I've done ballet because I've been in grad school.
Are you gonna... Let's go.
Let's put -- Let's get a dance belt on and let's do this.
I'm ready.
Okay.
Yes.
Shall we?
Okay.
♪♪ One of the things I always found hard about being in the ballet company is, you know, you rehearse and rehearse and rehearse, then you only go on stage a few times, so you don't really get to sink your teeth into the role.
Right.
But on Broadway, you rehearse, rehearse, rehearse and then you perform, perform, perform forever almost.
[ Laughs ] Forever.
If you're lucky, yeah.
Like, almost -- You know, ad nauseam, but at the same time, you do get to dive into the character...
Yes.
...and, like, let it sink into your body in a way that feels good.
Yes.
Absolutely.
Do you find that?
I will say that re-investing in the same story night after night after night can be really challenging.
The thing for me that is really helpful is to know that there's always someone in the audience who's never seen this before.
Yeah.
And in the case of "Phantom of the Opera," that is millions and millions and millions of people.
I've heard 145 million people worldwide.
A lot of people.
Yeah, and some of them come back multiple times.
Multiple times, they love it.
I mean, it's just such a classic.
No, it's a total rock show.
You know, so.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's a vibe.
It is.
We like it.
Phantom.
We do like it.
So that's -- oops, I messed up the combination already.
Outside of doing ballet class, what else do you do to keep your body, like, in check?
Lots of sleeping, lots of eating the right foods.
Water.
Water, hydration, and just listening to my body.
♪♪ ♪♪ Okay.
Can you show me that bit of choreography that I liked?
I sure can.
The one with the uh-uh.
This is from the "Hannibal" section, in the beginning.
Alright.
This is good.
One, [laughs] two.
This is real Phantom-y.
Three, and then push up to fourth position.
I'm having phantom back pains.
Yeah.
To be honest.
And then you squeeze down this way.
And then the other way.
Yes.
And you kneel.
And then up and then bow.
Whoa!
[ Both singing indistinctly ] Three.
And four, and then... Yeah.
Yes!
Gorgeous.
Oh, sorry.
Oh!
[ Laughs ] ♪♪ Okay, Let's talk pointe shoes.
Brand new, right after I've sewn them, ready to be broken in.
And then these ones are pretty what we call dead.
Like, they're -- they're -- They've seen some action.
The satin is wearing away.
It's just seen a bunch of wear and tear.
For "Phantom," because the stage is so slippery, we have rubber put on to all the parts that kind of touch the stage.
Scribner: Whoa.
And these are my special-ordered custom shoes, so they're built right to my foot.
Just across this way.
I do like a little knot.
Then you tuck them in.
Then you're ready to go.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Okay.
Are you ready for your 60 Second Sandwich?
Sure.
I'm going to put 60 seconds on the clock and you answer as many... Oh, jeez.
...questions as you can in the time given.
Okay.
Yes.
You good with that?
Let's do it.
And they're user-submitted, social-media submitted for the most part, okay?
Oh, jeez Louise.
Okay, great.
You ready?
Yeah.
60 seconds.
Ooh.
Go.
Alright.
All time favorite Broadway show?
[ Gasps ] Oh!
That's an easy one.
Um.
Um.
Um.
No, I can't do that.
The one that made me want to be here was "Moving Out."
There you go.
"Moving Out."
Okay, great.
Are you superstitious?
A little bit.
[ Laughs ] From past guest Rebecca Eichenberger, "Who is your favorite Madame Giry?"
Rebecca Eichenberger.
I have to say her because... That's right.
I'd say so.
How long does it take for you to do your makeup for the show?
Uh, uh, uh, 20 minutes.
Oh, that's not bad.
What are you really bad at?
Oh, I'm really bad at... Oh, no.
Isn't it nice when you have to really think about what you're bad at?
Oh, God!
No, I'm -- I'm -- I'm -- I'm -- I'm -- Answering speed rounds.
There you go.
Yeah.
Most embarrassing onstage moment.
Uh, falling flat on my face.
That hurts.
More than once, yeah.
Instagram's Kate Penner -- Do you nervous poop between shows?
Oh, yes.
All the time.
[ Laughs ] Favorite dance partner ever.
Say me.
Garen Scribner.
Aww!
I'm so -- of all the dance partner's you've had!
Out of everyone.
That's it.
That's it.
60 seconds.
[ Screams ] You did great.
You were wonderful.
Okay.
We have to go now.
Let's go this way.
Okay, great.
Okay, let's go.
Okay.
♪♪ Okay, so we're going to go backstage.
Yes.
We're going to see your costumes.
Yes.
We're going to see your dressing room.
Yes.
We're going to meet the chandelier, which I've heard that it -- they named the chandelier...
They did.
...here and in London.
Is it true?
They did.
Okay.
And you're going to get to meet her.
Are we going to get to ride the boat?
Uh, I don't know.
Meet the Phantom?
Play poker with the Phantom?
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Let's see.
Okay, cool.
I can't wait.
This is going to be good.
It's such an iconic show.
What does it feel like to be a part of this now?
It's very emotional.
It's humbling.
It's incredible to -- to put my stamp on that, you know.
Yeah.
And the show itself is the star.
So it's kind of like all in service to that and just, it feels really amazing, like you're really a part of Broadway history.
Do you think we can go on the stage?
Would you like to go on the stage?
You know I want to go on the stage.
Let's go on the stage.
I want to meet the chandelier.
Let's go meet the chandelier.
Alright, cool.
[ Laughs ] Try your moves.
I knew I would make it on the "Phantom of the Opera" stage one day, I just didn't know what it would look like.
And now I'm trying to remember how you move.
It looks like this.
And then, and then down.
Oh, yeah.
Yes.
That feels good.
Look, this is Ruthie II.
Where's Ruthie I?
Ruthie I is in London.
Ah.
It's like Audrey and Audrey II from "Little Shop of Horrors."
Exactly.
She's a little older.
How many beads do you think Ruthie II has?
It's like guessing the beans in the jar at school.
Kind of.
[ Laughs ] I don't know... 3,000.
6,000.
She weighs a ton.
Like an actual ton?
Like an actual ton.
But she's pretty amazing.
This scared the crap out of me when I was 7 years old.
Oh, yeah.
Look.
♪♪ The floor is gorgeous, but I'm also thinking about you in pointe shoes dancing on it.
In a pointe shoe.
I know.
And it looks kind of slick.
So as you'll see -- Yes.
A little dark.
And a little treacherous.
Yeah, a little bit.
There's booby traps everywhere.
I mean, the whole stage, there's just things moving in and out from the wings.
There's tracks, there's trap doors, there's flames everywhere.
So you do have to be careful where you step.
Have you ever fallen?
Shh.
Not yet.
Shh!
[ Laughs ] ♪♪ Yes.
Beautiful.
Okay, here we are in the stage right quick change room.
A lot of people get changed in this room throughout the show.
Oh, really?
Is this where you come, wipe of all your sweat, take a break.
Run.
Do a super quick change.
Change.
I have several quick changes in act one especially.
Many.
Yeah.
My favorite costume is my masquerade costume.
I feel a little bit like Captain Hook.
Yeah, I love that outfit.
It's a vibe.
Or like Willy Wonka.
Yeah.
"Pirates of the Caribbean."
Yeah.
And with the -- Yeah.
So this is where a lot of the -- a lot of the magic happens.
♪♪ Have a good show, Ruthie.
♪♪ Esty: Knock knock!
Can we come in?
Scribner: Oh, cute!
There we are.
Yay.
This is the dressing room.
This is my lovely Madame Giry, who plays my mother in the show, Maree Johnson.
Hi.
[ Laughter ] When did you start with "Phantom of the Opera?"
Uh, it was in the nineties.
I was a Christine in Sydney, in Australia.
Wow.
And then I came here in 2017 -Here in.
for Madame Giry.
I aged into Madame Giry.
[ Laughs ] I mean... Esty: This is the dance that you learned downstairs.
This is what -- Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
This is what would be wearing, these.
"Hannibal."
Always have champagne.
[ Laughs ] You always have champagne ready to go.
Always have champagne ready to go.
So I feel like I have, like, 30 more questions.
It's time.
I know.
So, we just...
But it's time.
I have to do the actual show now.
No, no show.
It's time.
No show.
It's time.
Okay.
I love you.
I love you.
[ Laughs ] Thank you.
Thank you for spending time with us today.
Of course.
It was so good to meet you.
Maree: You, too.
Have a wonderful show.
Take care.
Bye!
I love you.
I love you.
See you.
Bye, "Broadway Sandwich."
[ Blows kisses ] ♪♪ Now do you just ding-dong and then hello?
And then that's the password?
Or how does it work here at "Book of Mormon?"
Ding dong.
Hello.
Oh, we should wait till it opens.
Click, click.
Hello!
See, it worked.
[ Laughs ] It worked.
Great.
Let's go.
This is "Broadway Sandwich."
♪♪ [ Doorbell rings ] Hello.
You know, tomorrow might be a latter day, but today, we're at what I believe is one of the funniest and most outrageous shows ever to hit Broadway.
In fact, it might just change your life.
It's "The Book of Mormon."
♪ Two by two, we're marching door to door ♪ ♪ Because God loves Mormons and he wants some more ♪ The show tells the story of two young missionaries sent to Uganda to try to convert people there to the Mormon religion.
The show pokes fun at everything from race to religion to sexuality.
The book, music, and lyrics were all written by "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with "Avenue Q's" Robert Lopez.
So right away, you know this isn't your typical Broadway show, but that doesn't mean you don't get those big song and dance numbers, great characters, and all the heart you hope for in a classic Broadway musical.
"The Book of Mormon" opened in 2011 and was a huge success, winning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
They even won a Grammy.
Today, we're hanging out with John Eric Parker, who's been with the show since it opened 11 years and more than 4,000 performances ago.
John Eric.
Hey, friend.
Great to see you!
How are you?
It's great to see you.
You, too.
I'm so excited to spend time together today, in the time sandwiched between your matinee and evening shows.
What's the plan for today?
Well, first, let's get something to eat because I'm hungry, right?
Let's do it.
And then I want to take you to a little mini rehearsal of the Broadway Inspirational Voices.
Oh, and I can stand next to you and watch.
And sing.
[ Buzzes lips ] [ Laughs ] I got to get warm.
Okay.
Okay, I'm excited.
Listen, you'll be fine.
I'm the director of membership.
I'm on the board of directors.
It's all good.
You'll take care of me.
Yes.
I got you.
Perfect.
And then if there's some time left, we'll go backstage and I'll show you my dressing room.
How about that?
Love it.
Let's go.
Great.
Let's do it.
Okay, perfect.
Alright.
♪♪ Tell me a little bit about, like, your start and your navigating the industry so far.
Sure.
Well, I was born and raised here in New York.
I feel like I'm one of six people... Yeah, really.
...who are actually from New York, right?
What neighborhood?
In Brooklyn.
Okay.
And I was definitely that kid who sang in the mirror with a spoon and danced around the house.
And my parents put me in children's theater.
Mm-hmm.
And then from children's theater, I went to the High School of Performing Arts here in New York.
The fame school.
The fame school.
What was that like, going to that school?
It was amazing.
♪♪ And your first show was...?
A tour of "Pippin" as a leading player.
Hmm.
Wow.
What a role.
Yeah.
Oh, so much fun.
Yeah.
So much fun to do that and to just be excited about, like, doing one-nighters and being on the bus and all that stuff that doesn't necessarily feel good now.
♪♪ There was a national tour of "The Wiz."
I auditioned.
I got a call from George Faison himself to come to his house to do the callback.
And there was me and three other guys, and then I was on tour, like, the next day.
Whoa.
Yeah.
Understudying Mr. André De Shields... [ Gasps ] ...as the Wiz.
A true angel.
My goodness.
Unbelievable talent.
Yeah.
Do you keep any of those, like, early lessons from André on stage with you today as you perform?
Oh, yeah.
Leave your ego and your courage at the door and do the work, hit the stage, every night.
You have so many sayings I'm going to put on T-shirts and mugs.
[ Laughs ] And then auditioned for the national tour of "Rent" and booked it.
And so there I was on tour for two years.
So you're part of the original cast of "Book of Mormon," which was, like, a sensation.
Reporter: One of the hottest shows on Broadway, "Book of Mormon."
Reporter #2: Runaway hit.
Reporter #3: The creators of "South Park."
Reporter #4: You would be well advised to book your reservations now.
It was unlike anything I've ever done before.
But I will say, my experience with "Rent" kind of prepared me for this.
Oh, yeah.
Lines down the block.
People are going crazy, trying to get tickets.
It's -- It's such a gift.
So Trey Parker and Matt Stone, with "South Park," anyway, they are kind of out there.
The thing that's so brilliant about Matt and Trey to me is, like, it's always -- you know, once you get past what I call the fart jokes... Uh-huh.
[ Laughs ] ...there's some heart and some poignancy underneath it.
Yeah.
It's the, "Oh, my God, that's so shocking and funny.
Wait a minute.
Why am I laughing?
They have a point there."
Mm-hmm.
Or why am I uncomfortable and what does that say about me and the kind of assumptions I'm making about others?
Correct.
Right.
Yeah.
♪♪ In addition to being one of the best performers I know in the business, you are also a stylist and a designer.
How did that come about?
There was always a sewing machine in the house because my mom and my sister, sewed.
I, you know, often found that, like, when coats were supposed to be really long, mine was not so long.
I'm sure.
Right.
You know what I mean?
Like, stuff like that.
So I would make things for myself.
So fast forward, we're going to Mallorca for vacation, right?
I made, like, some caftans, I made some pants, I made some things, and I posted pictures on social media, and people started going nuts about it.
Like, "Do you have this in my size?
Can I get a caftan?"
Exactly.
Yeah.
And I was like, "Eh...
I don't know yet."
Fast forward to our next vacation.
I'm in L.A., and I ask a friend to take me to a fabric store to pick up some stuff that I knew I couldn't get here.
And before we knew it, we had hatched a plan, and we have a collaboration, and we're doing a collaboration between our clothing lines.
We have to get to Broadway.
Inspirational Voices rehearsal.
Yes.
Yes.
Alright.
Shall we roll?
Yes.
Let's do it.
Okay.
♪♪ [ Squeaks ] [ Choir singing indistinctly ] Choir: ♪ Your amazing ♪ Grace ♪ It is your praise that gives me life ♪ ♪ And it sets me free ♪ Your amazing ♪ Grace Man: Yeah.
Great.
Alright, BIV.
Amazing.
Wow Whoo!
Sing out, family.
Sounds beautiful.
[ Laughter ] What you do is just so powerful, and the service that you bring to those who need it is really important.
♪♪ [Voice breaking] When I hear your voices, it just...gets me.
So, thank you.
I didn't expect that.
[ Laughter ] Um, and thanks for letting us visit.
And tell us about BIV and what you do and what you're up to today.
So Broadway Inspirational Voices is a diverse professional choir united to change lives through the power of music and service.
We're in year 20... 28.
28.
28 years of service.
28 years of service.
And this is our current artistic director, Allen René Louis And I know that Broadway Inspirational Voices does a lot of great work with the community.
So how's that going these days?
We happen to have our associate arts and education director here, Tasha Michelle.
Hey, Tasha!
[ Cheers and applause ] So, Tasha, how's it going?
It's going great.
We've had the opportunity to work with Ronald McDonald House and Covenant Houses, so it's going great, and it's booming.
So, John Eric, you have been with BIV for 23 years.
Parker: Mm-hmm.
What has kept you here?
So much of what we do as artists can feel self-serving, and here, it doesn't feel that way.
Right.
It feels self-serving and self-healing, and that's why I love BIV.
Okay, so I know John Eric has to actually rehearse.
Can I join in?
Will that be okay?
Let's do it.
Yeah.
Why not?
Why not, right?
Let's try.
So, sopranos, you are... [vocalizes] Alright?
♪ The joy down in my heart ♪ I got joy down -- ♪ I got joy down in... ♪ Down, down, down All: ♪ Down, I got joy down in my heart ♪ Okay, from the beginning.
[ Woman vocalizes ] One, two, three, I.
♪ I've got joy down in my heart ♪ Yeah.
♪ I got joy down in my heart Yeah.
♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down I got joy.
♪ Down, down, down ♪ I got joy down in my heart ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -That was pretty good.
-Yeah.
[ Snapping ] One, two, three, and... ♪ I got joy down in my heart ♪ ♪ I got joy down in my heart ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ I.
♪ I got joy down in my heart ♪ Soul, and... ♪ I got joy down in my soul ♪ I got joy down in my soul ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ [Softer] ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ [Very softly] ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ Get low, get low, get low.
♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ One more time.
♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ Down.
[Louder] ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ I got.
♪ I got joy down in my soul [ Laughter ] [ Laughter and applause ] Okay, John Eric Parker, this is our 60 Seconds Sandwich.
Okay.
I'm going to put 60 seconds on the clock.
Answer as many questions as you can in the time given.
Okay.
Ready?
Yes.
Okay.
Starting now.
Okay.
@HannahE06 wants to know what's your favorite song to perform in "The Book of Mormon?"
"I Believe."
I believe that's right.
How do you get to the theater, subway or car?
Both.
Alright.
On a scale of one to Dad, how's my outfit?
[ Laughs ] Four.
[ Laughs ] Alright, I'll take it.
Kate Penner wants to know, fondest audition memory.
Walking into a room and seeing André De Shields behind the table and hearing him say my name.
What a moment!
Go-to karaoke song.
Uh, "Here and Now."
From?
Luther Vandross.
Oh, Luther, I love it.
Ever forgotten a line onstage?
Yes.
Most memorable stage door moment?
A woman came to the show who was a queen in Uganda.
Long story short, she was actually my fourth grade music teacher.
Unbelievable.
This is Kim Cole wants to know, what position is God's favorite?
Take that as you will?
I am so not answering that question.
I would guess, because it's "Book of Mormon," missionary?
[ Laughs ] And that's time.
Wow.
Thanks, Kim Cole.
We got to get you to theater for your second show.
Yes, yes.
Let's do it.
Shall we?
Yes.
Walk this way.
I'm still feeling the joy down in my soul and in my heart.
There you go.
And this is -- this is it, right?
Yeah.
I think we got a little bit of time.
Do you want to go back?
Yes.
Yes!
Come on.
So this has been your home away from home for 11 years now.
Mm-hmm.
That's quite a mission.
Yeah.
[ Laughs ] Thank you.
Thank you.
So, like, what is that like for you?
You know, it's been life-changing.
I was able to get married.
I was able to take care of my mom who had Alzheimer's.
I can take care of her and be there for my family.
It's allowed me to be more creative in the ways that we've talked about -- to be of service in other ways that I've showed you about.
Like, I want to show you something real quick.
Yes, please.
Like, here is something that I made... [ Gasps ] This is one of the pieces.
...for a client.
This is one of the pieces, and you are the person's size.
Really?
Yeah.
This is ama-- I want to wear this in Mallorca.
You do?
Yeah.
Take it for a spin.
Well, guess what?
Happy graduation.
[ Gasps ] John Eric!
[ Laughs ] What?!
Seriously?!
I made this for you, my love.
♪♪ This was so much fun today.
Yeah.
And I wish I could stay for your show, but I have a feeling that may be against the rules.
Mm-mm.
You got to go.
I got to get ready.
Okay.
I adore you.
Take care.
I adore you back.
Have a good second show.
Thank you.
Alright.
Take care.
Okay.
Bye.
Bye!
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪
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