(upbeat music) - I'm flying, Jack.

- Yeah, you are.

- I'm flying.

- [Both] Whoa.

(upbeat music) - 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."

So, we've left the theater district and made our way about 30 blocks south to Union Square.

It's our first ever off-Broadway sandwich.

We're at the Daryl Roth Theatre, and we're about to set sail on the ship of dreams because today we're at "Titanique."

♪ My hearts beating down - The show inserts Celine Dion, herself, and her hit songs into the story we all know about Jack and Rose to create a new show that's been called deranged, a fever dream miracle, hilarious, and one of the funniest musicals in town.

"Titanique" has been playing off-Broadway for nearly three years.

That's a lot longer than most Broadway shows.

Today we're meeting a star of the stage and screen Tommy Bracco.

Tommy's been delighting audiences on Broadway since his debut in "Newsies" in 2012.

Then, he hilariously stole every scene he was in in "Pretty Woman" and rocked out in "The Heart of Rock and Roll."

When Tommy's involved, you know it's gonna be a good time.

Let's go, full steam ahead.

- Garen.

- Great to see you.

- I'm so excited.

- I'm so happy to be here at "Titanique" today.

- Ah, I'm so excited that you're here.

I can't wait, I'm so excited.

- How was your first voyage of the day for show?

- It was great.

- Yeah.

- It was so much fun.

Yeah.

- So, what is the plan in the time sandwiched between today?

- It's a little ambitious, the plan.

- Let's do it.

- So, I'm gonna take you to my favorite restaurant, The Stand.

They have the best food, and then we're gonna go to Partea, which is a place that has claw machines.

- [Garen] Oh.

- So, we're gonna play some games.

- Oh, it's on Tommy Bracco, let's do this.

- Let's go, shall we.

- Let's ship out, Tommy Bracco.

- Oh.

- I'll follow you.

- I see what you did there.

- It was a boat joke.

(light music) So, you've done three Broadway shows.

CBS' "Big Brother," MTV's "The Challenge," done all this stuff, like.

- Yes.

And listen, a lot of people told me that I wouldn't be able to jump from reality TV back to Broadway, back and forth.

- Yeah.

- But somehow I'm doing it and it's working out.

And I love that.

I think it's, I'm all about adventure.

I'm all about experiences and the fact that I've been able to make a career in having these experiences is such a gift.

And it's a huge blessing.

And I'm determined to prove the people wrong that said that it wasn't possible.

- So what's harder, doing eight shows a week or doing reality?

- Theater tests what you can do and reality TV tests who you are.

At the end of the day, it's all about connecting with people.

And in theater we meet a new group of people when we meet our new cast on day one of rehearsals.

- Yeah.

- And we do that multiple times, like throughout our careers.

So, it was something that I felt confident with.

- Yeah, so you had an edge.

- I did, yeah, I did.

(upbeat music) Oh my God.

Not normal.

(upbeat music) - So a lot of performers, and particularly casting directors look at us like, "Oh, that person's a dancer or a singer first," or whatever.

How do you see yourself?

- So, I grew up acting, I grew up dancing, but at the end of the day, I really am just being myself.

Like, I literally, whenever I get a role, I don't wanna necessarily play that character.

I wanna bring Tommy Bracco to that role.

- Mm, and people probably have a good sense that they hire you, they know what they're getting.

- I do feel like that, yeah.

Like I have a very specific energy.

- You do?

(Tommy laughing) (upbeat music) Were you always as confident in who you are?

- No, I was not.

- Really?

- I wasn't confident as a kid.

I didn't feel like I fit in.

And I would go to bed and replay all the conversations that I had with my friends and just think about where I went wrong, what I said wrong and what I could have said differently.

I would just second guess myself nonstop.

And at some point I learned to just let that go and throw that out the window.

I don't even know what did it.

Maybe it was being gay that like just gave me the confidence and now I don't feel that anymore.

I say crazy (beep), I don't care.

I let it go.

That's it.

- Let it go.

- Yep, that's it.

- All right, should we head the Partea to go play some claw games?

- Alright, I'm excited.

- Sounds like a really good use of our time.

- Let's burn off the meal.

- Yeah.

And let's go win something.

(upbeat music) What's the difference between, you know, performing on Broadway and off-Broadway for you?

- The money.

- Woo.

- Let's go right to the punch.

- Yeah.

- It's the money.

- Yeah.

- But honestly, everybody that's there really wants to be there.

And is there because they love to perform, love to connect with the audience.

- You can really feel that when you see the show.

- Yeah, there's something about being downtown versus in Times Square where all the tourists are.

- Yeah.

- This is real New York.

- Yeah, gritty.

- You know what I mean?

It also has that exchange.

Like, it feels like there's some improv in the show almost.

Like really?

- Oh yeah.

- [Tommy] It's a big SNL skit live every night.

- That's all it is.

- [Tommy] And it's like one big inside joke.

- Yeah, and in this show you play Victor Garber.

- Yes.

- But your version of Victor Garber's a little bit different.

- A little bit different because- - Just a little.

- Just a little bit.

- Yeah.

- Victor Garber, he's got this like, eloquent way of speaking and then I walk in the room and I talk like this.

I'm from Staten Island.

And it's like, okay.

It's an inside joke.

- Yes, 100% - And it's a totally different take.

The fact that Celine Dion is a character in the show.

- Yeah.

- She's narrating the thing.

It's really a good time.

(upbeat music) Alright, so Tommy, we have a special surprise for you.

- I'm so nervous.

- From friends of the show and former "Broadway Sandwich" guest Ellyn Marsh.

- Oh!

- Who you did "Pretty Woman" with.

- My God!

- Ready?

- What?

- Hey love.

- Oh, I love you.

- How you doin'?

I heard from my friends at "Broadway Sandwich" that you were doing an episode and I was like, "There is literally no better person."

Now, I was on "Broadway Sandwich" like a really long time ago and then they sort of like went through the list and then they got to you which is so great 'cause you're so fun and so cute.

And they were like, and they didn't know who you were.

But I sent them videos of you dancing on newspapers and stuff and they still were a bit confused.

- That's so nice, she put in a good word.

- And I was like, you know, it's no big deal that you're on like season 12.

Don't even get in your head about that because you're great and you're the best.

- Thank you.

- I can't even be mean.

And I can't wait to see your episode.

And I love you so much.

- Ellyn is somebody who, you know, you meet so many people in this industry.

She's somebody that is a staple that will be in my life forever.

(upbeat music) - So, Tommy, did you play a lot of video games as a kid?

- No.

I'm more hands on.

I like to be involved.

I like to be in on the action.

This is a place where you are a part of the game.

- I just like to win, so, you know.

- We might have a little bit of a hard time here today 'cause there could only be one winner.

- It's on, let's go, Tommy Bracco.

- Please, please win, I need to beat him.

- Oh, oh.

- Are you?

Can I curse?

'Cause I'm mad.

- All right, all right, my turn, my turn.

My turn, my turn.

Let me see if I can get it.

- [Tommy] I'm gonna be really mad if you got this.

Come on fall.

Ah, that's made me look terrible.

- Chicken pizza's mine.

Sorry Tommy.

You know, you're doing eight shows a week.

It must be exhausting.

I remember what it's like.

It's tough.

So, how do you find balance?

You know, with the weekly schedule?

- You know, I think it's really important to prioritize your life outside of theater too.

- Yeah.

- I'm very close with my family.

You know, I'm at my mother's house for dinner every night that I'm off, I'm at my parent's house.

- Which is what, one night a week?

- Right, one night a week, I'm off.

- You're getting that marinara.

- I'm getting chicken cutlets, fresh.

(upbeat music) - Tommy Bracco!

You did it.

- Thank God.

- My friend.

(upbeat music) - This.

- Tommy.

- Yes!

- You did it.

- Oh my God.

This may be the greatest prize I ever won.

- We're chicken pizza twins, cheers.

- Chicken pizza twins.

- Speaking of your family, you're not the only one who's been a star in reality TV and you have a podcast with them about reality TV.

Tell me about that.

- We're all obsessed with reality TV.

My cousin, Angelica, she was on "The Traitors," which was a huge hit.

- That's right.

Yeah.

- So, she's a part of the podcast.

We do it together with my father who has not been on a reality TV show.

- I was gonna say, what show was he on?

- Not yet.

- He plays the part of Dad.

- We gotta get him on something.

- [Garen] Right.

- He's arguably more obsessed than either of us, but it's a lot of fun.

We have a good time.

- Obviously, we have try to win a sandwich.

- Sandwiches, yes.

- Duh.

Okay.

- Oh my God.

- Let's see what happens.

Oh, oh, ah.

♪ Ha Ha!

- See?

- Ah!

Oh, oh, oh.

- Come on.

Oh, uh.

- Tommy!

(Tommy cheering) - Yes!

- and pepperoni sandwich!

- Yes!

- It was a co-win.

It was a co-win.

- Oh my God.

- So cute.

- Of course I only won the Italian-inspired toys.

- Marinara only.

(upbeat music) All right, Tommy Bracco, this is our 60 Second Sandwich.

I'm gonna put 60 seconds on the clock.

- Okay.

- Answer as many questions as you can with the time given.

Sound good?

- Sounds great.

- Ready?

- Let's go, I'm ready.

- You're gonna be great?

- I think so.

- Time starts now.

Okay, all right, go-to karaoke song?

- Anything in "Wicked."

- Oh, good answer.

- Yep.

- Ainsley Broom wants to know what musical inspired you to pursue your dream?

- "Beauty and the Beast."

- Most embarrassing onstage mishap?

- Um, uh, maybe when I, it wasn't on stage, it was off-stage.

I had to go to the bathroom really bad and I left the stage in the middle of the show to go to the bathroom and then get back on.

- Nature calls.

So you missed the whole scene.

- No big deal.

- I did.

- No one knew.

- I didn't realize that the strike had ended.

I had no idea.

Okay.

- Ever been on a cruise?

- Yes.

- Performed on one?

- No.

- Okay, dream role?

- Timon in "The Lion King."

- Oh my God, I'm buying my ticket right now.

Favorite smell?

- Gasoline or a new shed.

- I love gas too.

Least favorite smell?

- Bad hygiene.

- Oh yeah, the worst.

- Kind of mean, but that's... - What's your favorite non-theater hobby?

- Non-theater hobby, eating and family.

- Oh, beautiful.

Tips or tricks for learning lines.

Five seconds.

- Am, uh, memorize 'em.

- There you go!

Times up.

(buzzer buzzing) Way to go, Tommy.

Let's get outta here and get to the theater.

- All right, let's go, let's go.

(upbeat music) This show, there's something about it.

So, it started with like a bunch of friends creating like an inside joke.

- Yeah.

- And now it feels like the audience is in on that joke.

It's a very intimate feel in this theater.

And that's why- - 100%.

- The truth is the show wouldn't work on Broadway.

And they were smart because they knew that.

They stuck it out off-Broadway and now we're doing our 1,000th performance.

There's a reason why it's successful.

So, I'm a big musical theater nerd.

So, I wanted to add some bits from some of my favorite musical theater performances into my "Titanique" performance.

- Oh yeah.

- I wanted to pay homage.

- Shall we see?

- Yes.

I obviously have to show you.

- Let's do it.

- Okay.

So, at one point I'm at the top here and it just reminded me of Daphne Rubin-Vega in "Out Tonight."

So, I had to give her little- - From "Rent."

- From "Rent," of course, yes.

So, I had to give a little boom, boom, boom, boom.

As she does in "Out Tonight."

- Love it.

- Right before.

Just like little Easter eggs like that.

- [Garen] Yeah.

- Then at the end of the number.

- For the diehards.

- I come here and I give you a nice little Cassie moment.

I go ba da da da.

- Uh uh.

- And I- - Oh, that's right!

- I end the first number just like this in the Cassie back bend.

And then I pop off.

And then here, last but not least, this is my favorite one.

I'm right here, we each get to do our little improv and I throw in the "Newsies" choreography.

We do the "seize the day."

Bam ba da da da da da da da.

Bam bam ba.

Da da.

Every night.

- But no newspaper?

- No newspaper this time.

(Garen laughing) (upbeat music) - Oh my God.

- This is sick.

It just so happens that tonight is the 1000th show of "Titanique".

You're here on a very special night.

- Congratulations "Titanique."

- And here we are.

- This is nice.

I feel like this is very spacious.

- My dressing room corner.

- Yeah.

- Welcome to my humble abode.

- Lovely.

- This is my cute little corner.

I got my hairspray, I got my water.

Some speakers.

And this is it.

This is where I do my warmups.

- Yeah.

- But it's time for you to go.

- Oh, all right.

- Okay, so- - Well, this has been the best day.

- It has.

It really has.

- I love my adventure on the "Titanique."

- I know.

- With you.

- Thank you, and I'm glad I got to kick your ass in those claw machines.

Thank you so much, Garen, thank you.

- Excuse me, I wanna rematch.

- Have a great day.

- great to see you.

- And I will see you soon.

- Love you, bye Tommy.

(door closing) (upbeat music)