>> Hear from a lax and Tony and who's making a name for himself on Broadway and then an educator from Appalachia Pence, his experience as a gay man in a book of poems.

My interviews with Broadway sensation Colton Ryan and educator and writer Willie Carver.

>> That's now on connections.

♪ ♪ >> Thank you for joining me for connections today.

I'm Renee Shaw.

We've got 2 fantastic interviews lined up first, stop a Lexington man as one of Broadway's shining stars.

The Tony nominated Colton Ryan talk to us recently by Zoom from us.

Mikey, New York, setting.

He's and the Broadway musical New York, New York, reprising the role of Jimmy Doyle musician chasing super stardom after World War 2 based on Robert De Niro's character in the 1977 Martin Scorsese directed film.

♪ >> I called and how Arya.

It's Good to see you.

>> Good to see you, too.

Thanks for having me.

>> And love the background.

Where are ya?

You love the background.

I love the background is just my little.

>> He had a tear in town is a while.

My little apartment.

This is corporate living is not my for sure.

Well, corporate limits not so shabby.

Let's not again, it's funny.

Everything is like.

They're not the right dimensions for the room.

Here here live that way.

Yes, like oversize for the size of the Renault is actually all I'd like to war.

But then something else will be over size and something else will be dwarfed.

Well, that's kind of midcentury mixup.

You know, that's how they like to roll with that.

That's a really good spent.

Yeah, I tried that.

Yeah.

I guess I'm a spinner for a living.

Really?

Yeah.

Okay.

So let's talk about all the great things you're doing.

First of all, congratulations on this role.

Thank you.

Yes, so tell me about it.

And first of all, let's just give our audience some background about how you got involved in theater and this kind of rise that are on right now.

>> Sure.

>> for those who don't minds, Colton Ryan and I'm a proud alumni of the school for creating performing Arts in Lexington.

and that's where the whole kernel started 4th grade indoctrinated into the after school musical cause.

That's we didn't have sports.

So that's what that's what we had.

And so start with a musical lies version of the Hobbit.

And if you can imagine what that was in the Wizard of Oz and then so on and so on.

And I got the bug pretty hard now I'm 27 and I'm here and the rest is kind of money to me.

How I how can you be possible?

But but I think that's where I started.

>> Yeah.

So I mean, that's the question.

Like how did you go from scab?

A and Lexington to New York, Broadway.

>> A lot of hard work.

A lot of >> that's been in a really, really, really, really beautiful support around me.

A lot of love of my life.

>> But talent, though, I mean, this happen for everybody, right, that many people as I and a lot of people don't succeed.

>> Well, some some would if you can make it there.

Then you'll make it anywhere.

That's from the show.

Yes, we all know that good will get things like to say is that I get a nickel from the marketing team to fight >> while you pay the rent, so or maybe not after corporate suite?

I don't know how that works.

But yeah, there don't ask, don't tell, right.

Does let it work for you.

But seriously, like when was your big break?

Like when did you know?

I'm breaking in right now and I'm on a trajectory upward here.

>> Well, I mean, my Broadway debut when I was a little bit younger.

>> Was 21.

I left school and I I did the original company of Jeremy Hanson on Broadway.

If you know that show.

But then some more stuff from Broadway of Dunham.

Some stuff on camera.

It's actually quite funny.

Every time I do I think, well, I'm very and are proud of that.

But then every time they go, what's it like having your breakout role?

So broken out here?

A couple times.

I But I imagine hopefully with well with the current acknowledgment with this role that's come with it, maybe hope they will be asked that anymore.

And maybe I'm just >> here.

You know, right?

Well, when you're young like you are right or you're probably be asked that quite a bit.

You know, okay.

So I do want to ask you about there are a lot of well-known theater folk from Kentucky.

I mean, we kind of take it.

Yeah, you know, I mean, you're even though you are does break out star.

There's a path that's been blaze for you.

So notice.

Talk making it on Broadway as a Kentucky.

And is there like a little fraternity of you all to kind of help and a fight each other and, you know, mentor each other and someone.

>> Well, you know, it's actually quite There's actually a fellow scaf alumni in show with me, my friend Haley Fish, we grew up together.

She danced my sister all grown up and die in Evans.

And so we're quite literally from the same neighborhood.

Essentially at school.

Yeah, which never happens.

in terms of the sort of this sort of like him.

The visit fraternity, that's what Laura Bell Bundy and Steve Disease in the low chase is.

And yeah, I'm very, very, very keenly aware of We have not met any of them.

Maybe I could get my pen soon.

That could mean that can meet them at Rush week or something.

But now that hopefully maybe made it to the club.

But all know that we're a lot of my heroes are are from the same places me?

Yeah, because the show you anything is possible.

It doesn't matter where you come from.

Does matters where you're going, right?

Yeah.

>> Yeah.

Talk about how being in Lexington, this cap a program, how it prepared you for this, right?

I mean, had you not had that experience?

Can you imagine you being where you are now?

>> To be blunt?

The theater's save my life.

I was a kid, you you build media and I know that I think about all the time because when I was a young man, I you know.

I'm a very disciplined person.

But you know, but I do this for a living.

So as you can imagine, the way my mind works as a child that doesn't always fit all the boxes and once you recognize that, we're my my teachers, that's Kappa.

Mister Thomas missed Lob Mister Marsh.

He's a great guy.

Great educators.

Art educators new that really you can.

You can find the goodness in any child.

From any place.

If they're going to see it.

And you, especially when you KET.

Teaching the arts.

You know a lot about yourself that way so I reflect on it quite a bit because frankly, I know how.

Still even in this landscape, how much of a miracle.

And it is that even scalp of just exists.

I think it should be a right for all children.

I think it.

He's the reason I'm here today.

It's not even just as that man on the stage.

But as the man I am in life I'm now currently this moment terribly proud of.

So yeah, I couldn't do without.

>> Well, I'm terribly proud of you.

I'm not even know.

And you just having you said that the fact that the power of the arts can do so much to heal what ails us, really?

You know who we are, what we are and what we.

What we think people should think of us like it, reconciles all those things in a well, I think especially currently.

>> The way the world is.

Ted and what we know are handing to young people.

You know.

All I know is the arts have never her soul.

It's only built them.

for that reason, I just think.

I feel like I'm so.

Proud to be of my upbringing in Kentucky because of that, not in spite of it.

Hear hear.

>> Do me a bit more about your role in New York.

New York got a seller.

So >> My I mean, this being a big spending.

New musical called New York New York have played the league guys.

You need oil and he's a New Yorker and he falls in love and the rest is pretty classic and fun to follow along.

And it goes for all the scenes of life living here and and by the end, we may we may sing a song that you might now >> I might.

Haha, you want a little bit for us.

We would mine.

>> now you can come.

You can come out.

You're seeing a lot that night to come.

>> I know.

Yeah, absolutely.

Well as what we're going to save it for that.

Hey, we don't want to ruin your boys, right?

You got to say that up.

>> That's got to say that, you know, you're like me.

You've got to say, look, it's so much in his life.

>> Yeah.

So how much do you identify with your character?

Oh, gosh, I'm second quite.

Quite strange.

Really in the show on the son of an of an Irishman and Irish family.

I am.

My father was born and Arlen Temporary County family still over there.

and all the music of Kander.

An ad who are.

Really one of the big pillars of.

But this art form is because here they wrote Cabaret, Chicago.

Even know them.

You know, even even the layman's person would know that.

and I used to quite literally the connective tissue to my grandparents.

And I would listen to old songs on his gate or something like there's an torch songs like like Franken.

You know, Martin and stuff like that in the car and this whole thing is that 1946, post-war it just I'm wearing the clothes that I know.

My grandfather, the role and over in his grave to see her and I know it's also just I'm just proud of it because it's so.

It's hard.

It's leaving.

And if you if you ever follow me, but I mostly play sad boys until this moment.

So very, very I'm very, very proud of.

But from a mother's sake, I think she's very happy to see me very happy on stage.

>> Yeah.

Nice change of pace.

Tell me about when you found out that you were nominated for a Tony award, like, what are you doing?

What are you wearing?

What were you thinking?

Can you remember anything about that?

>> Moment?

Yeah, it's quite boring, though.

I mean about I really I was pretty convinced that wasn't going to happen.

So I was trying to sleep through it and it wasn't working but my fiance was watching next to me in bed and very anxious about it.

And and then she screamed a little bit and to which I was like, no.

She was like, yes, I was like, you know, you're messing with me and she said, I'm not touch him hitting me.

And then and my dogs pounced on me.

And then we call our loved ones right after that.

And the rest is up in the minutiae.

But I'll never forget.

The look on my mom's face >> you don't waste time.

Yes, yeah.

She's just.

>> I'm reflecting, of course, a lot on this moment.

And in.

Trying to be as clear-headed about as possible and and the thing I KET coming back to is just the love like I cannot believe.

How lucky I am to have so much love in my life, especially my families.

My mother's and she's a single mom.

You know, raise me and my sister raise money raise is right in my opinion.

And drones to dance class into play practice in some of their across town.

And it was after her work and all that and all the sacrifice, all the >> the cost.

As I get older, I understand the cost of that.

If this meant that it was all worth it, then.

That's priceless.

For me.

>> So when your acceptance speech, the first thing you'll say is thanks, mom.

>> And the last the last the last invest last.

>> Save the best for last.

I can't imagine how immensely proud she is of you.

And she would probably say to you sacrifice was all worth it.

Even if you don't get the Tony Award, right?

It's still birth.

It sure was.

Also the Murray when you know you're in that I don't think positively when we're there.

>> One of the awards there later.

So if you want to let it July 11th, so yes, it should be around the time.

And if you follow the news, but we're on, we're going to go improv, unscripted style.

So it's going to be yeah, it the chaos might be fun.

You know, must-see TV for sure.

And I think it might be it might be.

Yeah, yeah.

All that's going on and certainly to be something to watch you're nominated some of your biggest, I think it's inspiration.

Ys in Broadway, Josh Groban, a Christian Boyle.

Ben Platt Brian D'Arcy James.

So tell us about like being in that league.

I can.

You qualify and quantify.

>> Yeah.

Yeah, I'm I'm.

I met them all there.

>> Another fellow, not AJ Air Sunday.

They're all just like.

Lovely people and couldn't be more.

Understanding and welcoming to to me in this process.

it is strange because and 2 of those you just mentioned like Anderson, James Christian moral.

They're kind of thing, you know, coming from Kentucky.

A lot of our exposures just is right here.

You know, cast Elms and I quite literally learn how to do this job a little bit.

From just their voices listening growing up.

So to occupy the same sentences as them in this way.

it's very humble.

He >> what's next?

What do you want to be next, Todd?

I don't >> try to stay really president right now.

I'll be here for a good long while it seems like it seems like things are going well here.

So with that show.

So I'll be here for a minute.

I don't know what's next.

I I know that.

You know, Broadway is a no joke and drink it.

2 gallons of water a day.

I.

His every 4 it's.

>> I mean, is that part?

Is that a job requirement to drink that much?

But I think yes, sure.

Well, it's just like you got to KET.

You've got to KET Bluebird.

K did you get a lot out?

So I imagine I will be here for a moment.

I'll take a little nice break.

But but beyond I'm just thankful for this recognition just because I know what it means in the landscape of of.

This business.

That's, you know, not so much the art form, but in this business.

So I'm I'm thankful because hopefully the next thing will will be sooner rather than later.

You know, what is your dream part, Bill?

I mean, as you think about what you want your body of work to reflect.

>> And meaning and what in symbolism and maybe what gives others.

What is it?

>> Quite I'm writing it kind of working on myself.

but it changes all the time.

So I don't know.

All I know is that as long as it keeps coming from, I guess.

Then I take the time later reflect back.

Maybe why why I had to do it.

so far I'm just.

Thankful that people let me KET doing it.

But also I'm just so proud of the way.

The things I've done that come out and I'm really, really proud of this one.

>> Well, at age, 27, the sky is the limit and beyond right now I'm out hopefully on mouth to God's ears.

We wish so much the best for you.

The Tony Awards and thereafter.

And you make Kentucky proud, KET shining.

That means a lot to take in.

Thank you.

Stay with us.

As we talk next to Willie Carver, a longtime educator who tends his experience as a gay Appalachian.

>> Hoping to elevate the voices of the LGBTQ+ community.

>> And the eastern Kentucky region.

♪ Thank you for staying with us.

We're joined now by a longtime educator Willie Edward Taylor Carver junior.

>> Kentucky's 2022 teacher of the Year who's written a book of poems called gay poems for Red States that reveals the relationships that informed his identity.

As one critic put it, Carver's work creates a mirror for career.

Use and through his heartfelt pros provides a lens to see Appalachia.

And we welcome Lily said this side of the studio because you've been on the other side of the studio.

I have only talked about education issues.

We have that that even made it into >> Thank you for now, all my name.

we're going to come on the screen for a inforcement later on.

This is this is great.

And at first I want to say is we were getting ready to start that I told you, but it didn't read like a traditional Po lam.

>> And you say what to that may be good.

But I had this.

I had this thought really fill my up a lot.

And that's when I wrote this.

And I said not that applicants don't know public or can to poker because obviously we have we have beautiful pilots.

But I said what if we had invented round publicly that mimics the way we use language, a beautiful Weiss and I really wanted to do that until that met telling stories and that men flourishes and that Matt long sentences that didn't even necessarily want to go anywhere what my mom talks to buy my uncles and aunts talk.

So I really wanted to do that.

>> But it also really pretty said emotion.

And it takes you to a place where you can envision a young W**** being with his mom right store.

so, yeah, I mean, it really does kind of chronicle your life experiences and it shows us Appalachia in a way that maybe we don't always see.

>> you know, there was.

I asked a lot of questions to myself about what it means to have an inner child or what that is.

Because when I wrote there will be some time that I would say that that's a bit too emotional or this sentence is too much.

And I would go to a write-in.

I could feel this kid say Donna Rice, me, you know, he said so many people tried to and I die rights myself to get you here.

So don't write me.

So I would not or I set and how cathartic is that for you?

I think it specifically it's nice to know not just to to let go of things, but to know that that could still there somewhere, you know, whatever yearning see, had whatever hopes he had, he can still get he got me here.

So I'll let him do what he wants to now.

Yeah.

>> Well, well course, as I mentioned, we've had you on to talk about education issues and you were the 2022 Kentucky teacher of the year.

And but you talk about at the very beginning and maybe a Reddit elsewhere about your experience being a school teacher for of a long time.

And then taking a pivot.

And I want you to share with us that experience and why it was important for you at this point in your life to embrace your full identity, full throttle.

>> You know, I I've always been a gay teacher.

I'm a gay person who teaches.

And what started.

And it was always a struggle right?

But I thought I want to meet people where they are.

And I want to help especially protect young kids.

I will make sure that they have a space where they can be free.

And and the current political climate.

Wyatt should not be a problem, became a problem for And what I saw was.

The voices got really dangerous that we were being protected because those dangerous voices are now being treated as if they're politically.

No, not.

It's not normal is not normal to attack children.

It's not normal to attack.

A teacher does for being.

And I actually was I was at a Ted talk and I heard a teacher could live through a tornado.

Talk about the experience of thinking it wasn't real, but then filling the wall so that the white and I just started crying because I thought like I've been in a tornado for 10 years.

I don't know that I can last very much longer and I left the room crying and another teacher who recognized what was going on to my head whispered in my ear and said even Dumbledore had to leave home ports.

So that.

That really helped me understand that we could have a purpose that extends beyond what we thought that used to be and in my classroom can extend beyond me being a teacher in the classroom.

I can be an LGBTQ person who just speaks truth to his own experience.

And but does the work on it?

Yeah.

>> How many kids, former students have that while the course the book just came out, so maybe they haven't got a chance to read it.

But are there are few that you have in mind?

It's like I want to make sure they get a copy this.

the funny thing is when I got the hard copies.

>> There were 3 people 3 extend into a new ad might not even be able to get them on their own time going to get them to them.

And one of them just message me out of the blue and said I hope it's not too much a bother and asked if he could get a copy.

So it means a lot to me that I I what.

The students were going through and and I hope this helps them.

You know, sometimes I think processing with another so useful.

And there are some types of processing that our books.

Yeah.

>> That the title.

Tell us about the title.

of originally I had a the truth will stand in the world on fire which grew from eastern Kentucky.

You know, because people say it for everything.

>> But that I thought just because people don't know home for red and the University Press of Kentucky said, oh, this is your title with it because I'm writing for my and for whatever complicated world that we're and my people are in red states.

Good people.

Kentucky is brimming with good, caring, loving people.

And if you want to know what love looks like, go to eastern Kentucky and you will see there is not a man or woman or child who's not making sure that everyone is covered.

That's the love that I want to see extend all people.

So I wanted to write to them.

I want to write about them.

I wanted to celebrate people who might not know to celebrate me yet.

All right.

>> So talk to us about the culture there when it comes to being a member of the lgbtqia.

You know, I think Apple Watch is no different for probably most cool places and that sometimes an order to protect what you think is You see anything that you don't already recognize as potentially a threat.

I really think that's what it is.

>> And so I can almost did Meyer this to to protect yourself from any your culture.

But the truth silencing LGBTQ.

People predates Appalachia And so it is really indoor places for LGBTQ youth, especially to see themselves that matters more than anything else to me at this moment, both sides getting access to health care in height.

It's that when when I get to these young people, they say things to me like I've never seen an LGBTQ adult more.

I've never heard a teacher say the word and when we think we're not being political, what we're really doing is sending a message to these young people, but who they are shouldn't exist or really shouldn't exist and good spaces and these could should exist everywhere.

>> Good spaces spent interest in the to use that term.

Good space is what you mean by that.

>> School school is a good You know, we might that would have been a political model where some people think that there's some scary other school out there.

But if you look at what most people say about the school, their children go to Americans love their local school school was always a safe place for My parents were both super hard working, but we like any other family had tragedy strike a few times.

So there were times when we didn't have electricity.

There were times when when we lost our school had food school have walked and warm water school had people who were watching out for me and I didn't even know who they were.

But I KET that it was from my interactions with my teachers.

I want every Taub in Kentucky were talking America to feel like there's a space where they can be and they're welcome exactly as they are people care about them.

Yeah.

>> The fact that you red states here.

So you're trying to make a political point right?

>> You know it.

It's impossible not to make a political point when you're LGBTQ because basically, you know me putting on glasses is a political point.

Me going to the grocery store with my husband is a political point.

When other people create circumstances that make your life political, everything you do is political.

So when I made this title, I'm not going to pretend like I live in a state where are the month?

I don't think that for the majority of people support me.

But where the politics of that state down the politics of our state do not support LGBTQ people.

>> Real quickly, one poem in particular that was the hardest for you to write I'm sorry, Chris.

I'm sorry, Chris.

Yes, there's It was really hard for me to position myself in that because I was on there.

>> And some white stuff that makes sense.

so I don't want to make it about me.

But also want to tell the story.

I want to tell the story of being I know Jimmy to KET her wasn't there for someone else.

>> So to know what we're talking about in greater detail.

We encourage you to look up the book, Gay Palms for RedState written by Willie Edward Taylor Carver Junior's been a pleasure having you with us.

And it's been a pleasure.

Also haven't Colton Ryan with us earlier today.

Our best wishes to him.

Stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter and listen to our program on podcast of the address you see on your screen until I see you again.

Take really good care.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪