#207 Broadway Star Taurean Everett on Dreams & Representation

This week on The Salisha Show, Salisha Thomas sits down with Broadway star Taurean Everett to explore his incredible creative journey and discuss the importance of dreams and representation in the world of theater. Known for his roles in productions like Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Miss Saigon, and Death Becomes Her, Taurean shares stories about his rise to Broadway stardom, his unique perspective on authenticity, and the discipline required to succeed in the performing arts. From touring with Priscilla Queen of the Desert to working with legendary designers like Bob Mackie, Taurean offers an inspiring look at the drive and intention behind his success. Recorded as part of the Broadway Podcast Network, this episode celebrates the power of resilience and the impact of representation. Special thanks to Gotham Network NYC, TyNia Brandon, and Big Red Studios for their support in bringing this heartfelt conversation to life. Tune in for a captivating discussion filled with positivity, insight, and motivation to chase your dreams!

#queerrepresentationbroadway #broadwaybehindthescenes #broadwayrepresentation #authenticityinperformance #performingartsjourney

#taureaneverett #broadwayactors #successstories #broadwaydreams #queerrepresentationintheater

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:40 - Introducing Tori
03:05 - Tori’s Essence
09:56 - Defining Success
18:33 - The Superficial Aspects
19:41 - Body Image and Physique
22:19 - Reflections on Your Dad
25:36 - Playing a Superhero Role
27:42 - Fashion Interests
32:24 - Broadway Dreams
34:05 - Auditioning Insights
36:09 - Destiny and Opportunities
37:56 - Pursuing Your Desires
39:54 - Michelle Williams Influence
45:13 - Insights on Motherhood
46:20 - Advice to Your Younger Self
47:55 - Final Questions
50:08 - Salisha’s Outro

@salishathomas @thesalishashow, www.thesalishashow.com

Many thanks to Gotham Network in NYC, TyNia Brandon for writing and laying vocals down for the updated theme song and Big Red Studios for the intro video wherever you watch the latest season of The Salisha Show!

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:20

Hello and what is up? It's me, Salish, and welcome or welcome back to the Salisha Show. Y'all, this is my first episode postpartum interviewing a friend, and I feel so happy to be here. I'm also on a whole different wavelength than I've ever been in my whole entire life, okay? And my guest today also, he's always on a different wavelength. And yesterday, he just did the today show. I'm like, baby, why are you not tell nobody? This his life, he just be he is a full-blown Broadway dream, okay? Talking a little bit about him, he toured with Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, in Guys and Dolls. If for those of you who um are listening in and you're not watching this episode, just to put into perspective how beautiful he is, even though I caught him, I forgot to tell him it was on camera. He's so beautiful. He's been a model on Project Runway, if that does not put anything in perspective for your brain, okay? Um, Broadway, when it comes to Broadway, he's done a handful of shows. When I think my in my high school brain, in my college brain, what I thought Broadway would look like and B, he is the full epitome of what Celicia in college would think Broadway would look like. That is who he is. He cannot even help himself. Some of his shows, um, Mama Mia, the one that was here like a decade ago, not the one that's currently on Broadway, Mama Mia on Broadway, Miss Sai Gon, oh, the share show. He was Bob Maggie's assistant. Oh my gosh. Mulan Rouge, the musical, which is around the time where we met. He was just about to go into that show. And most powerfully, he is currently in Death Becomes Her. If you guys don't know, let me tell you, it is such a vibe. It's starring Jennifer Samard, Megan Hilte, uh, Michelle Williams from Destiny's Child. And it's based on the iconic film with Goldie Hahn, uh, Bruce Willis, yeah, and Meryl Streep. And this one is also starring him as Shigal. Y'all, please put your hands together and help me welcome Torian Everett.

SPEAKER_05 2:38

Hi, I'm Torian Everett. Thank you, Silicia, for having me on this show.

SPEAKER_03 2:43

I am so happy to have you.

SPEAKER_05 2:45

You're amazing, and congratulations on your new family member. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_02 2:51

Like, what the heck?

unknown 2:52

I think.

SPEAKER_05 2:53

What is your life? Like, that is I cannot imagine having a child. Period, though. That was it.

SPEAKER_03 3:03

That was the last time I saw you was at Broadway Flea Market and you were working, baby.

SPEAKER_05 3:10

Literally on the streets trying to raise money for Broadway Care's Equity Fights AIDS. And you came over in front of all these people, yelled at me, you gonna be on my show or what? You're gonna be on the show or what? How dare you come over here yelling at me like this in front of these people don't know. Okay, I'm coming to the show. And here I am.

SPEAKER_03 3:33

Well, I you know, you have this essence about you that feels very like I and I imagine for people who don't know you, you're somebody who they wish they could be your friend, and it feels very um, I want to get to know him, I want to be his friend. That's so strange. And so that's just kind of like the vibe that you have.

SPEAKER_04 3:53

Yeah, thanks.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

You're wearing a hat that says immortal. There's something that also feels very otherworldly about you.

SPEAKER_05 4:01

I appreciate that, and I think you feel that because I believe that. I think that there's so much out there, and so many minds in this world are so small and truncated, and they are are binary, and like everything is black and white, and we plug ourselves in and we do what we're so supposed to do. And I really just think that our spirits, our energies can transcend the rules. And when you recognize that and when you are able to lean into that, people gravitate towards you, which is what I think you're saying that you you've experienced being with you. Yeah. And it's not that I think I'm better or worse or any, I just think that why not? You know, why not try to do that?

SPEAKER_03 4:52

When did you just when did you? I'm sorry, you've given me so many goosebumps. And for those of you who are watching, this is my first time like out of the house if I start lacking if I have strong feelings.

SPEAKER_05 5:02

I'm telling these people that you don't have to.

SPEAKER_03 5:04

I'm like, what if this is new? It's so new. And he's making me feel things also. I'm like, am I getting your pronouns right?

SPEAKER_05 5:10

Like, yes, yes, yes. Okay. He's him.

SPEAKER_03 5:13

He, him. Yeah. So when did you discover this? When did you discover that like your essence?

SPEAKER_05 5:19

I don't know that there was like a date or like a flip switch, you know, or a switch flipped.

SPEAKER_03 5:27

We know what you mean. Right.

SPEAKER_05 5:29

I I think it has just been growth and asking a lot of questions. Uh when I was a child, my mother will tell you, I just ask questions all the time. It's just like, I don't understand. I don't understand. I don't understand. So I ask questions for understanding. And when something doesn't make sense to me, sometimes it gets um filtered down to just being an idea that someone said, just do it. And I'm the quick I'm the person to say why why I feel that why? And so I I feel like coming into myself has taken a lot of time, and anyone can come into themselves, and when you do, people gravitate towards that authenticity. Um, even, you know, just silly things like and elementary as it as it can be, like even just growing up as a gay child, right? Like the before I knew what it was, I was told that I was a bad person, that I was this, you know, something was wrong with me.

SPEAKER_03 6:37

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 6:37

And not not necessarily from my parents, but like the world. The world was society, you're wrong. Kids are. The fact that I'm a dark, my skin is dark. Melanin, which is gorgeous. Yes. To be clear, come on, um the world says, you're wrong. You're bad, you're not worthy. You're not, you're not, you're not. And I was like, Yes, I am.

SPEAKER_03 7:03

You've always known that you are worthy.

SPEAKER_05 7:05

Yes. Come on. I mean, the and it's crazy because at a young age, people try to tell you that you're not.

SPEAKER_03 7:11

That you're not. I feel like most of my adult life has been unlearning what Exactly like everything that was ingrained in me in high school. Before high school, I was so confident. Then high school comes and I was like, wait, oh, I suck at this. Oh, I'm I'm fat, I'm this, I'm that. And then going forward, I'm like, wait, no, I am this.

SPEAKER_05 7:31

Yes. You've always Because who is you have to consider the source. Like, who is telling you these things? And like, why would they say that? I would never, I would never tell you that you weren't worthy. I would never tell you that you didn't deserve anything. I would never say that. But there are people out there who do say that. And my question is, why? Why are you telling me this?

SPEAKER_03 7:53

Whoa.

SPEAKER_05 7:54

What does it do for you to taste to say that to me?

SPEAKER_03 7:58

Where are you from?

SPEAKER_05 7:59

Kansas.

SPEAKER_03 8:00

You're from Kansas.

SPEAKER_05 8:00

I am Wichita. Come on. Go shop.

SPEAKER_03 8:03

See, they have great, they have great theater in Kansas.

SPEAKER_05 8:06

They do. Uh Music Theater of Wichita is sort of my training ground. They when I was coming up in college, they hire a lot of uh the resident company, and then they bring in Broadway stars, two stars, Broadway people, two stars leads in their shows. And I think uh I haven't been back to do a show there uh since I've moved here. I did one like 50th Anthony.

SPEAKER_03 8:29

I don't have time because you're always on Broadway.

SPEAKER_05 8:31

Well, I do be booked sometimes. You're booked all the time. I mean, I it's a it's it's a blessing, but it's work. It's it's I'm booked because I I make the effort to be.

SPEAKER_04 8:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 8:43

And I also think it's important to strategize, right? Like it's not enough to just sit pretty somewhere, like you gotta be thinking about the next step all the time. And that's just the industry that's just what's the goal for you? I think the goal is to is to maintain a platform so that when I have opportunities like this to speak positivity out into the world, um, people listen. So that I mean, there's no, I'm not I'm a principal on Broadway currently.

SPEAKER_03 9:15

Like that's so freaking fierce.

SPEAKER_05 9:18

Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 9:19

That is so fierce.

SPEAKER_05 9:20

I feel like that was the dream, right? And now the dream is here, and I guess I have to move the goalpost. And so it's like, well, what is it?

SPEAKER_04 9:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 9:29

It's never been about money, it's never been about fame, it's never been about any of that. It's just been about being the example to the little queer black boys back in Kansas who see me and and know that I'm speaking to them and and to make them feel seen and undo the way that I was brought up.

SPEAKER_03 9:54

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 9:55

You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 9:56

I do. So how do you because you are like you've achieved so many of your dreams, you've done a lot of your goals, how do you define success now?

SPEAKER_05 10:07

Like That's a great question. Um I think I think success is um it is it is accomplishing the day-to-day task that you set for yourself.

SPEAKER_03 10:25

Oh, you're making me lactate. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 10:29

So like it's not just about I'm on Broadway now, therefore I am successful. It's not I have a hundred K, therefore I am successful. It's not that I think success can be it took everything I had to get out of this bed this morning.

unknown 10:46

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 10:47

Success can be um I'm nervous, I don't know this choreography, but I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna do it anyway. Success can be um I was upset with my partner and decided I wasn't gonna go to bed angry. Success can be whatever it is that you make it. So you have to just love this. Yeah, I think you just have to you you have to set an intention for yourself, and when you um are successful in those intentions, you are successful. None of this is arbitrary.

SPEAKER_03 11:22

There's many, many things that I'm thinking right now that I can't say them on camera. So don't let me forget after. Sorry. I'm sorry, that's so annoying. I'm so annoying right now. Say what you got to say. It's very weird. I I don't really want to it will be weird.

SPEAKER_05 11:41

Go for it.

SPEAKER_03 11:43

I'm gonna have to edit this out.

SPEAKER_05 11:46

Or may or not.

SPEAKER_03 11:51

So sometimes when I'm talking to people, I can tell this is gonna be weird. This is gonna be really weird. But you've already kind of said it, but in a different context.

SPEAKER_05 12:03

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 12:04

When someone is not from Earth. And it's not everybody, but there's a few people, and usually I'll it'll be a moment of, oh, I see it, now I can't unsee it. And I don't know what species.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

I know that shit is weird.

SPEAKER_05 12:26

I don't think that's weird at all. I I said that.

SPEAKER_01 12:29

You did say that.

SPEAKER_05 12:30

I said that. Some of us are not from here. I know I I hear what you're saying, and like, ugh, that sounds crazy.

SPEAKER_03 12:38

It sounds crazy.

SPEAKER_05 12:39

I was born in Kansas, in Wichita, Kansas, for my mom and daddy. That's what we're supposed to say.

SPEAKER_03 12:45

Superman says the same thing. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 12:47

Superman says the same thing. Well, and it's funny that you say that because I um growing up, one of my favorite things that I was most drawn to, and I'm still drawn to it, was Marvel. The concept of the Marvel superheroes.

SPEAKER_04 13:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 13:06

There was a weird relationship that I had in feeling, not knowing, but feeling like, oh, I'm kind of like those people. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 13:18

So it's like, but everything around us, the mirage that we're living in, is saying, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. Here's the fox and here is how things go. But I feel like our souls are here on a different mission and we're trying to remember something that that is contrary to what the what is it called? Not a mirage, but um, like a video game. The what what is the word? We're in a simulation.

SPEAKER_05 13:44

Oh, exactly. Right.

SPEAKER_03 13:47

That they're trying to tell us.

SPEAKER_05 13:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:50

But your soul is like, I feel something else, even though I don't have the evidence.

SPEAKER_05 13:56

T. That's T. I mean, I feel I feel that. I mean, but I I know, I I imagine you do too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 14:05

Clearly. That's why when like we met, I was like, uh, hi. Hey girl.

SPEAKER_03 14:13

I feel that.

SPEAKER_05 14:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:14

You know, I had this um this moment on the sidewalk many years ago when I first moved to New York City, and I was passing a stranger on the sidewalk, and we both looked at each other and we both recognized each other. We never met ever. And we just turned around and we both went up to each other and we just searched each other's eyes. And all he said to me was, Will I ever see you again? And I knew in my spirit that we weren't that I knew that I knew him from another time, another world. I don't know. And I said, No, I don't think so. And he said, Okay. And he we hugged and we went our separate ways. It was very like, what planet were we best friends on before? Or when did we date? When did we love?

SPEAKER_05 14:58

Like Yeah, that's I was weirda. I just think in the universe, right? The universe of it all, it's so infinite. Why aren't there possibilities? Why do we believe that there are not possibilities?

SPEAKER_03 15:14

I think information's been kept from us out of fear. Out of fear of what like the general people will think or feel like it's scary for your to take the red pill when you never asked for the red pill.

SPEAKER_05 15:26

Right. I never asked for the red pill. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:30

Right?

SPEAKER_05 15:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:31

Okay, wait. I didn't know what we were gonna talk about any of this, so I'm like it's okay though.

SPEAKER_05 15:36

I I love I love having these sorts of discussions because I do know that there are people out there. I I'm not saying like, ooh, it's not this, you know. I mean, but I kind of like it. I'm just right. It's I'm just saying that I do think that there, like, the limitations in which we are expected to live don't have to be. And if we don't, then what are the possibilities? Oh, like it's something as simple as having the energy to smile at someone. I can walk and New York is hard. I can walk through New York and be like armor on. Yeah, and I promise you, I sometimes give myself social experiments, and I say, Torian, smile at that person, and I'll smile. Hi, just say hello, and everything changes. They're like somebody smiled at me, and that person's gonna walk away smiling.

SPEAKER_03 16:34

Right.

SPEAKER_05 16:35

It's just an energetic, quick exchange. It costs nothing, it costs nothing, and people will like the like I compliment people. If if I see someone and and a compliment pops into my head, I give them that compliment. People are weird about it sometimes. Like, oh, I there was one time. Well, there was one time I was on the train and this guy got on. I'm assuming he was straight, and uh he looked like the Disney version of Hercules. Oh. Like he looked like that.

SPEAKER_02 17:11

Oh, he was beautiful.

SPEAKER_05 17:12

He was beautiful, and I just tapped his knee before I got off the train and I said, Hey, I just want you to say I just wanted to tell you you are absolutely gorgeous.

SPEAKER_02 17:20

Oh, if Torian told me that on the train, if this man knew what was hiding under the sweatshirt, oh my gosh. Okay, what happened?

SPEAKER_05 17:29

I said, I was like, I just want you to know you're absolutely gorgeous. And then I said, have a nice day. And I stepped away as to not make him uncomfortable because sometimes it's people feel uncomfortable when you're gonna be like, Are you hitting on me?

SPEAKER_03 17:39

What if the wife, all these things?

SPEAKER_05 17:41

It was none of that. I just wanted to be like, hey, by the way. And I stepped away and then I didn't look back, but I noticed that as I gave him the compliment, he was shifting so uncomfortably. But I know that he walked away being like, oh, somebody paid me a compliment instead of ignoring me because I appear threatening or I appear too gorgeous to be approached, right? You know what I mean? Right. Just I think that sometimes we as a community can do such a better job to give flowers when they're due.

SPEAKER_03 18:17

Yeah, I love that. Maybe he was thinking, would I go gay for him?

SPEAKER_05 18:22

I I mean, who would have baby gay straight, whatever. Listen if you're attracted, you're attracted. Uh this we gotta get past all of that. That's so silly too.

SPEAKER_03 18:32

I know. I just you've been so gifted. How have you always I do want to ask you about a little superficial stuff, but in like, I can't not acknowledge funny thing, uh yes, let's do that.

SPEAKER_05 18:44

And it's so funny that anytime I remember there was a joke um in the when I was in Chicago doing the share show, someone came up and they were like, There's a joke going around about you, and it is that if you want a deep conversation, go find him. But like I small talk, I'm just always like, Okay, your sure it's cute. Like, you know. Okay, can we talk about something? So I love this. So, like, yes, let's that's why I said this is gonna go past what you wanted it to be, but just because I think it's so fun to just have these sorts of discussions.

SPEAKER_03 19:23

It is, and I've not gotten to like just sit with you. Yeah, except at Nico's place, that was so long ago.

SPEAKER_05 19:30

I know, and now we're doing it on camera, and I love that for the world to see, and I think that it's so good for the world to hear your mind, because it doesn't take away from anyone. I don't want to take away from anyone.

SPEAKER_03 19:39

Hey man.

SPEAKER_05 19:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:41

Okay, so you have you it is obvious to even Stevie Wonder that you have a great amount of discipline. Like just looking and I'm I'm wondering, especially like you're talking to somebody who is four weeks postpartum. I want to get my Broadway body back. You I mean, I can see that your uh, what are these call? Your forearms are fit, your fingers are in shape. You're not your ears got muscles. Oh my goodness. How how how how long has that been a priority? You taking care of your physique?

SPEAKER_05 20:20

Well, I it's always been. When I moved to the city in 2008, uh one of my first jobs was at Crunch Fitness. I got a job at a gym.

SPEAKER_03 20:30

Oh, your first job was at a gym.

SPEAKER_05 20:33

And I remember just seeing all of these like athletic men. I come from an athletic family. Okay. It's never been not in my foresight. Um, but I remember just being so inspired by their discipline. And oh, this guy shows up every morning at 7 a.m.

SPEAKER_03 20:54

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_05 20:55

And like pushes himself to the max.

SPEAKER_03 20:57

You're not doing that, are you? You got an Oh no.

SPEAKER_05 21:00

Not at 7. Okay. I like to go before the show. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 21:04

You're like, I would say before seven.

SPEAKER_05 21:06

Yeah, I just I it's always been, my dad was a an Olympic qualifying uh track star. My brothers are track star. Yeah, my brothers are we are a fast family, just a pack of cheetahs. What? And I I was always inspired by my dad. And I guess earlier on in life, I wanted to impress him. I think every every child wants to earn the approval of their their parent. And because we didn't ask to be here, and it was just like I'm trying to do everything that you tell me to do because like Oh, I hope my son tries to impress me. For me and the sacrifices that you've made. Um, the way I can say thank you is by um showing you that like I can survive out in the world when you're gone. Wow. And I wow yeah, and with athleticism, I I remember s doing sports, but I didn't want to uh it was it was too uh specific and on the nose for my dad, I think. So I was like, well, I don't want to run track. I can if it will make you happy, but it's not really what I want to do. Um and anyway, short of it, I segued into uh this, which is a full like Olympian Yeah, theater at the highest level. Highest level.

SPEAKER_03 22:51

Athletes.

SPEAKER_05 22:52

Correct. There's a reason that there's a reason that people are paying a lot of money to come see these impossible people on stage.

SPEAKER_03 23:00

Oh, and specifically Death Becomes Her. Like Broadway already is like hard. It's a thing. Eight shows a week.

SPEAKER_05 23:07

It's a it's the Olympics.

SPEAKER_03 23:08

It's the Olympics, but Death Becomes Her is a little bit like we're like at the top of the peak of the mountains. Like you're literally singing, if you want perfectly.

SPEAKER_05 23:21

It's right there in the name. It's right there in the name. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:24

Like I can't even count all the abs on all my fingers that you have.

SPEAKER_05 23:28

There is no it's you know, but I also the going along with that, what people don't see is the work before. What people don't see is the trainer that I'm working with. The people don't see is the the diet and the discipline and this and that. And I'm 41.

unknown 23:47

Oh.

SPEAKER_03 23:48

And oh, I saw this online. You just had a birthday.

SPEAKER_05 23:53

Yeah, uh, back in September. I turned 41. And also the reason I am thank you. The reason I'm so disciplined is because I want to be able to be functional when I'm an older man.

SPEAKER_04 24:05

Amen.

SPEAKER_05 24:06

Um I see so many people who are unable to help themselves. And as a gift to my partner, I don't want him to have to take care of me in that way. So I take care of myself now.

SPEAKER_03 24:18

Things like as young people, I never thought of this. Like the show that I just finished up the contract, um, it's with Hugh Jackman. His trainer was in the show, and uh, she would she just finished like a master's thing, and that is her specialty is working with people who are older to make sure that they have longevity. Like literally, she's training Wolverine to like Wild to say. Wild, like and he his physique is like ready for filming at and that is such an interesting thing to think of, like really um doing the work now for your future self. Yeah, like your future, future self.

SPEAKER_05 24:55

Yeah, and isn't that always what it is? Like, what are you doing if you're not like you have to be present and and aware of yourself and know that you're always like day after day after day moving forward. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 25:12

Like Yes, I do.

SPEAKER_05 25:14

And specifically to your point about Wolverine, it's going back to what I said about Marvel, right? Like the world recognizes Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

SPEAKER_04 25:24

Wolverine.

SPEAKER_05 25:25

Wolverine was a drawing, and Wolverine came to life, and now everybody knows Hugh Jackman was Wolverine. Is Wolverine? That was, is. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 25:38

Wait, wait, wait, wait, but what are you getting at? Are you saying would you would you play a superhero in Marvel?

SPEAKER_05 25:43

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 25:44

I mean, you're probably like talking about superhero in real life, but also I know that's Wolverine.

SPEAKER_05 25:49

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_03 25:51

Have you thought of this? Have you thought about this? What does your uniform look like? What's your superpower, Torian?

SPEAKER_05 25:57

Like I so I by my superpower, I a lot of people are like, I wanna fly, I'm gonna I'm gonna swim, breathe underwater. Not breathe underwater. I feel like my power feels um it's it's duplicity in that there's a base me, right, who is controlling all of it. Shine love this. And I need something for a drink. Right. There's a base me that's controlling all of it, and I can be in multiple duplicity, like I can be in multiple places at once, and each person that I'm engaging with, it's their real reality. So like being in multiple places at once, but nobody knows, like it's he's thought about this. Each individual I'm trying to I'm trying to be succinct, but I'm not doing a good job of it. Each individual um execution of me in my own reality.

SPEAKER_03 27:04

So you're in an interview right now, but you're also at the Broadway flea market doing the thing, but you're also with your mom in Kansas.

SPEAKER_05 27:11

Or like And those worlds don't ever collide. I can be in multiple places at once.

SPEAKER_03 27:16

Interesting.

SPEAKER_05 27:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:18

Okay. Hmm.

SPEAKER_05 27:21

I don't know if there's a character that does that, but Marvel, hey.

SPEAKER_03 27:25

Listen.

SPEAKER_05 27:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 27:27

I also have a question about okay, so we're we're gonna see you on Marvel. I feel that in my gut. Listen, you're ready. Baby, you've been ready.

SPEAKER_05 27:38

And why not? There is There's no re Why not?

SPEAKER_03 27:44

Also, is there a world of you like in this in a fashion? Are you are you uh do you gravitate at all to the fashion world? And I'm asking because like, okay, the fact that in the share show you played Bob Maggie's assistant, didn't Bob Maggie like draw on you guys' bodies when doing the that Paul Taswell?

unknown 28:04

I know.

SPEAKER_03 28:05

Project one, right? Like I just feel like you've had these run-ins with giants in this industry.

SPEAKER_05 28:12

I I thank you for saying that. I never thought of it that way. Hello. I'm working with these.

SPEAKER_03 28:17

Hello.

SPEAKER_05 28:18

I know. It's what the thing is is that I just show up and I do my thing. I think the reason is because I never I'm not a a hanger. You know what I mean? Like, I think that it's easy to put something on me and I can make that thing come to life.

SPEAKER_03 28:36

I feel that for you.

SPEAKER_05 28:37

And I so I never necessarily think about fashion as something that like I'd want to create, but I also have ideas. I'm like, oh, I this sort of design would look good on me because of the way that I carry myself. I um Paul Taswell drawing on my body in a design that he sees is individual. Crazy is wild.

SPEAKER_03 29:05

If you guys don't know who that is, first of all, do your little Google search.

SPEAKER_05 29:09

Do your little Google.

SPEAKER_03 29:10

He got the Oscar for Wicked.

SPEAKER_05 29:13

For Wicked, the movie, the recent movie.

SPEAKER_03 29:15

And he is the costume designer for Death Becomes.

SPEAKER_05 29:19

The Tony winning costume design.

SPEAKER_03 29:20

The Tony Award. Let's freaking go. And he's a black man!

SPEAKER_05 29:25

And he's a black man.

SPEAKER_03 29:28

Was he the first one? First black man to win the Tony for that.

SPEAKER_05 29:31

Yes. Yeah. History.

SPEAKER_03 29:32

Why are you making history in 2025? Why is he the he should not be the first one?

SPEAKER_05 29:36

Correct. But he is And we celebrate him.

SPEAKER_03 29:38

And we celebrate him for that.

SPEAKER_05 29:40

We love that. We love that. Because again, why not?

SPEAKER_03 29:44

Why not?

SPEAKER_05 29:46

And he had a vision. Like the beautiful things, specific things. For example, when I'm I know my angles, right, for photos. And and in the context of the show, I like to sit in my hip a lot. And I know the way that he drew on me, he said, that boy likes to sit in his hip. And so he drew this S curve on my costume that drew attention to my better parts.

SPEAKER_03 30:10

And I There's no not better parts. Oh, thank you. Come on.

SPEAKER_05 30:14

Just drew attention and uh no one, it it's mine. And so when I sit in my hip, in the way that he noticed, it really accentuates this curve, this idea of like slink and sensuality and and um presence and power. And it's with these thigh-high rhinestone boots, because he was also like, this man also has uh an awareness of his own femininity, and it's it was just amazing.

SPEAKER_03 30:48

What do you guys' replacements do? Because these golfers made for you.

SPEAKER_05 30:53

Like it's interesting. There I think uh the replacements, like the costume now is a track. So whoever replaces me wears-they're just hoping that they have a body like yours. I guess so. They're gonna I mean, they're gonna hire, yeah, if I go. But but the covers wear their own things. Okay. It's not, you know, it's not my own the the base immortal suit.

SPEAKER_03 31:18

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 31:19

Um it's all everyone's an individual. So it's That's wild. Interesting.

SPEAKER_03 31:24

You got to work with and Bob Mackey for Share Show, right?

SPEAKER_05 31:27

Baby.

SPEAKER_03 31:28

Bob Mackey!

SPEAKER_05 31:29

Bob Mackey. That's wild.

SPEAKER_03 31:31

That is wild! Diana Ross, Share. What else?

SPEAKER_05 31:35

Who Diana Ross is my is my supreme queen. Like, she's like the one for me. But like, I uh there's a a rendering, a costume rendering on my wall signed by Bob Mackey of uh yes, the of the Cher show.

SPEAKER_03 31:53

That is a dream come true.

SPEAKER_05 31:55

And it's one of my prized possessions. It's it's so beautiful and it is it it captures my essence and it's interesting to see how people see you. When they draw you, right? They're like, oh, this is what this person looks like. But I love, love, love renderings and when people draw, because I art inspires art, and um when it's so fun to just see, like, oh, that's that's what these people see.

SPEAKER_03 32:24

Did you know this was gonna be your life? No, when did you like was Broadway always the dream?

SPEAKER_05 32:30

Was that always um I guess yes, it was. That was my intention.

SPEAKER_03 32:35

Since when?

SPEAKER_05 32:37

Since uh since college. So my mom was like, You gonna go to school, boy. And I was like, okay. Okay, um, and I just I applied for a lot of different scholarships, and one of them was for musical theater, and uh I had to audition. I started out performing, I always did it in like in elementary school, and just everyone does it in elementary school, you know, the little show choirs and the other. But and I I realized that it was where I had the most fun. Then in high school crumbs. Yeah, in high school, I went to a cheerleading tryout with one of my girlfriends, and she was like, just come with me. And I went for moral support, and actually was like, here's the athleticism that I that I'm good at, but it's not track or it's not football or it's not basketball. But did you cheer?

SPEAKER_04 33:30

Oh my god, did you cheer?

SPEAKER_05 33:32

I was like, I can I can tumble and flip and I can do all of that. I didn't know that. I was not afraid to learn.

SPEAKER_03 33:39

You cheered in high school or college?

SPEAKER_05 33:40

I cheered in both high school. I in high school I cheered for uh a competition team. You know, the teams that you see on ESPN and they'd be doing all that. I did that. And then in college, I cheered at Wichita State for I think.

SPEAKER_04 33:54

Cool.

SPEAKER_05 33:55

Yeah, went to down to Daytona where they do all the big cheerling competitions, like all of that thing, all of that that you see on ESPN, those like superst athletes.

SPEAKER_03 34:04

I should have done a deeper, deeper, deeper, but did you ever do bring it on? Please tell me you were in bring it on.

SPEAKER_05 34:09

So here's the gag about that. Okay, what is the gag? I you know how you know something's right for you. Yes. And you just be so confident about it. I went in for Bring It On and I was like, I'm actually Actually, this is what I do. This is what I do currently, but I can sing and I can dance. What happened? They brought me, I must have auditioned six or seven times. It even got to a point where they brought me in to stunt other girls who were auditioning.

SPEAKER_02 34:38

What?

SPEAKER_05 34:39

Yeah. They were like, can you come in and stunt other people? Right. We can audition them, and I didn't get the show.

SPEAKER_02 34:47

No.

SPEAKER_05 34:47

I was gagged.

SPEAKER_02 34:48

No, gooped. What? What?

SPEAKER_05 34:51

It don't make sense.

SPEAKER_03 34:52

Why does that happen?

SPEAKER_05 34:54

I don't know. I don't know. I literally don't know.

SPEAKER_03 34:56

It is so weird.

SPEAKER_05 34:58

I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 34:58

I'm trying to crack that code too. Think that I'm like, this literally is my life is designed for this.

SPEAKER_02 35:06

Right. There is no way you can't see that.

SPEAKER_05 35:09

I was I was truly perplexed. The same thing happened uh with kinky boots.

SPEAKER_03 35:14

And you know, I You were never in Kinky Boots.

SPEAKER_05 35:16

I was never in Kinky Boots.

SPEAKER_03 35:17

You were a perfect Wolla.

SPEAKER_05 35:18

That's well I think my voice is was too deep, but I remember going into the audition. Everybody in the room was like, oh, you just booked that. And I was like, Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 35:28

And you're and you're pretty.

SPEAKER_05 35:29

I went and I bought Laducas. I was like, I'm gonna need this in rehearsal. See, but you can't be, I wasn't cocky. I just was confident. I was like, I oh, I can do that. Yeah, I can do that.

SPEAKER_02 35:44

That's get the reimburs, I'll be reimbursed when I get that check.

SPEAKER_05 35:48

Now, I'm not I'm not the phantom. You know what I mean? Like, I'm there are lots of things that I say, oh, that's not me. I can't do that. I can't, that's that someone else is better suited for that.

SPEAKER_03 35:59

With these things, I was like- You know it has a name on it.

SPEAKER_05 36:03

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:05

What is that? What is that?

SPEAKER_05 36:07

I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 36:08

You know what? Okay, I've I've been really trying to crack this code, and all I've come up with so far is the things that are for you, nobody can take them away from you. And the things that are not for you, there's nothing you can do, no matter how much you try to force it. You can't like you cannot make it if it's not if it's for someone else or if it's not for you, there's nothing you can do. But those things that are for you, all you have to do is keep breathing.

SPEAKER_05 36:33

Correct. You literally have to show up and just be you because it is for you.

SPEAKER_03 36:38

But how do we make those things that we're like that we desire at a level 10 that we know we're right for? How do we allow those things to flow into our lives when it's when you want to like do the most and make it perfect? What do we do about that?

SPEAKER_05 36:56

I think the more control we try to have, the less control we have. And I know. I know, but I also think when you want something, the choices that you make will lead you to that thing. So going back to my gym discipline, right? Like, I want to be a Marvel hero. They not gonna hire me on Marvel if I'm not able to do the job. So, what does it take for me to be able to do the job? It takes discipline, it takes acting classes, it takes, takes, takes, takes, takes, takes. And when you execute those things, people say, Oh, you showed up ready. Come on.

SPEAKER_03 37:48

And you already energetically align with it. You're not even trying to like make anything happen. You just are the thing.

SPEAKER_05 37:55

You are the thing. So I think when like you ask, like, how do we, you know, take those desires that we have, I think you work towards them. Nothing's dropping in anybody's lap. It doesn't just happen. You don't just become a millionaire. You don't just, you know, like it it takes time, it takes work.

SPEAKER_03 38:19

Yeah. And again, like I said And intention.

SPEAKER_05 38:22

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:23

Setting intentions.

SPEAKER_05 38:24

And it's crazy, like I like I said, I'm 41. This is finally happening for me.

SPEAKER_03 38:32

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 38:32

And I thought So inspiring. I just thought, like, oh, you know, uh I'm I'm gonna show up and it's just gonna happen. I'm because I'm I'm that great. And and there's a humility that I have about myself in that I understand that everything is is a is a it's a step. And then before you know it, you're at the top of this staircase. Yeah. And like even being here with you, it we're creating something that's going to go out into the world and influence who the people who are engaging with it. And again, we're not taking it away from anyone, we're just offering different perspectives and different mindsets and and positive, yes, um, positive ways to approach life and stick up for yourself and like do the things that you want to do. Like you were, you were on Broadway, like you know what it is, and you worked hard to get there.

SPEAKER_04 39:36

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:37

And yeah, you it was not handed to me.

SPEAKER_05 39:40

It was not handed to you, and and you showed up and you were like, wow, this is happening. Now what?

SPEAKER_03 39:45

And now what?

SPEAKER_05 39:47

Now what? You go to the next thing that fulfills you, and the steps that you take will allow that to happen. You have your show now, and I'm so honored to be on it. Like, pretty soon, keep it up. You gonna have this, you know. Listen, you friends with you know, you friends, you never know folks. Uh like you never know.

SPEAKER_03 40:11

You never know.

SPEAKER_05 40:13

So why not? Never why not you?

SPEAKER_03 40:15

Why not me?

SPEAKER_05 40:17

Why not you?

SPEAKER_03 40:18

Ooh, ooh, I see Oprah in the wings of something I'm doing one day, being like, hey, that's my girl. That's my if somebody handed my microphone, you come on out of here.

SPEAKER_05 40:27

Yes, why not?

SPEAKER_03 40:29

Why not?

SPEAKER_05 40:30

Oprah um came to when we performed on the Tonies. Oprah was right backstage before we went on, and it was just like surreal. In my brain, I didn't crazy. You know, I didn't register like at the choices that I've made in my life put me in the same room to be like, hey, to this impossible person.

SPEAKER_03 40:52

Yes, this bigger than life saying I want to be like Oprah sounds dumb.

SPEAKER_05 40:59

Like it's like And here she is.

SPEAKER_03 41:01

Here she is.

SPEAKER_05 41:02

Yeah. Like it can happen, of course. It can happen for anybody. It can happen.

SPEAKER_03 41:07

It can happen. Like, truly things are possible. And I want to know, like, did you grow up with Destiny's Child? Like, did you ever think that you go?

SPEAKER_05 41:13

No, I grew up with Destiny's Child.

SPEAKER_03 41:15

Oh, Michelle Williams is just like, what what is that? What was that?

SPEAKER_05 41:19

It's wild. And and I am so honored to stand beside her every night, to work with her. She is the perfect example of grace and class and beauty and excellence.

SPEAKER_03 41:34

And um She was always my favorite. I love all three of them, Kelly and B, but Michelle was always my favorite.

SPEAKER_05 41:42

Because it sh there's there's such a they're all amazing. I don't know the other two yet. But um the other two.

SPEAKER_04 41:54

Like the other two.

SPEAKER_05 41:58

I retract that statement. The other two. No. That is so silly. I don't know Kelly or Beyonce, but I but Michelle to me, it's like, again, like every night I'm on stage, I'm like, oh my god, that's her.

SPEAKER_01 42:12

That's wild.

SPEAKER_05 42:13

But she'd just be like, what's up? Hey, Chicago, hey Putin, how you doing? Like it's not hey Putin. It's she's she country. She that's a black girl from Chicago. She country. And it's like she it's amazing. I but because she is so normal, it reminds me that it's all possible.

SPEAKER_03 42:35

It's all possible.

SPEAKER_05 42:36

But then she shows up, she does the thing.

SPEAKER_03 42:39

Right.

SPEAKER_05 42:40

And you're reminded, oh, she's put in a lot of work to get to where she is.

SPEAKER_03 42:44

Right.

SPEAKER_05 42:45

Follow that example, and you too can anything is possible. It's all possible.

SPEAKER_03 42:50

Okay, wait. I know B came and saw the show, and she was posting about it too. Did you guys get to meet her?

SPEAKER_05 42:55

We didn't get to meet her. I I which is okay. I that night was about the show, and I she came, she and uh Kelly and her um Miss Tina came to support Michelle, and I think that it would be easy to um get distracted from the purpose of the night by having her meet everyone.

SPEAKER_03 43:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 43:22

Um that is so wild. So I think it was intentional.

SPEAKER_03 43:25

When that dropped online, it was like, oh. Endorsed signs. And you guys have been open for how long?

SPEAKER_05 43:32

Uh it was a year yesterday.

SPEAKER_03 43:34

So as the kids do, because being open on Broadway for a year post COVID is a big deal.

SPEAKER_05 43:42

For a new show, too. Crazy.

SPEAKER_03 43:44

That is a big deal. So c big congratulations.

SPEAKER_05 43:48

Thank you. Thank you. And they just extended uh ticket sales another couple of months uh past when a lot of the contracts, when we thought was gonna be done.

SPEAKER_03 43:57

So And they're not.

SPEAKER_05 43:58

No.

SPEAKER_03 43:59

Congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. I am so happy for you, and I'm also so deeply inspired by you. Yeah. And I'm sorry for yelling at you at the flea market, being like, where are you going? Come on, my channel.

SPEAKER_05 44:11

I'm so glad you did. It got me here.

SPEAKER_02 44:15

Like, I haven't been wanting to talk to him for so long. It's been a long time. It has been a long time. Had you known you was going to be on the Today Show the day before, it would have been even longer.

SPEAKER_05 44:24

It would have been a bit longer. But I'm so happy to be here. And again, it just, you know, it's just part of the work of it all. You just, just do. If it makes you happy or gives you an opportunity to speak something gorgeous into the world, then like Which you just do naturally.

SPEAKER_03 44:42

It radiates through your pores and you're ever effervescent. I am just like, and also thank you for giving me grace because I had to rain check because I was not.

SPEAKER_05 44:51

Because you had a whole ass baby.

SPEAKER_03 44:53

Not me trying to like do it sooner to get you in the studio. I was like, no, no, no, let's do it this Friday. I'm free. I'm actually not free. I'm in labor.

SPEAKER_05 45:03

You're in labor. Have this good baby.

SPEAKER_02 45:06

That is dumb shit.

unknown 45:07

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_05 45:10

You had a whole baby.

SPEAKER_02 45:12

A whole baby. What?

SPEAKER_05 45:14

Okay, welcome to tell me about motherhood. Like, welcome.

SPEAKER_03 45:16

What? Oh, we don't have time for this.

SPEAKER_05 45:18

Yes, we do.

SPEAKER_03 45:19

No, but I will say motherhood has been a whirlwind. I'm very sleep-deprived. Going from 10 hours of sleep a night to an hour is just unkind to civilization. Like, it's crazy. But when I look at his cute little face, just your teeth grind. You're just like And to tell everybody you're not allowed to kiss my newborn, but I'm allowed.

SPEAKER_05 45:40

Don't touch that baby unless she says so. I gotta keep y'all hands to yourself.

SPEAKER_03 45:44

It is like I've never had something that has felt like this is truly mine.

SPEAKER_05 45:51

Yours.

SPEAKER_03 45:52

And I know one day he'll grow up and I'll have to turn him over to the world. He already is, I feel like, has a bigger purpose. So, but right now, he is mine and it's my job to protect him right now.

SPEAKER_05 46:06

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 46:07

I love that.

SPEAKER_05 46:08

And I know that you're doing a great job.

SPEAKER_01 46:11

Thank you. I'm running straight home after this. Yes. To go and cuddle him.

SPEAKER_05 46:16

I'm just a nibble in those.

SPEAKER_03 46:20

Before I let you go, because I've already kept you way longer than I was planning. No. What would you tell, would you tell anything to your eight-year-old self?

SPEAKER_05 46:30

I always love this question. Um I would tell to my eight-year-old self, and it's so funny, I look at pictures of myself as a child. I would say, hey, the world is gonna be mean to you. The world is going to try to take away from you. But if you believe them, that's when you're gonna fail. You gotta. Who you are is divinely made. And there is and the only people, the only thing that can take away from that are other people. Don't be the person that tries to be above someone else to have her with the only way you'll fail is if you believe that the lies and the negativity.

SPEAKER_03 47:36

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 47:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 47:38

I'm gonna be taking that one to the bank.

SPEAKER_05 47:41

Yeah. Deposit. It's free for you.

SPEAKER_03 47:45

Tarian, it's been such a gift having you on the show. Thank you for that. I am so honored that you carved out the time.

SPEAKER_05 47:52

You're amazing. You're amazing.

SPEAKER_03 47:54

That you came here. I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you it was on camera, but it's mostly audio. It's fine.

SPEAKER_02 47:58

It's real. Listen, he's literally so beautiful. Like not a bad day. His bad day is everybody else's 10. They're on their 10. Yeah, it is with the little cat eye that you put on a dairy.

SPEAKER_05 48:12

It's a quick list, you know, had to do some.

SPEAKER_03 48:14

Oh my gosh. Oh, wait, one last question. Please. Very random. This is so random. Okay, so Nico, our mutual friend. Yes. Um, I saw a picture of you and him on a train is gluten and alphabet. What was that? I just need to know what that was.

SPEAKER_05 48:28

It was Halloween. It was last year. It was Halloween.

SPEAKER_03 48:31

But it was such an epic movie. Yeah, the movie You were fully green. Fully.

SPEAKER_05 48:35

I had on tight, like a green arm. A green like bodysuit, and then I painted my face.

SPEAKER_03 48:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 48:43

We we had never seen a black alphabet.

SPEAKER_03 48:46

At that time?

SPEAKER_05 48:47

At the time. I mean, no, at the time we hadn't seen it, and in the movie that came out that Paul Taswell won the Oscar for with Cynthia Revo. Um, it was like a black girl. So the hair was braids and and It was fierce. And Nico made all of those looks. Nico Ramirez. Nico Ramirez is Paul. If you ever see this or hear this, hire Nico Ramirez. He is amazing. He made those? He made them.

SPEAKER_03 49:18

I remember he used to like do that kind of stuff for his apartment. I didn't and like paint. I didn't know he did uh he made them.

SPEAKER_05 49:25

And there were, and my partner was Madame Morable, and uh That's so cool. And Nico's husband was um the The Wizard, I guess. What is it is does he have a name? I don't remember. Not Oz. Dr. Oz. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. The wizard. But yeah, but Nico made everything.

SPEAKER_03 49:44

Work.

SPEAKER_05 49:45

He's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 49:46

That is happy birthday.

SPEAKER_05 49:48

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 49:49

You make 40s look.

SPEAKER_05 49:51

Very, very good. Shut up. Listen. I'm trying.

SPEAKER_03 49:56

You guys, you heard it here first. Thank you for watching this episode with Torian Everett. I'm Salisha Thomas, your host. Until next time. Thanks for tuning in.

SPEAKER_05 50:06

That'll be good.

SPEAKER_03 50:07

Hey, what's up? It's me, Salish, a very pregnant Salish. I just wanted to say thank you for watching this episode. It's taken me a long time to not just make the things in my head, but then to also share them. And one step further to like tell people that I've posted it somewhere in the world. So thank you so much. I don't know if you're listening to this on Apple or Spotify, or if you're watching this on Facebook or Instagram or YouTube, or in my story somewhere where it's gonna disappear in two seconds. But just first of all, thank you. Number two, it would mean the world to me if you hit subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or if you're watching this on Spotify Podcasts, or if you're watching this, go to my YouTube and subscribe to the channel so that you can always have the updates. Episodes are dropping every Friday, so thank you so much for going on this journey with me. Building an empire from the ground up, building a castle out of sand. What is it called? It's like building a plane in midair. I'm building a plane in midair. So, thank you.