#232 - Broadway Meets Ballroom: Omari Wiles on Legacy, Identity, and Purpose

There are some people who walk into a room and immediately change the energy.

Omari Wiles is one of those people.

As the choreographer behind Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Omari has helped bring ballroom culture to Broadway in a way that feels authentic, powerful, and deeply human.

But this conversation goes far beyond choreography.

It is about creating spaces where people can be seen.

It is about knowing your worth.

It is about representation, resilience, purpose, and what becomes possible when you stop asking if you belong and start asking, "Why not me?"

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• How Omari went from ballroom consultant to making his Broadway choreographic debut
• What ballroom culture really is and the history behind it
• Why creating safe spaces for people to be fully themselves matters
• The inspiration behind Cats: The Jellicle Ball and why audiences are connecting so deeply with it
• How representation expands what people believe is possible for themselves
• The moment Omari finally felt proud of who he was and the role his mother played in that journey
• Why we need to stop living in "maybe" and start living in "I can"
• The legacy he hopes to leave behind for the next generation of artists and dreamers

This episode is about more than Broadway.

It's about humanity and purpose.

And it's about remembering that sometimes the thing standing between where you are and where you want to be is believing that you belong there.

CHAPTERS:

[01:28] Meet Omari Wiles and his Broadway debut

[04:29] What ballroom culture really is

[06:19] Creating spaces where people feel seen and safe

[07:26] Building a cast that bridges Broadway and ballroom

[10:27] How Cats: The Jellicle Ball was born

[14:50] When Omari realized they had a hit

[18:18] Bringing authenticity to a Broadway stage

[23:28] The journey to knowing his worth

[26:31] The moment his mother said, "You did it"

[27:43] Why representation truly matters

[28:30] What's the worst that can happen if you go for it?

[33:49] The legacy Omari hopes to leave behind

[36:06] Keep your foot on the gas

[38:15] What he would tell his 8-year-old self

Omari's Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/omari_wiles/

THE GLOW UP SOCIETY
 https://www.skool.com/be-a-10-6090/about?ref=c422989aa4694d43b0b708ca534c4582

The Salisha Show IG
 https://www.instagram.com/thesalishashow

Edited: AMPLIFY by Metafit Metamind

@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_00 0:00

Giving you all the prrrr that we can give. We're giving you the characteristics of what a cat defines a cat. The confidence, the stuffness, the elegance, the sassiness. It goes hand in hand to how we move around through the ballroom and how many of the people in our community move around through the in the world. We have to build a tough layer of fur. Yeah. You know, to walk through the streets and keep our hell heads held high.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

What does it really look like to build your dream life while you're living it? One day I'm on stage singing with Hugh Jackman at 36 weeks pregnant, just trying not to give birth in Oklahoma. And the next, I'm having real conversations about love, loss, career pivots, and becoming someone I didn't even know I could be. Because this show isn't just about Broadway, it's about the moments that change you, the risks you take, the dreams you almost talk yourself out of, the strength you don't realize you have until life asks you to use it. If you've ever felt like you're in between chapters or stepping into something new, you're not alone. You're just getting started. This is the Salicia Show, where Broadway meets culture and your real life becomes the main event. Y'all, y'all, y'all. Welcome or welcome back to another episode of the Salicia Show. Okay, I'm already holding back tears. I'm covered in goosebumps for more reasons than you even realize what just transpired before we even hit record. My heart is so freaking full right now.

SPEAKER_00 1:40

Oh my God.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

Oh my goodness. My guest today is so multifaceted, so talented, so out of this world. And now I just discovered that his heart is even bigger than his talent. How is that even possible? How is that possible? Okay, um, today, look, I'm trying to read my little notes. And today on this Alicia show, we're stepping into a world where Broadway meets ballroom, where movement becomes language, and where culture isn't just referenced, it's lived. My guest is a visionary choreographer, a cultural architect, and a force behind one of the most electrifying experiences on Broadway right now. Cats, the Jellicle Ball. Have you guys heard of the Jellicle Ball? Before it moved to Broadway, it was the ticket that you couldn't get. It was like, I'm like, oh, is this another Hamilton happening? You couldn't get in the freaking building and then it closed. Well, thank you, Jesus. It has moved to the great white way. Oh, with a lot of color and a lot of sleigh. Oh, okay, from working with global icons like Beyonce, Janet Jackson, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Madonna, J Hudd, and truly so many more, to bringing the richness of ballroom culture to one of theater's most iconic shows. He is redefining what it means to tell stories through movement. Y'all, help me welcome and put your hands together for the one and the only Omari Wiles. You are what the heck? Is this your Broadway? This is not your Broadway debut.

SPEAKER_00 3:22

This is my Broadway debut. As a choreographer, yes. It truly is. Um, I did some um ballroom consultant work on Death Becomes Her. Um Yeah, and it was really, really fun working with the cast and working with that show was great.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

That show is, I mean He said working with Michelle, you guys.

SPEAKER_00 3:40

I mean she is, I mean, she's a light, she's an inspiration, but the entire cast, like, they are all just extraordinary dancers and performers. And me being able to come in and just give a little um a little insight and knowledge into what ballroom feels like or how to even feel fabulous on stage for their for their specific scene, it was truly extraordinary. And so it it it was, I I feel like that wasn't the beginning of like my love for Broadway. I've always loved Broadway, but that was the first time that I got to be a part of a Broadway production in some way, in some way.

SPEAKER_01 4:19

And now here you are with cats. Y'all, if you have heard about cats, that this is not, this is not your old school, oh, let's go see. We love the music, but cats is not for everybody. The jellic ball has changed my mind about cats forever.

SPEAKER_00 4:40

Come one, come all.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

It's amazing. And for the people who are like ballroom, like ballroom dancing, what do you mean?

SPEAKER_00 4:46

No, we mean ballroom competition. We're talking about the queer nightlife. We're talking about the LGBTQ plus community um coming together, forming houses, um competing against one another to level each other up, taking the stereotypes that we that are placed on us from society, and we shine a light on the positive and what we do and all of our characteristics and talent. It's truly it's a magnificent place. And to be able to now showcase it in ballrooms so that more people can witness how human we are is truly beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 5:20

When I was watching it, it felt like it was steeped in history, steeped in meaning that maybe the audience at like the average audience member might not have truly understood, but they could feel it. What is that? Like maybe can you give us, I don't know if it's a history lesson. Like, can you catch up the people who are like, I thought I was gonna see cats?

SPEAKER_00 5:41

Well, I mean, from the if they've seen the advertisements, they clearly know and clearly see that we are not.

SPEAKER_01 5:47

It's not.

SPEAKER_00 5:48

We're not in your fur, we're not in your cattail, you know, we don't have your cat ears, we don't got your cattails. But we're giving you all the fierceness, we're giving you all the prrrrrrr that we can give. We're giving you the characteristics of what a cat defines a cat. The confidence, the stealthness, the elegance, the sassiness. Like, I I was a I'm a cat lover, you know what I'm saying? So I I the way that they move around in a room, you know, it's it's it goes hand in hand to how we move around through ballroom and how many of the people in our community move around through the in the world. You know, we have to build a tough layer of fur you know to walk through the streets and keep our hell heads held high. So um the history, you know, in the lineage dates far back. You know, seeing ballroom uh from coming out of the drag pageant world and you know, a lot of people not uh a lot of queer black and brown bodies not being acknowledged in the pageant world decided to create their own scene that they can be represented and be respected. Um, and I mean that's we've seen that so many times throughout history, you know, for people of color, how we have to create our own space to feel safe. Yeah. Right? And so the history and the legacy in ballroom is creating a space where we can do that, we can allow um each other to show up and show off. Yes. Right?

SPEAKER_01 7:14

And that's exactly what was happening. I was thinking when I was sitting there, I was like, how did they cast this show? And I would not want to be the one swinging this show because everybody on stage is like a moment and very different than the person next to them, and very like they came from the world. Did you know, like, ri I don't know a lot about the dancers on the stage. Did they come from this world or did you teach them this world?

SPEAKER_00 7:43

It's truly a marriage of both. It's truly a marriage of both. You have some performance. Oh no, they are slaying it. They are truly, truly slaying. I mean, it's a marriage of both. You have a mixture of ballroom, you have a mixture of musical theater, folk, and really they came together um to to help cultivate what's happening on stage. They are sharing each other's experiences and skill sets with each other. Uh Arturo and I did uh many boot camps.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Arturo's the co-chore.

SPEAKER_00 8:14

Co-choreographer, yes. He is the right hand to my left to my left hand. He is an engineer when it comes to choreography and to movement. Um we really, really coexist with each other and work together so well. Um he is an inspiration to um to me when it comes to ballroom figures. He's an icon within the borough scene uh and one of my teachers as well, too.

SPEAKER_01 8:40

And you also teach, by the way.

SPEAKER_00 8:41

I do, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 8:42

I was like, Voguing? There's a c you can learn how to vote. You teach voguing?

SPEAKER_00 8:47

I teach vogue, I teach traditional West African, and I teach Afrobeats.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

Oh, and here in the city. Anywhere else?

SPEAKER_00 8:53

I'm here at uh Peridance and I'm at Broomway Dance Center. Oh my gosh. Okay, so I'm like long, but seriously.

SPEAKER_01 9:01

I'm like, have you already picked out your tux or what your outfit for the Tony's because you're gonna be on the stage?

SPEAKER_00 9:08

I have not. I'm not even trying to think.

SPEAKER_01 9:11

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I know you're in the middle of the work right now, but I literally was like, I wonder if he knows what he's gonna wear at the Tony's because it's gonna be, it's gonna need to be the bomb because he's going to be on the stage.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

Oh my god. You're going to be on the stage. I don't know. I mean, my favorite designer right now has been Vene DeVar, and I love their collection. So that's it.

SPEAKER_01 9:31

Just come off your tongue like, just roll.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

I hope I said it right. Sounding good, right? Okay, good, good. I hope I said it right. Shout out if you're listening. Shout out if you're listening.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

You need a dress in.

SPEAKER_00 9:45

Please do. I mean, I'm literally wearing you right now. So I'm like, yeah, this jacket.

SPEAKER_01 9:49

Come on.

SPEAKER_00 9:50

It's just everything to me.

SPEAKER_01 9:52

You look great.

SPEAKER_00 9:52

Thank you. You two too.

SPEAKER_01 9:54

I was just like We have all the the all black, the all like cream white moments.

SPEAKER_00 9:58

Okay, we did not plan this.

SPEAKER_01 9:59

We did not plan this. Okay. We just met and just had a full-on love fest. I'm like, I'm so gagged that you are here right now.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

And I'm like a super major fan, so I'm just kind of like to be sitting in this space in this spot.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

I don't believe him. I feel like I'm being punked. I'm like, what?

SPEAKER_00 10:15

Not at all. I'm a Leo, so we definitely don't punk people.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

That's wrong. My Leo friends, that's true. Okay, I have more questions for you.

SPEAKER_00 10:24

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 10:25

So cats and ballroom. It's almost like Martha Stewart and Snoop.

SPEAKER_00 10:33

And Snoop Dog.

SPEAKER_01 10:35

How did we who do you know, like, whose idea was this? Who was like, we're gonna mash these two up together?

SPEAKER_00 10:43

Well, the co-director, Bill, Bill Roch, he was one of the ones who came up with this idea. Um, and also our gender consultant and dramaturgy, um, uh one of our dramaturgies, uh Josie, she also came up to me with with this idea of like what could cats be in a full-on queer world, and and you know, and what that would look like. And I think the first the idea was just a nightclub, you know what I'm saying? A queer nightclub. But then when they brought the idea to me and me looking at the whole idea of it being a ball, jellico ball, and a lot of ballroom activities or ballroom events happen in queer nightlife and queer clubs. Why not focus it around the jellico ball? And that would make the whole story and the whole theme of it fit in that world, in that place. This one event of the year, this major event of the year, this major ball. I love that would be the place where all these cats get to showcase their talent to be that choice, right? I love that. So it made sense. And with ballroom, the fact that we have so many categories to choose to compete in that you can showcase. And it's like that for real in ballroom.

SPEAKER_01 11:57

There's categories?

SPEAKER_00 11:58

There's multiple categories. I mean, you can at a major ball, you can at least minimum have 30 categories at a major ball. Within our show alone, we showcase about 15 categories out of that alone. It was so fun, too.

SPEAKER_01 12:13

It's it's it's fun.

SPEAKER_00 12:15

It's amazing how we were able to sit down and really pinpoint which character played what category or what category fit which character. Oh my gosh! It's so beautiful to see Bustafer Jones representing body and being luscious and representing, you know, full-figured women, and and then also within that category representing Model's body, woman's body, and and and and and and seeing, you know, male's muscular body. It just showed all the different body type body types that we have in in um in you know the scene.

SPEAKER_01 12:52

I felt seen, by the way. Because I'm used to like, okay, we're talking about somebody's great body. I'm used to just, you know, seeing somebody be very skinny, and I'm like, well, I just had a baby, so I got some things going around over here, and I got some extra hips over here. Are you kidding me?

SPEAKER_00 13:09

Can I suck in for this whole interview? And Nora is amazing. I mean, the vocal is a very good thing.

SPEAKER_01 13:14

She's so body positive and she's so beautiful, and literally seeing her shake her butt. I was like, wait a minute. Does this mean I'm beautiful too?

SPEAKER_00 13:24

Well, they they are they are extraordinary. I mean, they represent so well.

SPEAKER_01 13:31

I'm like, this is what it looks like to just own who you are and to love who you are. And it's giving me permission and giving us permission to just like show up.

SPEAKER_00 13:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:41

Stop hiding.

SPEAKER_00 13:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:43

Isn't it crazy? I'm like, I feel like I've spent most of my life on stage and still I have to tell myself this, like I keep having to learn and teach myself, like, it's okay to just own who you are. And when I see it on stage, I'm like, it's been a long time since I've been inspired watching. I'm sorry, I hate saying that out loud. It's been a long time since I've been inspired watching a show. And when I was watching the jellicle ball, it felt like, what on earth? Especially since Omari, like you know, I just had a baby, and I don't have a lot of extra energy. I don't have energy for things that are not my son. I'm tired, okay? I got two hours of sleep last night. We should be past that, but we're not. Okay. Okay. I'm tired. Yeah. And so to get me to the theater to see something that lasts more than 20 minutes, which is everything.

SPEAKER_00 14:31

This show is almost three hours long.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

It's almost three hours. And you know, I did not look at my clock, my watch, not once.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

You get lost in the world.

SPEAKER_01 14:40

Lost. It was worth every penny, every stitch of energy that I had left. It it made me feel alive.

SPEAKER_00 14:51

Yeah, I feel like at the end you leave re-energize. You leave with an with another of energy. That is magic. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:00

When did you know that you guys like out of it?

SPEAKER_00 15:06

Honestly. Like back at back at the pack, back downtown, realizing how almost every show was sold out. And like you said earlier, it was uh the show that you could not get a ticket for because every night was sold out. Like seeing the audience's reactions, but s really specifically seeing the reactions of those who came from ballroom. Um, you know, they are they are a hard crit, you know, critic. And uh and we wanted to make sure that we did them justice. And you know, that was one of the reasons why we even did the whole guest judge situation and bringing.

SPEAKER_02 15:47

Can you explain that?

SPEAKER_00 15:48

Yeah, we wanted to really not just have, oh, let's just cast judges and and no, we wanted to really invite uh those from the borum scene to come and participate. Hold on. So those are real people. Those are real people.

unknown 16:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

That is awesome. Real legends and real icons. Icons the borum scene, mothers and fathers of houses from the borum scene who are coming to um, you know, celebrate and coming to give a little bit of their um their experience as well, too. But also for us to give back to them and say thank you for doing the hard work that you do and to continue running a house, to continue running ballroom. Now, up, you know, in Broadway, we're we're combining the two. Like you have some nights where you see a lot of celebrity judges, and we have um, well, to me, they're still celebrity judges because they are icons in ballrooms in their own right and in their own world as well, too. I'm wondering who I saw then. You know what I'm saying? So we bring in both. We bring in celebrities from the commercial and industry world, but we bring in our celebrities from the barber world. And to see those two, you know, roads even match up and sit next to each other is something beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 16:59

That's the thing. Like, watching it, I was like, there's so many layers to this that I get, and I know that because I can feel it, even though I couldn't explain it. I was like, there are so many layers that I know are happening that I have no idea what's happening, but there's but that is why it clicks. That is why it feels like something spiritual is happening on stage, even though I can't articulate it. I didn't know that the judges that night were like from the ballroom world. I just was, I was like, oh, because they were so cute. I'm like, I wonder if they like switch out and dance in in the show. So I'm like, are they in the playbill? Do you know?

SPEAKER_00 17:38

No. So the guest judges, the guest judges are always guest judges. No one knows, not even the castle. Oh, come on. The only person who knows is the MC Monk Boostrap. That is the only one who knows. And of course, like, you know, some of the backstage people, of course, you know, we have to know as well, too. But most of the time, the cast does not want to know. We don't tell them, so then it's no, you know, craziness, no overwhelming feelings happening, but it's just a surprise. It's a surprise to the audience. We have gotten requests that people are like, oh, can you send out a uh a judge's list of who's coming so we can know when to no it's a surprise. It's a surprise. You know what I'm saying? And whoever you get, whoever shows. It is not it's not for them, you know what I'm saying? It's it's it's we're not performing for those people. Those people are coming to do um not even a job. They're coming to enjoy a night, just like every any other audience member is coming to enjoy.

SPEAKER_01 18:34

I um am so gagged. How did you pull this off? Because Broadway is so commercially it's like, okay, we gotta make it for the mainstream. And a lot of times we've before it gets to open, all the meeting so much of the meeting that could have been there is could have been a lot of yes, and you freaking pulled it off.

SPEAKER_00 18:59

I think it's because this is this is authentic. It's real stories, you know what I'm saying? And and no matter what, like X casting did an amazing job at the casting, but it's it's the it's the uh performers, they are living real life experiences, they are club kids, they are ball walkers, they are theatrical individuals, they are personalities, they are talent. Um, so they are not doing anything we ain't asked them to do on a regular everyday basis.

SPEAKER_01 19:31

That is crazy because they're doing some crazy stuff. I'm like, how are they doing this and making it look easy? Because it is easy for them.

SPEAKER_00 19:38

It is easy for them. It's it's like breathing air, you know what I'm saying? And all we're asking them to do is to do it eight times a week. But you know what I'm saying? But they put in the hard work since the day that they realized their worth and who they are. And we were lucky enough to be able to create a work that sh can showcase them and showcase that um and connect worlds together. Like that's what it is. But a lot of people say, like, oh, uh how could you do Jellico Ball and and and and how could you mix musical theater and ballroom? Ballroom is musical theater. We get on that stage or that runway and we are putting on a show. We are putting on a character depending on the what the category is calling for that evening. You know what I'm saying? Like what the category is, the category is theater. We are Wow, you know what I'm saying? We are putting on a show. Um, and so there the world, yes, might live parallel from each other, but they there's so many things that intersect amongst each other. So, you know, it's it's a beautiful thing. And we were able to, you know, these past four years, we were able to workshop. We were able to almost five years, I would say, since I joined on almost five years. Um and it was really it's been just us workshopping it, finding the right talent and the right casting, making sure the story felt real. Um it is real. Because that's that's what it is. It's what you see on the stage, you'll see that at a mall. You'll see the the families on the side talking and kikiing while you see something happening on the main runway. You'll see the judges living their life or giving tens or giving a chop. You'll see, you know. Listen, you'll see it happen. Oh my god. Everyone's not, I mean, it's a competition. You're gonna have a winner, you're gonna have I don't like to say losers, but you're gonna have I don't I hate saying that because no one's ever showing up to lose. Right. We're all showing up to show what we can do in that night, in that moment. And that night might be your night, and that is okay because this. Another ball for you to come back and to prove it.

SPEAKER_01 22:03

That sounds like a lesson in resilience.

SPEAKER_00 22:05

It is. And it I mean this community, it's it's history. We've been given lessons, crash course lessons in resilience from since the first brick was thrown at Stonewall. Right? Like this is truly history, you know, and and we're just opening up a door for more talent and more visionaries to then be birthed and to walk through those doors. This won't be the the the last Jellico Ball or or its work or it's something like its work, you know, to be manifested and to be created. This is just now showing that we can tackle this platform, this space, this stage, this industry. Um we can walk through this door.

SPEAKER_01 22:50

Do you remember the moment when you realized your worth? Because I'm talking to a person who I'm like, you know who you are and what you stand for, and I can feel this. It doesn't mean that you m have all the answers, but it feels very uh what is the word? It's inspiring to me. It's you know who you are, and I can feel it, you it's a good, it's a positive. I'm sorry, shut me up. When did you when did you learn this? Is what I'm trying to get at. Because if the world could feel about themselves, the way I am feeling that you feel about yourself, it would be a very beautiful place.

SPEAKER_00 23:44

Okay, it's not my allergies. I'm really about to cry. Um I get emotional when talking about this because for a long time I did not know my worth um or my power. Your power. For a long time I did not see myself um. I'm from what I'm from West Africa, I'm from some Senegalese.

SPEAKER_01 24:15

You're from West Africa?

SPEAKER_00 24:16

I'm from West Africa, I'm from Senegal. And most recently, uh to share this, um Senegal just passed a law where it's now ten years in prison for being gay.

SPEAKER_01 24:32

No.

SPEAKER_00 24:32

And it's uh Noah. Yes, and it's a ten thousand dollar fine, which is like almost 17 million SAFA in our currency in Senegal for just being gay and queer in. 2026? Yeah. No. Yes. I don't believe it. Yeah. So it hurts me even more to even say like I'm Senegalese or to want to be seen. And coming from a West African dance family. Oh my god. Coming from a family who is predominantly Muslim as well, too, on my mom's side of the family. You know, for a long time, I struggled with religion, I struggled with faith, I struggled with what who am I? I struggled with legacy, I struggled with am I making my mom and dad proud? Um, and I think the first time that I felt like I did something worth being proud of was when I saw my mom smiling back at me and my mom saying, You did it. Her acknowledgement. My mom is a world-renowned West African dance teacher, so the shoes that I had to even fill is crazy between her and my dad. And, you know, a lot of people, because I go by so many other names and not by my birth name, which is Usman Wiles, um, a lot of people don't connect the the lid, the legacy of my mom and dad or Lucashea Wiles and Marie Bas Wiles. Um, but I come from them. And, you know, for a long time it, you know, I did not know if I'm doing them proud because of the lifestyle that I chose, um, or the person I chose to love, or how I chose to love. And uh, you know, for me, that was very serious. Like I took that very serious. Yeah, you know, and um I just always wanted to make my mom and dad proud and make my family proud. So the first time that I felt worth everything was worth it, and was to see my mom proud and smiling, to have my mom coming to opening night. That's it. To see my mom coming. Oh, cool. You know what I'm saying? Like she's she's been to the production downtown. She's been to a ball, you know. To have her support that that has made me see.

SPEAKER_01 26:47

She said, You did it.

SPEAKER_00 26:48

Yeah. Yeah. She's so proud of me. And that just means the the most. No award, no nomination could top that. And um, but it will be nice when you get it, though. I mean, it will be. It will be nice.

SPEAKER_01 27:04

I'm gonna be looking at the screen crying, I'll be like, We did it.

SPEAKER_00 27:10

It will be nice. It will be nice to be recognized through the through this lens of the industry, right? Like your career, this is what you've worked hard for.

SPEAKER_01 27:19

That will also open up the door for so many people coming after you. And I don't know what will happen, but I know that oh, you have my vote. I know, I know.

SPEAKER_02 27:29

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 27:30

I just like because represent I you hear it all the time, representation matters. But it really does. When you see somebody doing something that you haven't seen before, it lets you know that it's possible. Yeah. People who want to do what you're doing, or you look like them, or you'd move like them, or you love like them, and they see you succeeding, it lets them know, well, maybe I can do it too.

SPEAKER_00 27:59

Yeah. And it's not even a maybe, it's I can. Because I think that's where we have to step out of. We have to step out of the maybe phases. And we have to step into I can.

SPEAKER_01 28:12

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 28:12

I can. Why can't I?

SPEAKER_01 28:14

Why can't I? Why not me?

SPEAKER_00 28:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:18

I struggle with that all the time. I'm like, well, maybe. Maybe. Could I? Maybe I why not? I can try.

SPEAKER_00 28:26

Yeah. That's yeah. We're always putting ourselves in that, you know, moment of, ooh, I can. Uh or maybe, or maybe I can try it out. If I try it out, if I give it this, just say you can. What's the worst that can happen if you just go for it?

SPEAKER_01 28:46

That's my favorite right now. What's the wor What's the worst that can happen if you just go for it? And what if, what if you succeed? What has been the most meaningful part of this process for you? Whether it's a moment in the show or something about mounting it.

SPEAKER_00 29:05

Honestly, for me, it's the fact that we were able to get Grizabella to be a trans woman.

unknown 29:13

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 29:14

Um that, especially in the time that we're living right now, that was the most important part of this show for me.

SPEAKER_01 29:24

I love that that didn't even cross my mind.

SPEAKER_00 29:26

Yeah, that was the most important thing.

SPEAKER_01 29:27

There's so much fluidity. I'm like, I'm not even I'm not, I'm done guessing. I'm not just there for the ride.

SPEAKER_00 29:34

I mean, all the grizabellas in the past have meaning, have a message, you know what I'm saying, for themselves out there, um, and and what Grizabella meant for them. But I think for uh chastity for temperance, um being a trans woman and singing Grizabella, singing memory, showcasing the emotion and the humanity.

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:59

You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01 30:00

She like laid flat down on the stage at one point, and I was like, oh, I felt that and I have been there.

SPEAKER_00 30:07

Sometimes it's like the world has made us feel like we needed to give up. And, you know, and I say us as talking of the community, but specifically for our trans sisters and brothers, the world makes you feel like I just need to lay down and give up because no one's going to see me. No one's going to cast me a rope, no one's gonna shine a light on me. And I think Grisabella, in this version, being someone who is living of trans experience, is sh showing the world how human they are, how real, how life affects them, how someone else's choice can affect them.

SPEAKER_01 30:48

Um I like that the humanity of it all. Because when I was in the balcony watching the show, I it I wasn't sitting there thinking, is that a guy or a girl? What are like I wasn't thinking any of that. I just was on the ride, on the journey, and connecting with everyone when it was their moment. It felt very like less about this that part and more like, oh, I see that. Like I see, I could see myself in every performer when they were featured when they were having their moment, even though I'm not trans. I'm not like I'm not any of that, and I felt very connected.

SPEAKER_00 31:37

Like our show might be representing and is representing the the community, but at the same time, I think the entire show just makes you throw out the gender norm. Yeah. You know, it's not about the gender identity in a in a at a point. It's about just the humanity of every single character.

SPEAKER_01 31:56

It's like the same reason why when I was breastfeeding, if somebody else's kid cried, I would start milking. Wait, what's it called? Lactating.

SPEAKER_00 32:03

Lactating, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:04

It's like we really are all one.

SPEAKER_00 32:06

We are connected. And I think if people, if people led with human connection and vibrations first, there would be less of the wars and the drama and the issues that are. Wait, say that again. It would be. It's it's us connecting with each other. You said vibration and vibrations. Like, that's how we need to connect with one.

SPEAKER_02 32:27

My language.

SPEAKER_00 32:28

We have to, because if not, you know what I'm saying? How how can we respect one another's experiences and trauma and journeys? Like, that's the thing. Everyone is going through something. And it's all everything, what you go through affects me too. You know what I'm saying? And you know, what the other person affects the other person. Um doesn't matter where where we come from, where we live, you know, it we all get affected by it. It's vibrations, it's a wave. You throw a rock into a pond and it ripples out, right? You don't know those ripples end. Those ripples continuously keep going. They're affecting everyone worldwide. And I think, you know, as artists, our music, our stories, the way we storytell, our acting, our voices, the singing, we are those ripples. We are those ripples in this huge pond, right? And it it we we are reaching out to so many people.

SPEAKER_01 33:24

I'm like, we're almost out of time. I uh I have so many things I want to ask. Like, we didn't even touch on you working with Beyonce and all of these janitor, like we didn't even touch on that. You're so layered, and your career, I'm just like, how and you're you look like you're 15. How on earth? Like, how dare you have this full-art career? What do you want your legacy to be?

unknown 33:52

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 33:53

What do you want people to say about you when you're not in the room, when you're not on the planet, and I'm more what are they saying when Omari? I know you didn't get in on this um with the camera. Arichi?

SPEAKER_00 34:07

Yes. Oh. You know what? I don't know. This past year, I've been doing a lot of self-reflecting for myself, and I've kind of I've kind of stopped worrying about what others thought or what they expect me to be or expect me to leave behind. I ain't going nowhere yet. I'm 38.

SPEAKER_01 34:35

Not 15 folks.

SPEAKER_00 34:37

I'm not going nowhere. And so I have so much more to do within this life, with with this career, and with these doors opening, I have so many more people to bring through. And I think that would be my legacy to leave behind. It's the next the next people that are gonna walk through those doors. That's the legacy. Not anything else that I can possibly do. You know what I'm saying? It's what what what is the next person going to do? What are they going to feel and know that they can't do? Like that's that's the legacy that I'm gonna leave behind is being able to leave an opportunity, a little space, a little crack in the door for someone else to say, I can step through. Let me just step on through there. Let me just step on through.

SPEAKER_01 35:26

It's giving, why do you dance like you're running out of time?

SPEAKER_00 35:30

You know what I'm saying? And um, that's that's it. I mean, in ballroom, I've already considered an icon in the poem scene.

SPEAKER_01 35:38

How freaking cool is that? It's a book. Did you wake up one day and you're just like, huh? I'm an icon.

SPEAKER_00 35:47

Like, what? How? It was through hard work. Hard work. Hard work. That's you know, um, patience, um, consistency.

SPEAKER_01 36:01

Consistency.

SPEAKER_00 36:02

And it's not consistency. And when I say that, I'm not saying like, oh, you need to be consistent for everyone else. No, you need to be consistent for yourself. Because we have times and moments where we feel like, oh, let me just dial it back, or you know, I need a break, or even when you're going through something, you take a step back. Sometimes you gotta just keep keep your foot on the gas and keep it consistent for yourself.

SPEAKER_01 36:27

Keep your foot on the gas. You're just speaking. I needed to, I needed to hear that. I'm like, okay, I think I've done enough. Let me just ease up.

SPEAKER_00 36:36

You got more.

SPEAKER_01 36:37

Keep your foot on the gas.

SPEAKER_00 36:39

Keep your foot on the gas. You the driving this. Keep your foot on the gas. And when you do want to take a break, go ahead. Hit it. Hit it.

SPEAKER_01 36:50

And then put it in the break.

SPEAKER_00 36:52

But no matter what, even when you do that, I'm just learning how to drive. My uh fiance is teaching me how to drive. That's awesome. I love it. Although you put your foot on the on the brake, you don't, you might not press the gas, but you never take your foot off of it.

SPEAKER_01 37:08

I'm a little bit nervous. I see your left foot moving.

SPEAKER_00 37:13

I'm like, I'm just learning it. I just look at the wait, break it this way.

SPEAKER_01 37:17

I'm learning that it's like why your left foot. You don't use your left foot to break anything.

SPEAKER_00 37:22

No, no, no, no. Break his left foot. That's his right. Okay, got it. Babe, I got it. I got it. Don't worry. It's gonna kill me. No, but you know what I'm saying? But that's what it is. You know, you you don't you don't take your foot off the gas, you just don't press on it, you know, when you need to take a break.

SPEAKER_01 37:42

You need to take a break.

SPEAKER_00 37:43

But the foot's still there for when you need to press that gas. So it's like, you know. Oh my gosh. Yeah, but I mean, this the show, I feel like that's also the show. The show is put in all the gas. Oh, it's all the gas.

SPEAKER_01 37:55

It's so good. It is so good. It's so good. It's so good.

SPEAKER_00 37:59

Yeah, it's too good.

SPEAKER_01 38:00

I can't believe how good it is. And I haven't said that in so long about a show. Sorry, Broadway. I love I love me some Broadway. I am a theater kid. We are theater kids. But every now and then we go through seasons of, I'm so bored. And finally I feel like somebody woke me up.

SPEAKER_00 38:17

Could you believe it? It was cats.

SPEAKER_01 38:22

Last question for you. What would you tell eight-year-old Omari?

SPEAKER_00 38:31

You're on the right path. Never give up. Whatever you're feeling, whatever doubt you have in your mind. Know that it has a purpose. Know that you have a purpose. That's what I would tell my eight-year-old version. Know that you have a purpose.

SPEAKER_01 38:58

And freaking buckle up for this ride. Buckle up for this ride. What a life you've had. You guys, Omari Wiles on the call today on the Silicia Show. Thank you so much for joining. You've spoken so much life into me. I'm sitting here, I'm like, oh, forget the notes.

SPEAKER_00 39:15

I'm like I think wait till we answer everything.

SPEAKER_01 39:19

We even barely even scratch the surface. Oh my goodness. I just, I just am so grateful for you. Your spirit alone is that like you said the word vibration. I know we're ending, we're ending, we're ending, okay? But you said the word vibration, and you are able to communicate so much, aside from your words, aside from your movement, it's your vibration. The energy in the room when you walked in can be felt. It speaks before you do. And so I'm like, what is that magic? How can I get some like You got it? But I I can't I can't see it from in here. I can see it on you.

SPEAKER_00 39:56

You got it.

SPEAKER_01 39:57

You you are you are this is what this looks like and feels like. I'm like, sign me up.

SPEAKER_00 40:06

You listen, this platform, what you're doing here with this, you're giving so many of us a voice. And at the same time, looking gorgeous doing it. But like you you've put in your work, you know what I'm saying? Like, know your worth as well, too. Like you are amazing.

SPEAKER_01 40:24

This is why I started the show, so I can be like, okay. Inspired. I'm inspired by everybody who I talk to. I'm like, okay, Selisha, okay. Uh take the notes, take the notes.

SPEAKER_00 40:33

You you thank you. You're yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:37

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 40:37

You're doing your purpose.

SPEAKER_01 40:39

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 40:39

And this is just one way of of of giving back. And so I thank you for even having me on this show. Like, I feel so. I am honored.

SPEAKER_01 40:50

No, I am honored. Oh my gosh. I am honored. I am honored. I have to let you go. Yes. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 40:56

I don't know what to. I can sing it all down.

SPEAKER_01 40:58

I'm like, I am so grateful for you. I'm so excited for you.

SPEAKER_00 41:02

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 41:03

Freaking do the thing. Okay. What he is doing. I mean, I didn't even ask you what your pronouns are.

SPEAKER_00 41:09

He am. Okay. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:11

Okay. You're like, you actually was this and you did the whole show. What he is doing, he's making it look so easy, folks. But I feel like the real good stuff in New York is off-Broadway because they're not trying to commercialize it. And he was, he has been able to bring that magic of an off-Broadway like house to the mainstream, to a commercialized space, to the great white way. I don't think that's a coincidence. That's the name of Broadway. And you're doing it seamlessly and effortlessly. Omari Wiles, everybody, look them up. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 41:51

Thank you. We gotta run this again. We gotta run this back. After you get your Tony, I'll be like You're the first person I'm coming to talk to. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 42:04

Thank you. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 42:06

You're amazing.