Whisper in the Wings Episode 1555

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Welcome back in everyone to a fabulous new Whisper in the Wings from Stage Whisper.

We are so excited to be welcoming back our guest today.

He's an absolutely incredible creator and performer, storyteller and entertainer.

I mean, the list goes on and on, and we love getting the chance to speak with him.

Of course, I am talking about the amazing artist, Lord Brian Alejandro Scott.

He's joining us today to talk about his new show, My Life, which is playing April 25th

at 7pm at Pangea.

And if you'd like tickets for more information, you can head to PangeaNYC.com or the link

we've included in our show notes.

We always love getting to feature Lord Brian and to learn all about the amazing works

he's created.

And I think today's show is going to be especially unique and wonderful.

So without further ado, please join me in welcoming back our guest, Lord Brian Alejandro

Scott.

Welcome back to Whisper in the Wings from Stage Whisper.

Thank you.

I'm very excited to be here and then to share what's happening in my life and basically

talk about this upcoming production, which has been something that's been actually came

to my mind at December 31st, New Year's Day.

Wow.

Well, I'm excited to have you back here because just the little bits that have been hinted

to me, the story that you're sharing is, I mean, inspiring and heartbreaking and all

of the emotions all into one, but I'm doing a terrible job of subising this.

Let me have you start off by telling us a little bit about what the show My Life is all

about.

The show My Life is, you know, talks about my growing up in the UK, my parents from my

mom's from Panama, my dad's from Trinidad, their journey.

So my mom went to Wales, Newport Wales to study nursing and became an RN.

My dad was a pilot for the Royal Air Force or RAF.

So I met, at that point I was in the round, but obviously they somehow connected and so

I grew up in Tottenham, London and after that, well, I'm skipping certain things because

it's a story, but it's an interesting story.

So we actually came to America on the QE1, you know, the Queen Elizabeth one.

So came back into America with a big gigantic ship.

So it was very, very different and I mean, it was nice.

You know, but it felt like a cruise, I guess you would say, but it was a different coming

to America definitely was, I will talk about in the show, culturally different, very new.

I think sometimes at that time, I don't think a lot of Americans had met any person of

colour that was from the UK and spoke Spanish and, you know, and was Caribbean.

You know, all those things coming to America was interesting because it seemed like black

people would just put in one very narrow box.

So I actually had to learn to navigate my home life, my family life, my school life and an American life.

Incredible, incredible.

I don't know how you got this boiled down into just one show.

I mean, this is fascinating.

So you mentioned that December 31st is when you decided to do the show.

What inspired you to want to do it?

OK, so I was walking.

I live in East Village and I was going to post something and I was wondering, I say,

you know, what are you going to do for 2026?

You know, because I've gone through some treatment with cancer and one of them was an incurable

cancer called multiple myeloma and I'm not going to get into the details of all that.

But it is a blood cancer and it's a rare blood cancer and it's not necessarily curable,

but it is, you know, I mean, remission and but you know, when you go through all those treatments,

you know, your body's never quite the same.

So and everyone's different.

So I needed time to kind of get my physical part together and my mental parts together.

And I decided on that day.

I said, you know what, you know, things may not get better or things may be the same or things

may get worse.

So with the time that you have, you should put together a show, no waiting anymore and just

see where it goes.

You know, do you still, are you still able to perform like you used to, are you still able

to share stories with people, are you still able to connect and spread love and joy that

is something I enjoy doing?

And that's what, yeah, it was actually not New Year's Day, but it was the 31st.

It was, I guess, New Year's Eve, right?

And so New Year's Day though, I did start thinking about it seriously and jotting things down.

That's, I mean, I'm so sorry that you've had to go on to that, on that journey.

But just listening to the, the attitude that you have is inspiring.

And, and I hope you continue to just kick the crap out of cancer.

It's the worst in the world and I love the fight.

They picked the wrong fight, person to fight with because I can tell.

Well, you've been hard at work on the show since the New Year.

So as we're speaking right now, we're 11 days away from the show going up a panjia.

What has it been like for you developing the piece and putting it up on its feet?

I'm, you know, it's interesting because years ago, when I, I studied one of my teachers was,

was Marilyn May.

You know, I took some of her classes and I remember the first time I took it.

And I, you know, how many, how many songs do you have to have to have a show?

I was very green at the time.

So, you know, you need to have at least, you know, in your repertoire, at least 20 songs at the time I just had two.

And I was a little bit discouraged, but yet inspired.

I said, okay, I've got a, you know, not ready for a show at that point.

And little by little, I learned different songs.

I mean, there's other artists that know much more than I do, you know, I'm not saying it that way.

But I had to actually cut songs from this particular show because I had so many songs that I wanted to share.

And I wanted to sing that I fell in love with over the years.

So, yeah, I, it's amazing how at one point you think you're not moving forward.

And before you know it, you're there almost there.

We've got a little bit of time.

So, yeah, well, I'd love to know with this wonderful evening of music and story.

What can audiences expect from the show?

I think they're going to be surprised.

I mean, we're going to talk about part of some of the show of my journey on, you know, fighting.

But other things, some of the songs that have inspired me over the years, some songs I heard that I never thought I would sing.

Some songs I love, standards, I sing a lot of music by Johnny Hartman and Billy Eckstein and Sammy Davis and Frank Sinatra.

I had a wonderful voice coach and mentor, Gloria Lynn.

She was well known for, I wish you love.

I used to dance back up for, for a period of time when Martha Reeves and the Vendela's appeared in New York.

And so, Lois Reeves or Martha Reeves and the Vendela's, she's given me a lot of advice, performance advice and business advice,

how to approach new material.

And so that is, I'll be sharing some of those stories, some of the people I've met along in it's just weird.

I don't want to give it away, but, you know, my opening numbers is from someone that I did meet who was a big Hollywood star who recently passed away.

And I've had a pleasure of meeting various people and it's, it's very hard to say how you're going to meet someone.

It just happens, you know, Valerie Harper, I met after she did her big show.

And it was a funny little story because I had a picture of her when she'd gotten any when she didn't marry Tyler Moore's show and she couldn't believe I still had this picture after all these years.

And of course, she signed it, we had a brief conversation.

So she's just one of many people, but very nice.

Mary Wilson, that's another memorable thing when she was at finesteins.

We had a very long conversation and it's funny because everything she was mentioning about her album and her book and I happen to have it all with me.

So I said, uh, this one at one and says, I want to talk to you after the show.

So, you know, we actually, we had a nice one conversation and stayed in touch for a while.

Oh my gosh, I love when you come on our show and just the stories that you share that makes me even more excited for this cabaret show.

This is amazing.

So as always, I mean, it's a personal story that you're sharing.

So is there a particular message or thought you're hoping audiences will take away from this show?

I mean, I think right now, the world at large is crazy.

I mean, it's always been crazy, but it's getting crazier.

And I think people are for some people are separating on very superficial reasons and then economics.

And I hope that my show will help bring people together in the sense that no matter what your ethnicity or sexuality or religion is, I hope I got them all in there.

Because then some of them say, well, how come he didn't mention so and so, but whatever, whatever your thing is, at the end of the day, I think all people want the same things.

You know, we may we may go about it differently based upon culture or based upon language, but I don't see it such as we're so separate.

We're much more similar than we are different and you don't have to like everybody, you know, but you do have to, I mean, you know, I will say you do have to respect everybody.

You can you respect someone and say, you know, I don't really get on with that person.

So I'm just going to leave it right there.

But they're entitled, as long as you're not bringing home a damage to you and your family, they're entitled to their belief system.

So that's where I think I would like people to walk away through the music and through the stories and through who I am and when they look into the audience, they're going to see all sorts of people, you know, I usually have a very mixed audience because my life is culturally rich.

Wow, what like I said, I just everything you're sharing is absolutely amazing. This is such an incredible journey.

That is a great set up for my final question of this first part, which is who are you hoping to have access to my life?

I want to, you know, of course, I want everyone to have access.

It some songs I sing will be on my my Lord Brian Alejandro YouTube channel.

So we want, you know, because there may be someone who may not be able to attend the show or maybe someone who wants to hear more music or more of my style of music.

But I am hoping to reach people who either grew up with this style of music.

I'm singing standards in love songs.

I have some of your TV and surprises in there.

People, even, you know, younger generation to see that, you know, we opened up doors for many of them.

Music obviously has changed in more over the years and that's understandable.

However, it's like there is there is a basic to music as there is to dance when you take ballet,

when you study music, you want to study classical, you need to have some at least knowledge of classical

and standards and who sang them and who's known for what.

And sometimes those people who opened up doors for others, they're lost.

So I'm hoping to my mention names make people curious, you know, and now it's easier because now you just have to Google.

You don't have to buy a new set of encyclopedias.

I'm dating myself a little bit, but yes, it's so easy to, you know, access musical artists.

And so, you know, well, I've never heard of that person.

Let me, you know, I know when I grew up a big name for me was Dusty Springfield.

You know, I met someone the other day and said, Dusty Springfield, I never said, well, you know, she's British.

So that's possible.

But, you know, America had a the British invasion.

She was very popular and even I didn't meet Dusty.

I did meet Mothorees and Dusty and Mothorees work together.

A few things in the UK.

And Dusty's responsible for bringing what's up, baby?

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Fully alert.

Well, on the second part of our interviews, we love giving our listeners a chance to get

to know our guests a bit better, probably better back, if you will.

And we have had the honor of featuring you twice before, which has been a great honor.

And so I want to change up this first question, or the second half.

I'm going to ask you, you have got a great life in the arts.

You are no stranger to the stage.

So what changes would you like to see made in the theatre,

either now or in the near future?

One thing I'd like to see come back.

It's difficult because we're in New York, and we used to have a lot of different

little venues where you could perform.

And we don't have as many now, and it's become awfully expensive

for people to do things.

Yeah, there are big places, but I'm not a big artist in that type of,

my type of music is for a small room, like the blue note.

I think places like that, that's why PanGee is the perfect spot.

Because it's small, it has an, I wish the stage is a little bit bigger,

so I could do more dancing, but it works.

You know, you make it work.

You work with what you have.

And the staff, Steven and Arnaldo,

and the weight staff and the songs and the kitchen and the food is great.

So I think that, you know, if we had more places like that,

for artists that may not have a million dollar budget, you know,

or have to sell so many tickets in order just to break even.

I think that would be great and great for young artists,

who especially those who moved to New York where rent is very expensive now.

It used to be a little bit, a lot more manageable.

And I do hope, I know people have a lot of opinions about the new mayor.

It's very hard stepping in shoes of people

in that position, but at least he's the only one I've been living in New York for 40 years,

you know, in this area. I'm in East Village.

And this is the first one I've ever heard speak about, you know,

talking about rent control and the increases that go on.

And I don't think all the audience really knows.

Maybe they do, maybe they don't.

Rent control doesn't mean that you're just going to get the same rent

every year. It goes up, it sneaks up.

Every two years, every time you renew that lease,

it sneaks up.

But the problem is the percentages by which it increases.

So if you want to fix income, as you can older, it becomes, it's just a delicate dance,

you know, it's a delicate balance to keep it going.

So hopefully we will have more places for access for younger people.

And for, you know, older people for everyone really, you know,

access, we should, New Yorkers shouldn't be displaced because people coming from other places

who may have more affordability.

I'm not saying people can't come to New York.

I'm not saying that's not my, I'm not saying that at all.

I'm just simply saying that they should come, but they need to be part of what's going on here.

You know, if I go to Ohio, I'm not going to try to make Ohio in New York.

I'm going to, I'm going to go with Ohio view.

Group, you know, I mean, so that's what I mean when I say that.

Those are some wonderful ideas that I completely can rally around.

I think that it's possible to do, you know, anything's possible, right?

But the problem is we do live in a capitalistic society.

And so oftentimes costs become the main focus.

But I think what people fail to realize is if you, you see, if you invest in people

and you invest in art, it'll pay for itself.

We just have to give it a minute.

Well said, well said, well, I can't let you go without asking my favorite question to ask

us, which of course is what's another of your favorite theater memories?

One of my favorite theater memories.

Oh, God, I think to honestly, I'm going to go way back.

I think when I came to the United States, when I was young, my parents always took me

to different shows and stuff.

And I remember the first time I saw the Wiz, and I think it was 1975,

and it was at the Minnescaw Theater, and I saw Stephanie Mills singing.

That was my first time I'd seen an all black cast.

I've seen mixed cast in the UK.

So, you know, unusually like ready-steady girl, they have some, you know,

different singers, different backgrounds.

But that was the first time I saw Stephanie Mills.

And she really was phenomenal.

And again, I later had met Andre de Shields and George Faison, all these people who at that time,

I never imagined I'd ever get to meet them.

I met Stephanie Mills once, but it was brief because, you know, it was a concert.

So, it wasn't that easy to have a long turnout conversation.

But it was a memory that said, you know, maybe someday I could be on a stage

doing something, sharing, and I just, and I also have to say this on record,

I think it was unfortunate that she didn't get to do the movie because

I'll just say that I think she would have done a great job, because she definitely had a wonderful

voice. And I think when you have Broadway and stage experience, it's different from just film

experience, you know, not putting either one down, but it just is different.

And sometimes Broadway people have to tone some things down, and sometimes film people have

to bring things up. And so you learned that. But she was very young and she had good talent.

And I always remember that being my first play that I saw in the United States.

What an amazing, amazing memory. What an incredible show. Oh, that's one of those,

that's one of those, those productions that if I could go back and see it live, if I had that

ability, I would definitely want to go see that. That's amazing. Thank you for sharing that.

Well, as we wrap things up, I would love to know, do you have any other projects or productions

coming on the pipeline? We might be able to plunge for you? Presently, I don't have anything

set up yet. I'm trying to take it easy. I hope that I can get some people to come out and review

the show. That would really be great because possibly opens some other opportunities where I can

perform it in other venues and tweak it a little bit. As we oftentimes do, you try things out.

And some things work, some things don't. And you learn from that. So I have no specific engagements

yet, but I'm open to, I think once we get past this show, I'm sure it'll be fine. I have sold out at

Pengear about four times already. And I think we sales are going well. I'm not sold out as I speak,

but I know we're well over the halfway mark. So we will 10, 12 days to go. I'm hopeful that

everyone will have a chance. Well, everyone who's on time will have a chance to see what I'm doing.

And I can share that. And I love, you know, inviting me on to this show to talk about it. And I

know we've covered a lot of topics. And it's a lot to take in. So I hope all the listeners listen

to it again, because there's so many great points that Andrew Broder and I think I was hopefully

able to touch on some things that maybe you didn't think about. I think sometimes it's misunderstanding

between groups of people. People don't oftentimes hear what the other person is saying. Or sometimes

they are able to put themselves in someone else's shoes. I was brought up where you put yourself

in someone else's shoes. My mom would always say, Oh, the green is always, the grass is always

green on the other side. And then she has all that all that's glitters is not gold. I mean,

she had a whole list of them, you know, and I think I described realising that sometimes things

are one outside, but you really don't know what the person's going through on the inside.

So in my show, I try to share that, I mean, it's not a downer, anything. Just that life is very

unpredictable. You don't really know what's going on with people. And the only way you're going to

find out is if you just take that step and just try to communicate with someone, say something nice

to someone. If you see them on the street, you don't have to know them. It's not a date to a hookup.

Just, Oh, I like your, you know, I like, it happens to me sometimes. Oh, I like your shirt. Oh,

that's a nice jacket or something kind. And I think that can open up the door for conversation.

And I think that if we have a conversation, we can start healing as a nation.

No notes. That yes, 1000%. Well, that leads to my final question, though, which is if our listeners

would like more information about my life, or about you, perhaps if I'd like to reach out to you,

how can they do so? Well, I can, one big thing I enjoy is my YouTube channel. And that's

going to be Lord Brian Alejandro. And you just put that name in. And you will see my music.

You'll see a few fashion things I've done in the past. That's one way. I'm also on Instagram

as some senior who should be SR Brian Alejandro. And that's A-L-E-J-A-N-D-R-O for anyone,

because I know it's a lot of letters in there. I also, and if you want, some people would like an

email. I do have I'm access to that, which is star S-T-A-R-N as a Nancy Y is in York 12-11

at gmail.com. Oh, I'm also on TikTok. Fabulous! Well, Lord Brian, it has been an absolute joy as

always speaking with you and learning all about this incredible new show you've gotten all your

wonderful insights. So thank you so much for your time today. Thank you for inviting me. It's

always a pleasure. My guest today has been the absolutely phenomenal creator and performer Lord

Brian Alejandro Scott, who joined me today to talk about his newest show My Life. It's played

April 25th at 7 p.m. at PanGee. And you can get your tickets and more information by visiting

PanGee at NYC.com or click the direct link we have posted in our show notes and social media posts.

We also have some contact information that for our guests, which will be posted in our episode

description as well as on our social media. But get to PanGee at NYC.com right now, get your

tickets while you still can. The show is already half sold. You don't want to miss out on this

wonderful night of music and storytelling. Again, it's My Life, April 25th at 7 p.m.

So until next time, I'm Andrew Quartz has reminding you to turn off your cell phones,

unwrapped your candies and keep talking about the theater. In the Stage Whisper, thank you.

If you like what you hear, please leave a five star review like and subscribe.

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Our theme song is Maniac by JazzR. Other music on this episode provided by JazzR and Billy Murray.

You can also become a patron of our show by logging on to patreon.com slash Stage Whisper Pod.

There you will find all the information about our backstage pass as well as our tip jar.

Thank you so much for your generosity. We could not do this show without you.

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turn off this Liberty Mutual ad now. 12 Months at towel. Piano. Enjoy being fully alert.