In every episode, the culture critics at Token Theatre Friends bring their fresh perspectives to the performing arts on their podcast and video series. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and Stitcher (look for the all-red logo). The video series* is available on YouTube. The TTF theme song is by Sean Mason (with vocals by Angela Ramos). The video animation is by Brad Ogden, with logos by Jason Simon.

In this episode, Jose sits down with Swedish actress Leila Jung, who’s taking on the iconic role of Roxie Hart in Chicago after starring in The Girl from the North Country.

They talk about what it’s like to go from Bob Dylan to Kander and Ebb, performing back-to-back musicals set in the Depression era, and how Swedish audiences connect with the language of musical theatre. Leila reflects on the shows that first made her fall in love with the stage, the craft behind keeping a musical alive, and what it means to find truth inside the sparkle.

References

Chicago by John Kander and Fred Ebb at Malmö Opera House