Robyn sits down with her lifelong friend and Broadway powerhouse Marissa Rosen to talk about growing up together on Long Island, chasing big theater dreams, and what it actually feels like to make your Broadway debut. Marissa shares how she landed “For the Girls” with Kristin Chenoweth, the very un-glamorous story behind her onstage concussion in Water for Elephants, and what it’s like to be the “character type” in an industry obsessed with leading ladies. They reminisce about middle school elections, bad wigs, and high school musicals, then wrap things up with a chaotic musical-humming game and a sweet (and slightly unhinged) drop-in from Mama Schall.

In this episode:

Robyn explains why this is actually episode 11, not 10, and what happened to the “lost” triathlon episode

How Robyn and Marissa met in pre-K and ended up doing school musicals together (Into the Woods, Jack’s mom, Little Red, the whole thing)

Marissa’s early break in My Big Gay Italian Wedding and how that show opened doors in NYC

The midnight “Broadway booty call” that led to her debut in For the Girls with Kristin Chenoweth

The moment onstage when she got to say, “I’m making my Broadway debut right now” and the theater exploded

Life as a working performer: off-Broadway, tours, workshops, and why being a “type” can actually be your superpower

The Water for Elephants concussion story: weighted hula hoops, flying rope, and finishing the show anyway

Bat Boy at City Center: massive theater, short rehearsal window, and stepping into Marissa Jaret Winokur’s role

Robyn & Marissa swap memories of middle school: class president, speeches, and failed treasurer campaigns

A musical humming game that completely falls apart (and somehow still lands on Little Shop and Sound of Music)

Quick chat about Marissa’s Christmas tour with Jessica Vosk and her holiday album with Marty Thomas, The Award Winning Holiday Album

Mama Schall calls in for the Patreon producer shout-outs and a tiny dose of chaos

Links & ways to get involved

Follow Robyn on Instagram & TikTok: @robynschallcomic

Patreon (bonus videos and behind-the-scenes): https://www.patreon.com/schallwetalk

Tour tickets (D.C., Philly, Orlando, Key West, Atlanta): robynschall.com

Patreon Producers:

Victoria (last name TBD), Susan Santoro, Thomas Ives, and Dr. Piano Man.

Produced by Security

#ShallWeTalk #BroadwayStories #MusicalTheaterLife #BroadwayDebut #BehindTheCurtain #PerformerLife #TheatreCommunity #ActorsOfInstagram #ComediansOfInstagram #NYCArts #CreativeLife