Broadway Stage Secrets

Tony-winner Nikki James has been playing to sold-out crowds for two years in Book of Mormon, and is about to perform in her own one-woman cabaret show June 23 and 24th at Broadway nightclub 54 Below. She stopped by to chat with Ali about what goes on behind the scenes at a Broadway show.

First of all, so many celebrities come to see the hit musical that the cast has devised a system to keep from getting starstruck on stage by someone in the audience. “We’ve divided the theater into quadrants, and you’ll say like ‘1-1-1’ which is Section 1, Row 1, Seat 1. So you can prepare your fellow castmates for a famous face.”

The celeb the cast was most excited to see? Oprah. “We put together this note that we all signed asking her to please please please come backstage,” Nikki said. When Oprah obliged, “she was lovely. She was with Gayle. She was amazing.”

“Be very honest about this,” Ali asked, “Sunday matinees. You guys are giving it 70 percent.”

“No way!” Nikki protested. “The worst show of the night is Tuesday, everybody knows that.” Apparently the actors are still a little sluggish after their one day off each week.

To hear what New Jersey rocker Nikki will be paying tribute to in her solo show, check out this episode of Daily Shot.