We know Andy Cohen as the expert on all things Bravo and Bravo devotees have grown to trust he will pour all of the scalding hot tea from the kettle that is the ‘Housewives’ franchise!
On April 14th, Cohen ventured into the world of Broadway and social media when he stepped into the role of hosting Project Broadway’s “For You, Paige.”
Like Cohen’s eternal ability to keep the pulse of reality TV thumping, “For You, Paige’s” creator Daniel Mertzlufft knows exactly how to get Gen-Z Broadway fans to “heart” his new play: “For You, Paige” was streamed on TikTok in addition to being performed live in New York City!
Mertlufft wore many hats during the production of “For You, Paige,” and Cohen made sure to pick his brain before the performance began. The play’s songwriter, executive producer, and music supervisor was thrilled to bring “For You, Paige” to the spotlight.
Mertzluff told the “Watch What Happens Live” host, “I’m so excited… ‘For You, Paige’ is a brand-new TikTok musical, the first time we’re ever live on stage! Tiktok is a place where musical theater isn’t just live, it’s thriving!”
The groundbreaking TikTok musical isn’t Mertzluff’s first venture into the thriving landscape of musical theater. He utilized TikTok to create a musical adaptation of the beloved film, “Ratatouille” two years ago when it, according to NBC News, began as a meme.
Metzluff captured all of his musical theater dreams for Remy and his buddies through text blocks and a photo of Remy’s likeness in the Tiktok.
Cohen “loved” Mertzlufft’s “Ratatouille” adaptation, which eventually went on to raise 2 million dollars for The Actor’s Fund, Mertzlufft said.
Mertzlufft attributed accessibility as part of his first Tiktok success.
“You don’t have to live in New York, you don’t have to be in London, if you have a phone and you have Tiktok…”
“Everyone is a part of it,” added Cohen, who also monitored a Q and A session following the play’s ending.
Inside ‘For You, Paige’
Mertzlufft’s creation held a special significance for him and the “For You, Paige” crew. The musical began production in January of this year, on the one-year anniversary of “Ratatouille The Musical.”
Mertzlufft wanted to keep the special date in mind for his second TikTok musical, telling Cohen it was coincidental his two musicals premiered one year apart on the same date.
Comradery was an essential part of “For You, Paige’s” creation.
Mertzlufft gave a special shout-out to his crew who helped make “For You, Paige” happen.
While brainstorming with the musical’s co-bookwriter Kate Leonard, the extremely punny title for the play emerged, and Mertzlufft took the idea, which he told Cohen, came from the pun based off of TikTok’s algorithm.
The unique way in which “For You, Paige” was developed and broadcast to the world will hopefully serve as a beginning for the next generation of consumable musical theatre.
Mertzlufft is optimistic about this innovative way of bringing musical theatre to the masses.
“The way musical theater is being created and consumed is changing,” Mertzlufft shared in the “For You, Paige” press release. “We are now able to give theatre access to people across the globe through their screens, and Tiktok is the perfect platform to empower this. It’s not about follower count, it’s about the work you’re putting out there. It’s so exciting to constantly see new voices emerge from this platform, and even more exciting to see TikTok not only acknowledge that community, but embrace it…”
Tiktok aren’t the only ones who embrace theatre and championing its next wave.
In his Instagram caption wherein he announced he would be hosting “For You, Paige”, Cohen began with “You know I love live theatre…”
Tiktok users love live theatre, too! The hashtag for #foryoupaige features Tiktoks a-plenty about the broadcast.
We’ll be on the look out for Daniel Mertzlufft and the talented cast and crew of “For You, Paige” to appear on our FYP soon enough!
