Donovan Session and Shea Petersen of Urbanite Theatre's At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen Join the Club

Robyn Bell: Today I am on location at the headquarters of urbanite theater to visit with the two actors who star in the currently running production of at the wake of a dead drag queen showing now through December 5th, the play was written by Terry guest is being directed by Damien Lockhart and here to tell us all about the plot and their characters are the two actors in the show, Donovan Session and Shea Peterson, Donovan, and Shea.

Welcome to the. 

Donovan Session: Oh, thank you so much for having us. That was such an amazing, like intro taken aback. That's look great. 

Shea Petersen: Thank you. We're so happy to be here. 

Robyn Bell: So now, before we dive really deep into this intriguing play and story, tell us a little bit about yourselves, where you're from, how you got into this business and what you want to be when you grow up. Donovan, let's start with you because I know that yeah, we are kind of from, the same part of the world. Right? Go ahead. How'd you get started in all this

Donovan Session: So just performing as a kid, that's really how you got into it. Just doing like little church plays and things like that, but I didn't like start to seriously study acting until I went to the university of Oklahoma. That's where boomer sooner. But yeah, I went there and that's where I really was able to like dive into acting. I also have to give a shout out to the Oklahoma summer arts Institute, AKA courts mountain. I went there when I was like 16 in high school, but it's completely, completely. And yeah. Then afterwards I moved to Chicago shortly after graduating and we've just been going at the gamut ever since then. And it's been a incredibly beautiful and wild ride for sure. 

Robyn Bell: Growing up in Lubbock, Texas. Where did you go to. 

Donovan Session: Okay. So I was born in Lubbock, but I grew up in Dallas for a little bit. And then I also moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is where I went to middle school and high school. 

Robyn Bell: And were you involved there and your school plays? They have a good drama theater department.

Donovan Session: Yeah, I actually, went there specifically because of the musicals and the drama program that they. Yeah. Had and held there. And it wasn't even the performing arts high school, but I was asked to go to the performing arts high school in Tulsa. And I looked at where I actually went to high school and I was like, I'm going to go there instead.

Robyn Bell: And then, you know, that's a case, a lot of times they, the school systems, they will put a performing arts school in place, but it, really depends on who, the leader of whatever the fan, the orchestra draw that sometimes the better program is not necessarily at the performing arts school. I get that.

Donovan Session: Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, it was really, really amazing in Tulsa and. Propelled me to where I am today. So 

Robyn Bell: in what took you from the university of Oklahoma to Chicago? 

Donovan Session: I, basically auditioned for a showcase at our school. It was like the first one for Chicago and I wasn't gonna do it at first, but I was like, sure, why not? Let's just give it a go. And through that, I ended up getting an audition for a show at red twist theater. It was a virtual audition before virtual auditions were even a thing. But I was like in Oklahoma and I'm like, No way to get to Chicago to audition for it. So I sent in a tape and they ended up casting me. So even though it was like a year before the rehearsals began, that gave me a full year to move to Chicago, get acclimated with the city before I ended up doing rehearsals for. 

Robyn Bell: And you have found since then, there's lots of work in that town and you are thriving, you know, pre pandemic and now post pandemic as an actor in Chicago.

Donovan Session: The amazing thing about Chicago is that it's full of so many independent theaters and so many. Amazing storefront theaters who are able to put up these fantastic works, where you are still able to learn and grow as an actor and still, have a network to some of the larger theaters. There is such as like the Goodman or Steppenwolf and things like that. While still getting. Acclimated with the community there with like smaller theaters like red twist or about face theater. And some amazing ones around that area. 

Robyn Bell: A good friend of the podcast, E. Faye Butler involved with the Goodman theater in Chicago. So yeah, we, we are familiar with how wonderful. Thinking as we're talking, because if you're a musical theater buff, you could be really confused by this conversation. Cause we're talking about Oklahoma in Chicago, which are both places, but also musicals. I was in Oklahoma and then I was in Chicago. Oh, what a resume? Oh no, no, no. That's the state in the town, right? 

Donovan Session: Kicks 

Robyn Bell: a fully, we had video. Well, and also if we only, we had video audience would see that you are African-American. one of the things here in Sarasota, that's been really, probably the last two years, really a focus. And you saw it, you know, in Hamilton, on Broadway that it's really not the type casting that maybe was five years ago. It seems that African-American performers can play any role. Now in, most pockets to have you experienced that in your trajectory of your career? Have you seen this change and growth? 

Donovan Session: Yes and no. No, of course. I mean, it's still for me personally, a little bit too early to see like what mega changes have happened in the industry, considering the response that the black lives matter movement received in 2020. So I'm still sitting back kind of wondering where. Change is going to really, really be evident and seen for like the longevity periods. But as far as like stories that are coming out and being told you do see like a lot more diversity in. The type of plays that are going to be put up and are going into production within the next like year or so.

Robyn Bell: Right. 

Donovan Session: So yeah, I'm really excited to see like how that continues. 

Robyn Bell: Like you ever get cast for Harold Hill in the music, man, you know, maybe we've reached him. Right. But that would be an ultimate, like, yes, we've succeeded here. Right. So yeah, I totally get what you're saying now. You like I and Donovan are also from Texas Richmond, Texas, right outside of Houston. And so the two of you didn't know each other at all, but you ended up going to DePaul university in Chicago. Let's go back a little further. Were you involved in, I mean, let's just say the, schools in Texas, the public schools in Texas, at least in music where I grew up there's a force to be reckoned with and the music program, that theater programs in the Houston area, the same,

Shea Petersen: it's, pretty intense. Whatever you're doing in school in Texas, whether it's theater, music, art, math, science, everything is a competition. 

Robyn Bell: It's like on steroids. 

Shea Petersen: Yeah, really? It truly is. And when I was younger, I was a big sports kid, football, baseball. Yeah, 

Robyn Bell: I played basketball. 

Shea Petersen: I have a twin and she was really big into basketball. Um, But did sports my whole life. I have an older brother named Steven who went to school for acting and that really sort of pushed me, watching him act and do theater and go to all of his shows. I was like, okay, like, if you can do this, I can do this. And was auditioning for school. Cause I knew I wanted to go to acting school, but I knew that, I also wanted to leave Texas. And I was doing a show at the university of Nebraska in Lincoln at their international thespian festival. And when you go there, you do like a big call. So you go into a room there's like 40 schools, you do your piece and you leave and. You go downstairs. There's a big board with every school and you have your name on it. And my friend was like, you got a call back from DePaul. And I was like, oh, I don't, I don't know what that is. Never heard of it, but everybody was super excited about it. And they're like, you have to go, you have to go talk to him. So I went and talked to them and they were like, we're going to be in Houston. So go to that audition and we'll see how it works out. Got in thankfully. Moved to Chicago in 2013 and have been there ever since. My experience at the theater school was great. I'm incredibly grateful for the foundation that they laid for me. Also being in Chicago, it truly is such a wonderful city to not only be an artist in any form I believe, but also as an actor, there's so much that you can do. And there's so much happening also in the film and television world as well. But, yeah, I always knew that I wanted to act and studied at the conservatory, graduated in 2017 and I've worked with a couple of storefront theaters in Chicago. Some newer companies did a little bit of work at the Goodman with their production of an enemy of the people. And then did boys in the band at windy city Playhouse. And then I will, I also did it at the Wake. But along those lines, I also got this show. So this is my first. Traveling outside of Chicago. 

Robyn Bell: Yeah. And what a rough life it is to have to travel to Sarasota, Florida for so many months. Oh, just must be miserable. Now I did stalk you both actually on the evil internet. And I noticed that Shea not only do you act, but you're also a photographer. Did that skill come as an outgrowth of being in the acting business? Or how, did this happen with

Shea Petersen: I sort of just picked up a camera when I was like 15. I was on vacation with my cousin and we were just walking around taking photos. And I just sort of really got into it. It's very different from acting. It seems a little less personal and I can sort of just really create an, a different way. But yeah. Do a lot of photography with independent queer musicians. I'm working on a couple of music videos right now. I'm cool with my partner and a good friend of mine name was say so if I can create digitally, that is definitely my outlet. Acting's an outlet, but photography is a little bit. 

Robyn Bell: So you do still photography and video as well. 

Shea Petersen: Yes. 

Robyn Bell: Interesting. 

Shea Petersen: Trying to combine the two 

Robyn Bell: and boy during the pandemic, what a skill to have. Right. Cause it was all audio and video editing and photos, and that was about the only way to get any creativity out there during the pandemic. And you also. at the wake of a dead drag queen has been produced one other time in 2019. And as you referenced, you are also in that production. So here it's been done twice full fledged productions, and you are the same character in both shows. 

Shea Petersen: So I understudied the first one, but under studied an actor, wonderful actor named Paul Michael Thompson, who was playing Vickie slash hunter. But a good friend from college, Michael Burke, who was an MFA director. Gave them my name and they sent me an email and they were like, you don't have to audition. Like we just want you in the room. And it was one of the best experiences. Yeah, exactly. And the story theater is a newer company in Chicago, but they are really are doing incredible, incredible work. And so just being able to be in the room with all of them, with Terry, with Paul, with Mike. And just sort of watching this play take on the many forms that it has. It was really, really.

Robyn Bell: And do you think that experience helped you land the gig here in Sarasota at urbanite to do it? They haven't yet.

Shea Petersen: Totally. 

Robyn Bell: And Donovan, tell me about the process, the two of you, how did you land this job with Urbanite to do this, play? 

Donovan Session: Yes. I was also asked to be an understudy for, at the wake, but I couldn't do it at the time I was involved with some other projects, but I remember going to go see it. And you second that the show began. I just remember feeling so angry that I was not a part of the show. And I was like, how, how can I like do this production? 

Robyn Bell: I want to tell this story. 

Donovan Session: I like have to tell this story. And Terry I've worked on some other projects with him he reached out once again and I think Brendan, the artistic director also emailed around at the same time and they were like, we maybe don't go full production of it. We will like for you to audition. Absolutely. Do you need me to like fly to Sarasota to, to do like virtual hologram? Like what do you want to see? 

Robyn Bell: This is a really cool how you make this connection with this character without ever having played it both of you are going to bring such a passion to the performance because of that and your previous experience. So it's fascinating. And You actually went through an audition, both of you? 

Shea Petersen: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Brendan contacted me because Paul, Michael Thompson, who I understudied gave them my information and I was at work. I teach two to five-year-olds, but I was sitting there and yeah, but I was like, oh crap, like at the wake. And I saw. Have been like living with this character, cause I never got to perform it. And sort of the same thing I was like, what do you need, when do you need it? Like I'm full game. And then went through the audition process which we had to put up a scene and then give them a drag performance and then did the callback. And then booked it. 

Robyn Bell: And just take a little short flight from Chicago to Sarasota, right? Yeah. Well, let's talk about the show a little bit. I think the title really gives it away at the wake of a dead drag queen, but Donovan, you are the dead drag queen named Courtney real name, Anthony, the play is set in sort of rural Georgia. Not really. What one might think of as an accepting place for drag Queens, especially, you know, black queer folks. So that's a big part of the lesson with this story, right? And, and how we as a society deal with this. So your character has passed away from complications of aids and the play is set at your wake. So tell us as the dead person in the show, how do you go about telling your story?

Donovan Session: Yeah, so. It's constructed in such a fascinating way because it starts off at the funeral. Of course, like it gives it away, but then you kind of like go through flashbacks about like two years before that, leading up to the period of the ultimate, like, you know, demise, spoiler, but it's constructed in such a fascinating way where it's like a dream world, basically. So you'll see anthony's life before the sickness becomes like very, very real and like very serious. But then you basically follow along. Courtney and Vicki's love story, and it is a love story in a sense. And you basically see the evolution of their characters over this course of time and how they have handled, living in this environment and how, even though they are a product of their environment, they still have two completely different lifestyles specifically because of the access that they have. That has already been set up for them before they were even born, you know? 

Robyn Bell: Yes. Because of culture norms and societal and color of skin. Right? Yeah. Yeah. And this play really brings that out. 

Donovan Session: It really does like to, the forefront and that's, what's been so cool about performing an urbanite specifically is like a, such a intimate space. So you're able to really feel the impact of it and. It's just so terrific. It's really, really terrific.

Robyn Bell: And Shea you play the live drag queen Vicki also known as hunter. Tell us about your role in the storyline and how it interacts with Donovan's character. 

Shea Petersen: So in the beginning we discussed how Vicky is sort of the consciousness of Courtney and. Vicky is the person who was pushing and challenging them to tell their truth. Because that's where the magic is. And their story deserves to be told. Vicky is also living with aids, but they're undetectable, meaning that if they have Sexual encounters with people, they cannot pass on the disease. So I've been taking a triplet for about a year when we start to meet each other and Vicky just falls head over heels really fast for Courtney. And as you go through the story, you sort of see. How Vicki is really fighting for this love and just wanting to take care of this person. But then also Courtney is having a very, very, very different experience than I have had due to culture due to access due to privilege. And you sort of see the major disconnects of the two characters when it comes to race, when it comes to political views and concerns. But Courtney is also sort of teaching them in a very tough love kind of way. Um, But Vicky is somebody who just wants to take care of them, wants to help them and is giving and giving and giving. And it's never really explained in the show, but for some reason, Courtney is just not accepting it or taking it. So you see these really beautiful moment. Of different parts of their relationship. 

Donovan Session: Yeah. 

Shea Petersen: Which I think if people see the play, they're like, wow, like these people are just kind of arguing all the time and like, they don't really like each other, but that's not true. There's something a lot deeper in there, but yeah, Vicky sort of serves as this consciousness and this force to. Really push Courtney to tell this play in the most honest way, 

Robyn Bell: and in the end, all good stories or about love and relationships between two people, maybe more, but that's why we go to the theater to see the development of these characters and their relationships together, and what a unique setting, for the playwright to put these two people in these two worlds in the same place going through this. Experience, but very, very different. 

Donovan Session: Yeah. 

Robyn Bell: Wow. And how it turns out. Oh, I can't wait to see it. I understand that there are times where I am going to feel like I am at an actual drag show, lots of lip syncing and dancing. Shout out to choreographer, Joe Neeson. Not quite a musical per se, but what songs or artists are performed and how do these songs move the storyline along? 

Donovan Session: Oh man. Oh, pardon me is just like, come and see it because I don't want to give that part away, but 

Robyn Bell: I understand that. Yeah. 

Donovan Session: There's so, many like beautiful. Lip syncs that are happening in this show that are definitely worth the watch. There's a lot of hip hop. There's some classical music in there. There is some like throwbacks to like the greatest divas who have ever lived of course. And. It's just a really, really fun and beautiful time. Bring your tips 

Shea Petersen: really though, because the cool thing that urbanite is doing is when we do the drag numbers, you can literally tip us 

Robyn Bell: just like at a drag show 

Shea Petersen: and then that money is going to be donated every night to canned community health. 

Robyn Bell: Excellent. 

Shea Petersen: Yes. So

Robyn Bell: three cheers for Urbanite. What a great idea.

Donovan Session: I know. 

Shea Petersen: Yeah. And it's, for a show like this, to be able to. Make an impact in some way, I believe is what needs to be happening and is very important. So that money will go to can community health, which helps people get access to HIV and aids, resources, medication a safe place for them to, 

Robyn Bell: and ten's are better than one's.

Donovan Session: Yes, always. Yes. Twenties, twenties, fifties. 

Robyn Bell: I'm a college. Just teasing. Well, we're really excited about that. And I did hear a rumor from Brendan that it's, certainly acceptable for audience members to actually dress up in drag to attend the show as well. Have you heard this? 

Shea Petersen: I didn't hear that button to hear that if you want to please, because we were also talking about how it will be interesting because. Speak directly to the audience and they're going to have masks on. So the more engaged, the more fun that you have, the more. 

Donovan Session: Yeah. 

Robyn Bell: Yeah. That's going to be a cool challenge to like, kind of be and drag with a mask on. And how do you incorporate that? You know, very, very cool. So let's, don't miss this opportunity to point out there's a lot of costuming and wig work and makeup for you. Two guys in the show, right? I believe Susan Haldeman made the wigs and David Kovach has designed the costumes, which today you're going to. Full fledged try-on and all this sort of stuff. Right. This is like the big day. So do you find the drag queen costumes, or do you anticipate the drag queen costumes are adding this different dimension for you for the rehearsal process and a challenge of acting the show?

Donovan Session: Yeah, absolutely. 

Shea Petersen: Yeah. I mean, in good ways and in very stressful ways, 

Robyn Bell: all the parts, you know, have a drag queen, like a woman, 

Shea Petersen: okay. Here we are wearing breasts. 

Robyn Bell: Neither of you are very womanly, so you need some help.

Shea Petersen: but actually it's, it's really cool too, because we are drag Queens, but we're also. Real people. So how do you differentiate who Vicky and Courtney is onstage then who they are as hunter and Anthony. But yeah, the, the costumes and the makeup and the hair really just sort of puts you in that mental space. You sort of just start to move a certain way and act a certain way and feel a certain way. And David and Susan have. A beautiful job with everything. Like the wigs are some of the best wags I've ever seen. Yeah. But on my end, the outfits are truly. Like next level. 

Robyn Bell: And are there costume changes are kind of you're in your outfit the whole time?

Donovan Session: No, they are a number of unnecessary costume changes for sure. 

Shea Petersen: We change offstage and we've sort of built in these moments of onstage where we are changing our makeup, where we are putting different clothes on, where we're going from different states of dress and undress. Which is an very interesting challenge to have to do in front of 

Donovan Session: a live audience. Yeah. Cause we're changing like right in front of you, it takes place in like the dressing rooms too. So we're just. Full fledged changing, 

Robyn Bell: not a lot of room for error. There was people watching you on dress and watching. I'm just going to add in here, boys. Make sure you take good care of your skin through this rotten. Okay. All the makeup. It can really clog some pores. Well, I'm really excited about seeing the costume. I mean, obviously the storyline is great. I think the, music and the lip syncing and the dancing. But then when you think about the costumes and the wigs, I mean, it's just really going to be a fantastic, 

Donovan Session: yeah. I'm going to have to start wearing wigs in real life because the way that it just like adds some volume and its attitude and a swish I'm like, this is a lifestyle choice for sure.

Robyn Bell: And we were talking because you said yesterday, you got your nails done. And I see here, you have, you have some beautiful nails, which I've never had in my life. I'm actually very, very jealous that. There's some time to adjust to the last 24 hours. You can't pick up things like normal and type on the phone and the computer. Yeah. Tough. Right. 

Shea Petersen: Zip up our dresses. 

Donovan Session: So that's going to be, that's the reason why we did them today is because we're working with our costumes. We have to figure out like how to maneuver these quick changes that we have to do sometimes. And like the way that it's going to change up the styling of the wigs and. Applying on makeup is going to be a challenge. 

Robyn Bell: People don't know how hard it is to be a woman until you put all this garb on your like Lord, these women have it. Tough, 

Donovan Session: tough. 

Robyn Bell: So how long has this rehearsal process taken for you guys? When did you come to town and start all this? 

Shea Petersen: So we got in three weeks. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. We've had a month in the rehearsal room, which is truly such a thing to be grateful for it because usually it's like two weeks in the rehearsal room, you have tech and you go, right. So we've really had the space and shout out to our director. Damien Lockhart has really given us a beautiful, beautiful structure and structure to just explore and to fail and to. Dig really, really deep into this show. 

Robyn Bell: And the two of you being from Chicago, you'd never worked together before now. Didn't know each other.

Donovan Session: We knew of each other. 

Robyn Bell: Okay.

Donovan Session: But no, we'd never like worked together. 

Robyn Bell: And did you get a chance before you came to Sarasota to do anything on the show together, run some lines or anything? No. That's interesting. 

Donovan Session: No thought about reaching out. And I was like, I'm scared.

Shea Petersen: I don't want to like come off. Like, 

Donovan Session: but now that I know I'm like, gosh, we could have, would have totally done. So I'm sure 

Robyn Bell: be next time. Someone else in the same situation, you will reach out right. A learning experience. Very good. Well, I know it's just awful to leave Chicago in the middle of fall and head to sunny, Sarasota, but have you had a chance to enjoy any of the finer things on our coastal city? Like some of your favorite coffee shops or dining establishment since you've been here the past three weeks to a month? 

Donovan Session: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. A siesta key. Oh, 

Robyn Bell: it's horrible. It's the worst. Why would you go there? Talcum powder, sand beautiful people. 

Donovan Session: Oh, I was like a dead and live up to the hype. I said this is okay. I guess 

Robyn Bell: it's fantastic.

Donovan Session: It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. So we've made it kind of like a thing to go out to the beach, like every. Week. Yeah. To trust. 

Robyn Bell: No, I'll do that. So they, live here and you take it for granted. So good for you. 

Shea Petersen: We've been in Chicago. Like we have beaches, not like here, but then like you have maybe a month of just like really good hot weather. And then I got here and I was like, okay, you need to. So could I send, because we're going to go back and it'll be December and right. Who knows what we're going to walk into, right. 

Robyn Bell: It really is that people say beach therapy, but it really does sort of change your whole mental mindset in that time you're sitting there and listening to the water. Sometimes you have you seen some dolphin or anything? 

Donovan Session: Yeah. Oh, you got to keep going. These are my favorite animals, so I'm like gung ho. Yeah. 

Robyn Bell: And take some time too. We've got some really cool kayak adventures. You can kayak these mangrove tunnels off at Lido and mean there's really neat stuff to do here, but don't hurt your nails. Let me tell you the sand is not good for nail Polish. I'm going to tell you this right now. So just keep that in mind. What about any kind of favorite restaurants you've 

Shea Petersen: You've done a little bit more eating out than I have. 

Robyn Bell: I know you have to watch your girlish figure for the show 

Donovan Session: changing in front of audiences. I said, okay, we can't just eat any thing. Right. But, oh my gosh, there were so many amazing restaurants around St. Armand circle. Oh yeah. That I really enjoyed. And we were at a. Restaurant near siesta. I'm trying to remember the name of it though, but they have like siesta key. Yes. Yes. Yes. S K O B S K B. That that was a really, really wonderful time too. And it was my first time ever trying oysters as well. So welcome to adulthood.

Robyn Bell: We have some great oyster places here, but it took me awhile to go. Okay, I'm going to try this now. Cause it seems like you're taking a different dive into. Food palette. When you track oysters, 

Donovan Session: you said I was pleasantly surprised. I think I'll try them again sometime. 

Robyn Bell: Good. We have lots. I can give you good suggestions while you're down here. And I saw you guys because we're here at urbanite and there's the coffee shop down just right below. What's it called? 

Donovan Session: Kawa

Robyn Bell: Kawa coffee. Yeah. 

Donovan Session: They're amazing. Yeah. Drinking this like a pumpkin pie cold brew right now. It's so good. It's so, so, so good. 

Robyn Bell: Just rubbing right on my hips because that's where it would go. Okay. I have a couple of rapid fire questions for the two. And I'm going to ask the question and Shea, you're going to answer first quick and Donovan. You're going to answer second. Okay. All right, here we go. All right, coffee at sunrise or cocktails at sunset 

Shea Petersen: cocktail. A sunset 

Donovan Session: cocktail.

Robyn Bell: Same answer. All right. I don't even know if either one of your sports fans, but Chicago Cubs or white Sox. 

Donovan Session: White socks, 

Shea Petersen: white socks. 

Robyn Bell: Good, good. Diana Ross or Barbara Streisand hitting the drag queen here. 

Shea Petersen: Diana 

Donovan Session: Diana Ross. 

Robyn Bell: I saw her live in Chicago actually is one of the best shows I have ever been to. And with my pops orchestra here, we bring in sort of, they used to call it. impersonators now they're called tribute acts and I'm like on the hunt for a Diana Ross to come see with my orchestra. She's fantastic. This goes to your show here. Blue eyeshadow or green eyeshadow, 

Shea Petersen: green,

Donovan Session: blue, blue

Robyn Bell: bunny. Okay. Now this one you gotta think about where you are. Chicago Blackhawks or Tampa bay lightning. That's a hockey team, 

Shea Petersen: Chicago black Hawks car. Y'all 

Donovan Session: I'll say chicago Blackhawks as well. Got to go near the ice. 

Robyn Bell: That's right. But you know, we won the Stanley cup last year in Tampa. So anyway all right.

Flip flops or Tennessee. 

Shea Petersen: Tennis shoes, 

Donovan Session: tennis shoes, 

Robyn Bell: tennis shoes, flip flops are good. Only at the beach here. We have dress flops,

Donovan Session: dress flops. 

These are 

Robyn Bell: all you do is wear flip flops around here. And so, you know, if they're like $150, you call them dress flops and you can wear them to a fancy gala or something.

Donovan Session: There are flip flops that are $150,

Robyn Bell: or maybe even more. Can you imagine, 

Donovan Session: oh my goodness, 

Robyn Bell: you should find them on St. Armands circle news alert. I don't own a pair a day at the beach or a day-by-day.

Donovan Session: A day by the pool. 

Robyn Bell: Yeah. I might tell you the beaches, a little dirty with all the sand. The pool is nice and clean. 

Donovan Session: Yeah. I did have a pool. 

Robyn Bell: And here, if you live here to go to the beach, you got to pack up gear. Like it isn't an adventure and where's my chair and my umbrella and my picnic thing, the pool, you're just like, I'm just going to go to the pool. It's all that. So, but yeah, the beaches is very special. Okay. Here's your last question? It's a tough one. Hamilton or west side. 

Donovan Session: Hamilton 

Shea Petersen: Hamilton. 

Robyn Bell: Yes. That's a very generational answer. I have to say. Yeah. I said there's a certain timeframe of someone's life. Where if they're this age or older, they choose west side story this age or younger it's Hamilton all the way. But I do like your answer. Well, congratulations, Donovan and Shea. You are now officially part of the club. Tell our listeners where they can go to follow your careers. You're on social media.

Donovan Session: I am that you can follow me on Instagram at slay session. It's spelled exactly how it sounds cool. Yeah. 

Robyn Bell: And shea.

Shea Petersen: Yeah, I am on Instagram at D Shay, S H E a Peterson with an E N and then I have a website, a D peterson.com.

Robyn Bell: All right. And you know, I noticed I have a French horn player in my pops orchestra is Peterson spelled with an E N. So I noticed that could be related. 

Shea Petersen: I need their number because I've, never met another Peterson with an N. 

Robyn Bell: Well, we will put links to all of your handles in our show notes. So listeners can click there if they're listening online and to see what the two of you were up to. But what we do know what you're up to at least until. Fifth is performing an urbanite theaters performance of at the wake of a dead drag queen. Tickets can be purchased for the show by going to urban theater.com or using the Suncoast culture club, calendar of events page to pick your date and purchase your tickets. I have my tickets and I'm really looking forward to seeing the show. The two of you being. Dressed up and well, I was going to say, bring the characters to life, but Donovan years, your character is dead. But uh, and the dressing up, I just can't wait to see the costumes. My thanks to Summer Don Wallace and Brendan Reagan for allowing me to visit with the two of you and a big thank you to Donovan and Shea, who took time out of their busy production schedule to speak with us today. Enjoy your time in Sarasota and have a great run with this fabulous play. 

Shea Petersen: Thank you 

Donovan Session: so much for having us. Thank you.