>> Stephen: HEY, WE ARE BACK WITH THE STAR OF "OUR TOWN" SOON
TO OPEN AT THE V BARRYMORE THEATER.
MR. JIM PARSONS. WHO IS THE STAGE MANAGER TO YOU?
HE'S NOT A CHARACTER BUT HE HAS A CHARACTER.
>> Jim: I THINK IT'S THORNTON WILDER, I THINK IT IS THE AUTHOR
SPEAKING AS MUCH AS SAY TOM IN "A GLASS MENAGERIE" IS PROBABLY
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS. I ALSO THINK IT IS WHOEVER IS
PLAYING IT BECAUSE IT'S VITAL SINCE THIS CHARACTER DOES NOT
ENGAGE IN SCENE WORK. WE SET IT IN THE TOWN.
WE TELL YOU FOR THE FAMILIES ARE PRETTY DOESN'T INTERACT WITH
THEM WHEN THEY ARE DOING THEIR FAMILY STUFF OR THEIR TOWN
STUFF. HE SIMPLY NARRATING.
EVEN THEN WE'VE BROKEN SOMETHING THERE.
SPOILER ALERT. SO I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT --
THIS IS MY FEELING. IT IS INCUMBENT ON ME TO BE THE
MOST HONEST BROKER I CAN BE BETWEEN THE AUDIENCE AND THE
SCENES WE'RE WATCHING. >> Stephen: IF YOU'RE AN
HONEST BROKER, HOW CAN YOU GET THROUGH WITHOUT CRYING.
>> Jim: I'M PRACTICING. TOWARDS THE END OF THE PLAY THE
OTHER DAY AND I HAVE ONE MORE SPEECH TO GIVE AFTER THE SCENE.
I WAS TURNED UP FROM THE AUDIENCE AND I WAS, LIKE, YOU'RE
CRYING AND YOU HAVE TO STOP BEFORE YOU TURN BACK AROUND.
AND I DID. I WAS LIKE GOOD, LET'S DO THAT A
FEW MORE TIMES. I CAN BE COLD AS HELL ALL
THROUGH THE RUN. >> Stephen: I'M PULLING FOR
YOU. >> Jim: THANK YOU.
"OUR TOWN" ADDRESSES, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER FLEETING OUR LIVES ARE
AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO FIND JOY IN EVERY MOMENT OF OUR
LIVES. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT
BEING ALIVE DOING IT SO FAR? WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED TO
APPRECIATE MORE? >> Jim: FOR ME, THE PLAY IS
MOST RESIDENT IN MY OWN PERSONAL EXISTENCE EVERY MORNING.
BECAUSE THE MORNINGS, I'VE ALWAYS KIND OF KNOW THIS BUT
RIGHT NOW I AM SO AWARE OF IT. I BOTH WAKE UP WITH, LIKE, I
GENUINELY WAKE UP WITH THE GOOD PART OF ME IS SO HAPPY TO GET UP
AND THE POSSIBILITY. I'M GRATEFUL THAT I'M ALIVE AND
THINGS LIKE THAT I LOVE COFFEE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN THERE'S ALWAYS THE OTHER PART GOING "YOU'VE GOT TO
HURRY. WE'LL NEVER GET ALL THIS DONE.
WILL YOU GET OUT OF MY WAY." THAT'S THE DICHOTOMY.
IF I CAN HOLD ON TO 2% OR 3% MORE OF THAT LIGHT, HOPEFUL
GRATITUDE OF BEING THERE AND GET JUST A LITTLE BIT LESS OF THE
"MOVE, MOVE, WE HAVE TO GO HERE."
THAT'S THE WIN. I THINK THE MESSAGE IN THE PLAY
THAT IN A WEIRD WAY IS HOPEFUL OR AT LEAST VERY FORGIVING IS
THAT YOU NOT GOING TO APPRECIATE EVERY MOMENT.
WE ARE EGOIC HUMAN BEINGS ON THIS EARTH.
IF YOU CAN GET A FEW OF THEM, THAT'S REALLY GREAT WIN.
SO FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR GOING "I JUST DIDN'T REALLY SEE SO-AND-SO
TODAY." TRY AGAIN NEXT TIME.
YOU KNOW. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Stephen: GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> Jim: IT WAS GOOD TO SEE
YOU. >> Stephen: PERFORMANCES OF
"OUR TOWN" BEGIN SEPTEMBER 17TH ON BROADWAY
AT THE ETHEL BARRYMORE THEATRE. JIM PARSONS, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE CREATOR AND STAR OF
"HOW TO DIE ALONE," NATHASHA ROTHWELL.