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Well, good evening, good afternoon, or good morning

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whenever you happen to be listening to this podcast.

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My name is Marvinetta Woodley Penn,

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and this is all stories matter.

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You know, I decided to do this podcast and call it that

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because I just don't think that we are as engaged

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as we could be with one another's stories.

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Everybody has a story.

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I don't care how old you are, how young you are,

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you have a story, something has happened

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to you in this time, that you've been on this earth,

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and that thing is worth sharing with everybody.

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You know, I was just at home with my grandchildren

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and they wanted to know the story about their dad,

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and I'm in the car with their dad.

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I'm like, how much of this story should I tell?

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So we have to have a conversation

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because our, his children, my grandchildren wanna know,

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and I'm gonna tell them the story, the good, the bad,

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the indifferent, the ugly, the beautiful.

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They will know the story, then they will know their history.

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And there's nothing more beautiful than knowing the who,

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the why, the what, the how of your personal story.

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So today I have two people here who are going

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to share their story.

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These are my friends from the Civic

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Theater, my Forever Friends.

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Now that I have met them,

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we have Miss Katie, and we have Mr.

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Christopher and you will get to know their story today.

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So sit back, relax, get a cup of coffee

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or a cocktail depending on the time of day,

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and enjoy this story.

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So Katie, I'm going to start with you. Yes.

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Katie Martin Neck? Yes.

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Or Martin Neck, or Martin Neck, or how do you pronounce it?

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It's actually, it's Checklist of Volcan. Okay.

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So it's Martin Neck.

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Martin Neck, yep. Okay, very good. Very good.

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I appreciate people's names. Katie, tell me your story,

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wherever you wanna begin, because I'm gonna

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go back way you are.

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Okay. Back up to the prison and then forward. Yeah.

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Okay, awesome. I was actually born in St.

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Joseph, Michigan. So I'm from around the area. Okay.

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And I pretty much lived there my whole life up

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until I became 18.

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And I went away for college for a little bit.

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It didn't work out.

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So I came back and did Lake Michigan Community College.

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And I actually got involved in the theater program

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there. So that was

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In college in, Yes, in college.

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I actually, though going back, I have been taking

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structured, danced since I was three.

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So dancing is really

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what got me on the stage since I was very young at

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three. So, okay.

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And how did you like that?

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Do you have memories of being, of being in dance class then?

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Yes, absolutely. I can remember my first, it was ballet

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where we started at three

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and we were little chicks, so little yellow chick costumes.

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Right. Like just classic. How cute.

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And then as I got older, I started taking ballet, tap,

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jazz, acrobats.

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So it just became a whole thing for me all the way

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through until I was 18.

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Oh, wow. So being a trained dancer there.

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Nice, nice.

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So I just heard a little, I overheard a little bit

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that you're going to be having those skills on

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display very soon.

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Yes. And we will talk about that. Yeah.

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So it was when you were in college

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that you really got into theater

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and decided, oh yes. I like this too.

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In fact, my first audition

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for a musical was when I was 10.

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And it was Annie and I forgot the words too tomorrow.

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So I had a very big thing when I was little, being a dancer.

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It was funny. I still had stage fright.

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So I messed up the words to that audition.

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And then I was in a group called Sunshine Kids,

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and it was a Christian traveling, singing troop.

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We wore rainbow colors and St.

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Joseph has a bluff

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and we sang, make a Grateful Noise unto the Lord

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of the Earth, make a joyful noise.

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And I messed up those the earth.

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So I kind of had these like

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misses when I was little, little.

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And then once I got to community college, I was like,

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you know what, I'm gonna give it a go again.

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And Barnum was the first musical

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that I ended up auditioning for there.

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So. Nice. And you got that. I did ensemble.

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I was a lion, tamer, tamer, and a acrobat. So,

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So the dancing it, It came kicked

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Right in for You?

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It kicked right back in. Yeah. Very

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Good.

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There we go. And you auditioned for Annie

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and here it was Annie.

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We were all three.

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Yeah. And Annie, we were at the Civic

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and we just had the best time

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Magical show.

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I mean, Mrs. Pew, Mrs. Greer, bundles.

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Bundles, And the holidays at the Pacific. Always the

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Best. Oh, it was so

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Magical Always. Oh

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Yeah.

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Those were some great shows. It was a lot of them.

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I know a lot of them it is.

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But it was still so much fun. It's

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So fun.

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I miss it because it is a family unit, you know,

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especially around the holidays. Indeed. Yeah, indeed.

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So, Chris, what about you? What is your story Begin?

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Most definitely. So I grew up in Wheaton, Illinois.

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Wheat or Wheaton Warrenville area right outside of Chicago.

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Yeah. I was adopted at the age of four.

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Brought into foster care at the age of two.

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Never lived with another family.

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So it was me and my adopted mom.

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I grew up, when I was five,

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I started taking dance classes at a dance studio

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because I had some mobility,

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like I was having issues balancing and stuff.

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So my mom thought, oh, that'd be great.

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She didn't know anything about dance.

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She was a sports person. Yeah.

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So she never really, she enjoyed theater,

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but never really was a theater per like a performer. So

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Was it your therapist who said that you should take

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Dance?

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Yeah. Yep. So the occupational therapist

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and the physical therapist both recommended it.

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So I ended up taking dance, ended up becoming a part

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of like a competitive dance team.

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Oh. That was called Minis.

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It was a part of a dance studio

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called Stephanie's Academy of Dance.

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They're actually still in business.

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I think they're on their 20th

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anniversary this year. It's kind of crazy.

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Oh. Have you been back and said, Hey,

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I'm gonna give you guys a couple of dollars.

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You know, you started me on

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My route.

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I follow along online

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and kind of followed their, what they're up to.

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Nice. But kind of grew up doing ballet, tap jazz, modern

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competitively until I was in high school.

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Or eh, seventh grade is when I stopped competitive dancing.

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But I auditioned for the Joffrey Ballet Nutcracker

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when I was young as well.

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And I was actually in their

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children's ensemble for quite a few years. Growing. Nice.

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Growing up. So you were driving in,

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your parents were driving you into Chicago.

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Yep. Yep. And it was just single mom and then Dedicat.

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We Usually had up to six foster kids

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that she would foster a time too.

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What an amazing woman. Yeah. So,

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Yeah. Is she still with us?

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She is. We don't necessarily have a relationship.

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When my grandfather passed away, she was never the same.

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And so he passed away when I was in the eighth grade.

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And so like, our relationship just always

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was kind of rocky from there.

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Okay. Unfortunately. Okay. So wonderful human.

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Yes. I mean, I don't regret anything in life. Mm.

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But growing, not necessarily Either. Growing. Yep.

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Growing up there was always a very positive

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light and Yeah. Yeah.

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Yeah. But, and growing up being a

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teenager is already difficult.

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Oh yeah. Because you're finding your way, you're finding out

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who you are, and it's like, oh my God.

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And your the parents

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or the authority figure, whoever's there, they're struggling

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with you going from childhood to going into adulthood.

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That can be a, you're like, yes, I got hit. I know

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I'm doing it now.

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And it's you, you wanna give them grace.

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'cause you remember how hard it was at 15.

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I have a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old at home.

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And obviously the 18-year-old, he's in college.

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He, I want him to be as much of adult

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as necessary and what he could do.

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But I'm still got the reminders going, you know? Indeed.

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And then with Oakley, my 15-year-old, I mean,

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she is miss Independent.

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She knows what she wants,

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but there's still guidance that is needed there.

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Yes. As a 15-year-old, you know? Yes.

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So it's that fine line of, yes, I'm still your parent,

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but I almost feel like a, you know,

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the buffers in a bowling lane.

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Right. You, you gotta bounce off of me.

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It's okay to make mistakes and I want you to make mistakes.

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I think that's the biggest thing right now. Yeah. Yeah.

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Is to learn how to cope.

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Learn how to cope and recover. Yes. Yes.

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Learn how to get back up, start it off.

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Learn the lessons you need to learn. I'm going through that.

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Even with my grandchildren who are 11,

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they wanna have a girlfriend, they're twins.

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And one is very popular. The other one isn't so popular.

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He's gonna hear this. I'm sorry.

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I'm sorry that I'm telling your story. It's okay.

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Because other children are going through this,

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so I'm just using you as an example sweetheart.

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But they have different personalities. Yeah.

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And some one is a, is really in a group.

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The other one isn't. So there's some conflict there.

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But I'm like, you have your own journey. Yes.

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And you have your own journey.

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And don't get so into your friends

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that you forget your brother.

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Yeah. You will always have your brother,

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not necessarily your friends.

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I am not interviewing myself. I'm interviewing.

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Yeah. But it's, it's, it's that connection. It all.

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It does. Yep. And I think I really appreciate as a mother

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that my kids, they have really bonded.

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They've always been pretty close. There's only three years,

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but this last year, Jake takes Oakley

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to school and picks her up every day.

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Thank you, Jake. I love you. But they've really bonded.

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Oh, that's awesome. So like, Jake coming into his adulthood

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and you know, girls do mature a bit quicker Yeah.

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Than males. And in that aspect,

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they're almost on the same level.

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And it's great to see as a parent where you can just kind

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of like, all right, job is mostly done.

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I say mostly you got, but yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

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That is nice. That is

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Awesome.

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Awesome. No, you don't have any children, Christopher? No,

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No children.

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Well, Oakley and Jake, you do

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Have side, you have, you know, little adopted children.

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I'll send mine him. Okay, cool.

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What about your siblings? Were they technically siblings?

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The other foster children

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Who were up enough?

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So when I was in the sixth grade, my half brother

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came to, or we found out that he, I was curious about like,

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did my birth mother have any more children?

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Okay. And so we didn't know.

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And so he had been actually brought into foster care.

255
00:11:10,305 --> 00:11:12,035
He's five years younger than I am.

256
00:11:12,815 --> 00:11:15,315
And so he was living with another family.

257
00:11:15,775 --> 00:11:18,595
And that other family we went to visit where like,

258
00:11:18,945 --> 00:11:20,595
he's gonna be adopted by this other family.

259
00:11:20,775 --> 00:11:22,315
So we were all prepared for that.

260
00:11:22,855 --> 00:11:26,915
And then he ended up, the family decided that he needed

261
00:11:26,935 --> 00:11:30,895
to be with like our family because of the sibling.

262
00:11:31,035 --> 00:11:33,495
Or like, they wanted him to have a sibling

263
00:11:34,125 --> 00:11:35,375
that was like blood related.

264
00:11:35,835 --> 00:11:38,695
Yes. So they decided that they weren't gonna adopt him.

265
00:11:38,695 --> 00:11:40,015
And so he came and lived with us.

266
00:11:40,115 --> 00:11:41,415
And then we adopted him as well.

267
00:11:42,115 --> 00:11:46,735
Or, and then I have a brother, his name is Massimo.

268
00:11:46,815 --> 00:11:48,255
I still talked with with him.

269
00:11:49,315 --> 00:11:52,435
He is not related to me at all,

270
00:11:52,855 --> 00:11:55,205
but is four years younger than me.

271
00:11:55,225 --> 00:11:58,965
And so we've always been pretty close and yeah. Nice.

272
00:11:58,965 --> 00:12:00,565
And then I have a sister Annalise,

273
00:12:00,565 --> 00:12:02,005
when I was a junior in high school.

274
00:12:02,375 --> 00:12:05,565
She's a half sister as well. All, all have the same mom.

275
00:12:06,625 --> 00:12:10,325
She ended up moving in with us when I was a junior.

276
00:12:10,385 --> 00:12:14,845
And then she was adopted in 2016, I think.

277
00:12:15,035 --> 00:12:19,565
Okay. So, yep. Wonderful big family. Yes.

278
00:12:19,875 --> 00:12:21,645
Lots of you Guys running around.

279
00:12:21,915 --> 00:12:24,725
Yeah. Always had foster kids as well. And Okay.

280
00:12:24,935 --> 00:12:27,885
Other, sometimes some of those foster children would live

281
00:12:27,885 --> 00:12:29,365
with us for a few days 'cause we,

282
00:12:29,365 --> 00:12:30,685
they needed a respite care. How

283
00:12:30,685 --> 00:12:31,805
Did you, how, how did you,

284
00:12:32,305 --> 00:12:34,165
how did you navigate that? How did you feel

285
00:12:34,165 --> 00:12:35,165
About that issue?

286
00:12:35,165 --> 00:12:36,085
It was always just like, we always just kind

287
00:12:36,085 --> 00:12:39,755
of knew someone might be coming to live with us. Yeah. Wow.

288
00:12:39,985 --> 00:12:42,995
Okay. And you were all just cool with it all.

289
00:12:43,055 --> 00:12:44,235
We got another person here.

290
00:12:44,515 --> 00:12:45,515
I guess when you're a kid, you don't

291
00:12:45,515 --> 00:12:46,235
really know the difference.

292
00:12:46,235 --> 00:12:48,955
Looking back at it now was probably weird, but like

293
00:12:49,545 --> 00:12:50,595
Parents, how did that happen?

294
00:12:50,665 --> 00:12:52,675
Parents. And then the parents just made it seem like,

295
00:12:52,735 --> 00:12:54,115
oh, we got more people.

296
00:12:54,575 --> 00:12:56,555
Yep. That is so awesome.

297
00:12:56,905 --> 00:12:58,995
Yeah. It was really cool. Yeah. When, when

298
00:12:58,995 --> 00:13:00,715
You think about The children in need

299
00:13:00,745 --> 00:13:01,915
know these days, go

300
00:13:01,915 --> 00:13:02,915
Ahead.

301
00:13:02,915 --> 00:13:03,795
Yeah, most definitely. There was like children also

302
00:13:03,795 --> 00:13:04,915
that would have like special needs

303
00:13:05,015 --> 00:13:07,115
or attachment disorders and stuff like that.

304
00:13:07,495 --> 00:13:09,835
And so like, just like seeing people in all their different

305
00:13:09,835 --> 00:13:10,875
walks of life and what

306
00:13:10,875 --> 00:13:12,035
they're, what they were going through.

307
00:13:12,475 --> 00:13:15,155
I feel like as an adult has maybe more empathetic towards

308
00:13:15,985 --> 00:13:18,345
people that might not necessarily fit

309
00:13:18,345 --> 00:13:19,385
in with the normal crowd.

310
00:13:20,125 --> 00:13:22,505
And you are definitely that person.

311
00:13:22,885 --> 00:13:25,625
Yes, he is. Yeah. You feel deeply for people.

312
00:13:26,505 --> 00:13:28,145
I try to, sometimes you have to,

313
00:13:28,145 --> 00:13:29,625
sometimes you have to shut that off too.

314
00:13:29,695 --> 00:13:31,225
Yeah. Yeah. But definitely

315
00:13:31,225 --> 00:13:32,945
because you can wind up taking on people's energies.

316
00:13:33,415 --> 00:13:34,385
Yeah. You can't be taking that home

317
00:13:34,385 --> 00:13:35,425
all the time either. Well,

318
00:13:35,805 --> 00:13:36,825
I'm sure you're empath.

319
00:13:37,265 --> 00:13:39,025
Empath. Yeah. Yeah. And we take on

320
00:13:39,025 --> 00:13:40,545
people's energies. Yeah. Really. Do

321
00:13:41,465 --> 00:13:43,225
I have to shut it down? Yeah. Oh

322
00:13:43,225 --> 00:13:44,225
Yeah.

323
00:13:44,225 --> 00:13:45,225
Oh my God. That's, I, yeah.

324
00:13:45,265 --> 00:13:47,945
I go into like, you know, you have to protect yourself

325
00:13:47,945 --> 00:13:51,225
because you can get drained very easily that way. Yeah.

326
00:13:51,845 --> 00:13:54,385
So did you know that you had this

327
00:13:56,285 --> 00:13:58,535
performance side, this empath?

328
00:13:58,535 --> 00:14:00,335
Because I think that in order to be on stage

329
00:14:00,395 --> 00:14:02,775
and to be effective on stage, you have

330
00:14:02,775 --> 00:14:03,975
to have a little of that, right?

331
00:14:04,075 --> 00:14:06,775
Yes. Did you know as a child that there was something,

332
00:14:06,875 --> 00:14:09,575
did you ever feel like there was something different about

333
00:14:09,595 --> 00:14:13,055
you that you just didn't always fit in?

334
00:14:14,925 --> 00:14:17,295
Yeah. I mean, I don't know if it's necessarily

335
00:14:17,295 --> 00:14:18,615
different or didn't always fit in.

336
00:14:20,295 --> 00:14:24,055
I loved people. I loved going up talking to people.

337
00:14:24,575 --> 00:14:27,295
So I was that kid that would be like, hi, I'm Katie.

338
00:14:27,635 --> 00:14:29,615
You know? And I think it's obviously stuck

339
00:14:29,615 --> 00:14:30,775
with me into my middle age.

340
00:14:32,855 --> 00:14:33,855
I was always that way.

341
00:14:34,075 --> 00:14:35,615
And I would always say I was personable.

342
00:14:35,895 --> 00:14:39,095
I think a word that has been used

343
00:14:39,095 --> 00:14:41,055
to describe me since I was little was bubbly.

344
00:14:41,535 --> 00:14:42,735
Right? Yeah. So I,

345
00:14:42,755 --> 00:14:45,775
and I know that sometimes it's always not good

346
00:14:45,775 --> 00:14:46,935
to have like the big energy.

347
00:14:47,115 --> 00:14:49,015
You know, some people don't perceive that

348
00:14:49,115 --> 00:14:50,895
as a good thing sometimes, you know what I mean?

349
00:14:51,385 --> 00:14:54,055
And, and take it as like, whoa, what's happening?

350
00:14:54,375 --> 00:14:57,255
Like I need to set back. But I have also been

351
00:14:57,255 --> 00:14:58,495
just very true in myself.

352
00:14:58,795 --> 00:15:02,165
So I've just, I, not that I don't have insecurities,

353
00:15:02,325 --> 00:15:03,445
'cause I do, we all do.

354
00:15:03,465 --> 00:15:05,685
But I just kind of try to lead with kindness

355
00:15:05,785 --> 00:15:07,365
and live that way, you know?

356
00:15:07,785 --> 00:15:10,525
And hope that I know sometimes, you know,

357
00:15:10,525 --> 00:15:12,045
I'll put my foot in my mouth or something.

358
00:15:12,285 --> 00:15:15,325
'cause I obviously, I'm a talker. We have to, we'll

359
00:15:15,325 --> 00:15:16,165
Do. Yeah.

360
00:15:16,165 --> 00:15:18,805
Yeah. But it just, I think as a performer, I think

361
00:15:18,805 --> 00:15:19,965
that goes hand in hand.

362
00:15:20,145 --> 00:15:23,445
You know? And you're, and and being able to relate to people

363
00:15:23,595 --> 00:15:25,965
because you have to be able to, you know,

364
00:15:25,995 --> 00:15:29,805
give back in a scene when you're acting to know

365
00:15:29,805 --> 00:15:32,125
that in your personal life already is so good

366
00:15:32,125 --> 00:15:33,965
to bring that to the stage. Yeah.

367
00:15:34,785 --> 00:15:39,445
So you never had an issue being outgoing and,

368
00:15:39,665 --> 00:15:40,925
and awe when you were a kid

369
00:15:41,275 --> 00:15:42,275
With friends?

370
00:15:42,275 --> 00:15:44,045
No, other than the flubs like with my, you know,

371
00:15:44,355 --> 00:15:45,925
make a joyful noise into the Lord.

372
00:15:46,545 --> 00:15:48,445
And then the Annie auditioned those

373
00:15:48,665 --> 00:15:50,325
and I obviously those stuck with me

374
00:15:50,325 --> 00:15:52,645
because like I can, I can remember, you know?

375
00:15:52,715 --> 00:15:53,765
Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.

376
00:15:53,825 --> 00:15:55,925
My kazoo, I was like, just put your kazoo in your mouth.

377
00:15:57,385 --> 00:15:59,525
But other than that, I was always the one

378
00:15:59,525 --> 00:16:01,725
that I feel like if someone is new,

379
00:16:01,925 --> 00:16:03,205
I wanna go up and say hi.

380
00:16:03,355 --> 00:16:04,525
Yeah. You know what I mean?

381
00:16:04,525 --> 00:16:07,685
You're, no, you're no longer new. Right. Good for you.

382
00:16:07,685 --> 00:16:08,725
Because I,

383
00:16:08,785 --> 00:16:13,005
and I think basing it on like a civic level, I came in

384
00:16:14,785 --> 00:16:16,485
to do the workshop for Hunchback

385
00:16:17,065 --> 00:16:18,485
and you know, coming in

386
00:16:18,485 --> 00:16:20,125
as a brand new person, there's a lot.

387
00:16:20,165 --> 00:16:21,285
I mean, it's a family. That

388
00:16:21,285 --> 00:16:23,565
Was your first experience with the Civic

389
00:16:23,855 --> 00:16:25,125
Minus polka dots?

390
00:16:25,125 --> 00:16:26,925
I got called in to help with wigs for that one.

391
00:16:26,955 --> 00:16:28,245
Okay. With Oakley. Oakley

392
00:16:28,245 --> 00:16:29,245
Was that, oh no.

393
00:16:29,245 --> 00:16:30,605
We have to figure out how you, I know

394
00:16:30,785 --> 00:16:33,245
how you navigated this course, but let me just ask you.

395
00:16:33,245 --> 00:16:36,525
Yeah, yeah. Chris, growing up, did you, did you know

396
00:16:36,595 --> 00:16:39,845
that you were, there was something in you

397
00:16:40,075 --> 00:16:42,845
that was pulling you to the stage?

398
00:16:43,195 --> 00:16:45,045
Most definitely kept being pulled back

399
00:16:45,045 --> 00:16:46,605
to the stage time and time again.

400
00:16:46,715 --> 00:16:48,965
Okay. I don't know if I ever thought

401
00:16:48,965 --> 00:16:50,925
that it would lead to where I am now.

402
00:16:51,075 --> 00:16:53,245
Like job wise, yes.

403
00:16:53,245 --> 00:16:55,925
But I didn't know if that was always an option. So yeah.

404
00:16:56,105 --> 00:16:57,925
You don't always have to be an actor on stage.

405
00:16:58,225 --> 00:17:01,725
Now, in my day to day, I plan events

406
00:17:01,945 --> 00:17:04,335
and make the civic look beautiful

407
00:17:04,515 --> 00:17:06,495
and make sure the patrons are happy and

408
00:17:06,605 --> 00:17:07,605
Wonderful.

409
00:17:07,605 --> 00:17:10,015
Yeah. So did you have a group that you fit in with?

410
00:17:10,455 --> 00:17:12,375
I always felt like an outsider, so I'm just trying

411
00:17:12,375 --> 00:17:14,415
to see if anybody, if anybody would like me.

412
00:17:14,485 --> 00:17:15,935
Yeah. I didn't, never really, I just did not fit

413
00:17:15,935 --> 00:17:17,015
in with the other kids.

414
00:17:17,075 --> 00:17:21,655
And I always knew, I knew that I was gonna be on stage.

415
00:17:22,395 --> 00:17:23,695
Oh yeah. You on stage.

416
00:17:23,695 --> 00:17:25,535
Did anybody have, did anybody else have

417
00:17:25,535 --> 00:17:26,535
That Feeling?

418
00:17:26,535 --> 00:17:29,175
I mean, I never really was like at school a lot.

419
00:17:29,205 --> 00:17:30,775
Like I was at school during the day,

420
00:17:30,955 --> 00:17:32,615
but I never did like extracurriculars.

421
00:17:32,975 --> 00:17:36,735
'cause I was always busy doing like, dance related dancing,

422
00:17:36,985 --> 00:17:38,735
going to Chicago, going to the city.

423
00:17:38,885 --> 00:17:41,895
Yeah. And so there were days where, I mean, I just,

424
00:17:42,255 --> 00:17:44,415
I knew kids in my class, but I didn't know them.

425
00:17:44,595 --> 00:17:47,135
It wasn't until high school where I really like made like

426
00:17:47,685 --> 00:17:48,855
friends, I would say.

427
00:17:50,555 --> 00:17:53,165
Cool, cool, cool. All my friends lived in Chicago

428
00:17:53,305 --> 00:17:54,645
or lived in other suburbs.

429
00:17:54,995 --> 00:17:56,205
Whoa. Yeah. That wasn't,

430
00:17:56,265 --> 00:17:57,885
and they were all a part of the dance scene.

431
00:17:57,885 --> 00:18:01,885
Yeah. Okay. So you had your, you had a community? I

432
00:18:01,885 --> 00:18:02,885
Did, yeah.

433
00:18:02,885 --> 00:18:05,245
I just was the outsider, like the school and the normal,

434
00:18:06,465 --> 00:18:07,465
The normal kids.

435
00:18:07,595 --> 00:18:09,725
Yeah. The normal kids. The normies.

436
00:18:10,945 --> 00:18:13,165
See we didn't have, we didn't have dance programs

437
00:18:13,165 --> 00:18:14,405
where I grew up in East St.

438
00:18:14,405 --> 00:18:17,085
Louis. We didn't have theater programs where I grew up.

439
00:18:17,105 --> 00:18:20,405
We just had a high school choir and church choir. Yeah.

440
00:18:20,585 --> 00:18:23,565
And that was about it. So I know I would've been involved

441
00:18:23,745 --> 00:18:24,805
had we had those things.

442
00:18:24,805 --> 00:18:26,005
Right. But we just didn't.

443
00:18:26,225 --> 00:18:29,765
So I was like, oh, well one day it's all good. Look at

444
00:18:29,765 --> 00:18:31,405
You now. Look at you now. Life,

445
00:18:31,875 --> 00:18:32,885
Life has a way

446
00:18:32,905 --> 00:18:35,205
of bringing you whatever it is that you need.

447
00:18:35,715 --> 00:18:37,205
Yeah, you do. You put it out there.

448
00:18:38,565 --> 00:18:41,045
I, on the friend front, I went to Christ Lutheran.

449
00:18:41,625 --> 00:18:42,885
And you were,

450
00:18:43,025 --> 00:18:44,645
You were in a, a Christian School?

451
00:18:44,845 --> 00:18:48,445
I was raised, yes. Very conservative. Christian. Lutheran.

452
00:18:48,445 --> 00:18:51,565
Okay. Since kindergarten through eighth grade.

453
00:18:52,185 --> 00:18:54,645
And our fifth and sixth grade and our seventh

454
00:18:54,705 --> 00:18:55,565
and eighth grade classes

455
00:18:55,675 --> 00:18:57,005
were together 'cause we were so small.

456
00:18:57,385 --> 00:19:01,845
So I grew up very, I always felt way too big for that.

457
00:19:02,035 --> 00:19:04,285
Very tight, you know. Oh,

458
00:19:04,405 --> 00:19:05,405
I can imagine.

459
00:19:05,405 --> 00:19:07,885
Upbringing. So that was good to have different outlets

460
00:19:07,885 --> 00:19:09,605
with dance 'cause it wasn't part of that school

461
00:19:09,905 --> 00:19:12,725
or you know, I hung out with the public kids,

462
00:19:12,985 --> 00:19:14,285
you know, that was another thing.

463
00:19:15,065 --> 00:19:16,365
And then I was lucky enough to go

464
00:19:16,365 --> 00:19:17,525
to Lake Shore High School public school.

465
00:19:17,585 --> 00:19:20,405
But as far as friends, my best friend

466
00:19:20,435 --> 00:19:21,645
that since I was three,

467
00:19:22,265 --> 00:19:24,005
she actually lives in Kalamazoo with her husband.

468
00:19:24,585 --> 00:19:28,805
So like full circle. Just a weird shout out to Mandy.

469
00:19:29,215 --> 00:19:31,845
Weird moment Tuesday.

470
00:19:32,065 --> 00:19:33,205
How did she get to Kalamazoo?

471
00:19:33,985 --> 00:19:36,125
She went to West, well her husband went to Western. Okay.

472
00:19:36,125 --> 00:19:38,605
Then she came up here and they never, they never left.

473
00:19:39,225 --> 00:19:42,005
So it's kind of weird how I ended up here. So many.

474
00:19:42,225 --> 00:19:43,245
How did you end up here?

475
00:19:43,645 --> 00:19:45,165
I mean, my story's crazy.

476
00:19:45,345 --> 00:19:46,885
So after I did community college

477
00:19:47,585 --> 00:19:50,405
at Lake Michigan Community College, I moved to Chicago

478
00:19:50,585 --> 00:19:53,425
to do cosmetology school. So that's

479
00:19:53,515 --> 00:19:56,025
There, here in the makeup part comes in. Okay.

480
00:19:56,285 --> 00:19:57,905
And then I moved to Miami

481
00:19:58,045 --> 00:20:00,335
and lived there for five years. But

482
00:20:00,515 --> 00:20:02,015
Why did you, why Maya?

483
00:20:03,295 --> 00:20:06,055
I hate to say it a guy, it was our guy.

484
00:20:06,635 --> 00:20:08,295
Of course I told my parents it wasn't a guy,

485
00:20:08,295 --> 00:20:09,575
but of course it was a guy.

486
00:20:09,725 --> 00:20:11,215
Obviously that relationship did

487
00:20:11,215 --> 00:20:12,295
not work out and that's fine.

488
00:20:13,475 --> 00:20:17,655
But I also met my best friend, business partner that I, I,

489
00:20:17,855 --> 00:20:20,215
I mean, so it's just like every little avenue

490
00:20:21,215 --> 00:20:23,615
I now in my life have a piece of that.

491
00:20:23,685 --> 00:20:26,335
Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. So,

492
00:20:27,075 --> 00:20:28,075
So cool.

493
00:20:28,445 --> 00:20:30,135
It's fun. So wait a minute, wait a minute. Yeah.

494
00:20:30,515 --> 00:20:32,175
You went to Chicago,

495
00:20:32,835 --> 00:20:33,835
Did cosmetology.

496
00:20:33,925 --> 00:20:36,655
Cosmetology at Pivot. Why Cosme at Pivot Born?

497
00:20:36,895 --> 00:20:38,735
I remember Pivot Point. I'm gonna

498
00:20:38,735 --> 00:20:39,815
get to how you game to Oh yeah.

499
00:20:39,915 --> 00:20:42,975
How you love Chicago area. Yeah. And got to Kalamazoo. Yeah.

500
00:20:42,995 --> 00:20:45,775
So just keep all those stories in mind. Gotta

501
00:20:45,775 --> 00:20:46,775
Build it up.

502
00:20:47,435 --> 00:20:51,085
Yeah. So I did cosmetology. Why I always loved doing hair.

503
00:20:51,265 --> 00:20:53,645
So in, in high school, I mean first of all,

504
00:20:53,665 --> 00:20:55,205
all my Barbies dolls.

505
00:20:55,205 --> 00:20:57,165
Yeah. All their hair's cut, you know what I mean?

506
00:20:57,285 --> 00:20:58,885
I always like, I was in there with it.

507
00:20:59,485 --> 00:21:00,925
Makeup, always loved it.

508
00:21:01,185 --> 00:21:02,365
And in high school, I would be

509
00:21:02,365 --> 00:21:03,445
the one doing my friend's hair.

510
00:21:03,625 --> 00:21:04,805
I'd be the one doing Updos.

511
00:21:05,225 --> 00:21:07,605
So I'm like, why not get trained?

512
00:21:08,265 --> 00:21:11,205
And I was looking at Vidal Suun in London. Oh. Ooh.

513
00:21:11,375 --> 00:21:12,565
Don't think I'm not, yeah,

514
00:21:12,565 --> 00:21:14,685
I kick myself every once in a while in this middle age life.

515
00:21:14,785 --> 00:21:16,885
But I ended up in Chicago, which was great.

516
00:21:17,185 --> 00:21:20,085
And at the time my brother lived at the apartment

517
00:21:20,085 --> 00:21:21,285
across the street from me too.

518
00:21:21,585 --> 00:21:26,565
So, you know, again, being that 19-year-old close to 20,

519
00:21:27,145 --> 00:21:28,725
it, it was really good to have that support

520
00:21:29,025 --> 00:21:31,725
and plus hop, skip and jump away from home at the time.

521
00:21:31,875 --> 00:21:33,925
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

522
00:21:33,925 --> 00:21:38,795
Awesome. And your parents sound phenomenal. No,

523
00:21:39,795 --> 00:21:41,075
I wanna say that you

524
00:21:41,075 --> 00:21:42,555
Were just that kind of kid. I gotta

525
00:21:42,655 --> 00:21:43,655
Do it.

526
00:21:43,655 --> 00:21:46,355
Well I was raised, I have no, I had no want as a kid.

527
00:21:46,795 --> 00:21:49,795
I had no want. No need As a kid, everything was great.

528
00:21:51,175 --> 00:21:54,795
You know, unfortunately my mother

529
00:21:54,815 --> 00:21:56,555
and I did not get along very well.

530
00:21:56,975 --> 00:21:59,715
And coming up work now coming up on six years

531
00:21:59,715 --> 00:22:02,075
that I haven't had a relationship with my parents

532
00:22:03,015 --> 00:22:05,675
or my brother, which is very sad.

533
00:22:05,815 --> 00:22:07,875
But I actually have a very good

534
00:22:07,875 --> 00:22:09,075
relationship with my brother's wife.

535
00:22:09,225 --> 00:22:13,715
Okay. So I'm not completely, you know, away from it.

536
00:22:14,015 --> 00:22:16,595
But I healthy enough for me to have a little touch into it.

537
00:22:17,175 --> 00:22:18,275
But I worked through therapy

538
00:22:19,015 --> 00:22:21,555
and it was the right decision, especially for my husband

539
00:22:21,695 --> 00:22:22,955
and my kids and I, yes.

540
00:22:23,065 --> 00:22:24,795
Yeah. Yes. Yeah. So good for you.

541
00:22:24,855 --> 00:22:27,475
But as far as childhood, I always say like

542
00:22:27,995 --> 00:22:29,355
I wouldn't change anything.

543
00:22:29,535 --> 00:22:33,115
My father, you know, he was loved me unconditionally.

544
00:22:33,115 --> 00:22:34,435
Yeah. Yes. Yep. That's

545
00:22:34,435 --> 00:22:35,435
Awesome.

546
00:22:35,435 --> 00:22:36,435
Awesome. You,

547
00:22:36,495 --> 00:22:40,635
you were just a trailblazer making your way from St.

548
00:22:40,635 --> 00:22:41,915
Joe. I'm going to Chicago

549
00:22:42,295 --> 00:22:46,395
and now I'm going to live in Florida and from Florida.

550
00:22:47,735 --> 00:22:50,635
Aw. Yes. So what I realized

551
00:22:50,665 --> 00:22:52,515
with being a cosmetologist Yeah.

552
00:22:52,575 --> 00:22:54,555
Is you don't get health insurance. Oh.

553
00:22:55,135 --> 00:22:57,675
And I got kidney stones while I was in Florida

554
00:22:58,255 --> 00:23:00,155
and ended up with a, you know,

555
00:23:00,155 --> 00:23:01,915
I was in the hospital like five different times

556
00:23:02,315 --> 00:23:03,555
'cause I was obstructed.

557
00:23:03,895 --> 00:23:06,195
So what I realized, what is important, especially at

558
00:23:06,195 --> 00:23:10,315
that timeframe in my life, 21, 22, I need something

559
00:23:10,315 --> 00:23:12,355
that will pay for health insurance when there's emergency.

560
00:23:12,895 --> 00:23:17,235
So I ended up leaving as artistic director at a salon

561
00:23:17,495 --> 00:23:19,075
and I did the educational and I loved it,

562
00:23:19,495 --> 00:23:23,035
but I really needed a job that would give me the benefits.

563
00:23:23,255 --> 00:23:26,755
Yes. So my leasing office at where I lived was hiring

564
00:23:26,855 --> 00:23:30,475
for a leasing agent and they're like, you talk to anybody?

565
00:23:31,055 --> 00:23:33,315
No. How serendipitous that. Yeah.

566
00:23:33,695 --> 00:23:35,035
So I ended up working with this

567
00:23:35,115 --> 00:23:36,355
leasing office, which is great.

568
00:23:36,515 --> 00:23:38,795
I got health benefits, still did hair on the side. Yeah.

569
00:23:38,795 --> 00:23:40,675
Worked at Carabas. Did like three different jobs.

570
00:23:41,305 --> 00:23:44,515
Then Reef Management, who the leasing company was through,

571
00:23:45,585 --> 00:23:48,565
had accounts payable in Chicago.

572
00:23:48,945 --> 00:23:50,725
And at this time I still had a

573
00:23:50,725 --> 00:23:51,925
relationship like with my family.

574
00:23:51,985 --> 00:23:53,085
So I had to come back for help.

575
00:23:53,365 --> 00:23:54,885
I was about, I wanted to move closer.

576
00:23:55,385 --> 00:23:57,805
So I applied for that job over Christmas.

577
00:23:57,825 --> 00:24:01,965
So I ended up getting that job. This was January, 2005.

578
00:24:02,525 --> 00:24:06,385
I ended up moving back into Chicago. Oh boy. Yeah. Yeah.

579
00:24:06,715 --> 00:24:08,505
Which is a funny story. I know we'll get to it.

580
00:24:08,525 --> 00:24:11,745
But the day, January 22nd, 2005 when I was

581
00:24:11,845 --> 00:24:13,065
moving my stuff in, yeah.

582
00:24:13,505 --> 00:24:17,095
Blizzard, my husband now called me on the

583
00:24:17,095 --> 00:24:18,455
phone and I'm sitting in my apartment.

584
00:24:18,515 --> 00:24:21,175
He had no idea that I had moved back to home.

585
00:24:21,475 --> 00:24:24,055
So I just always remember that date too. Yeah.

586
00:24:26,345 --> 00:24:30,445
You got so many reading. We do that stories my adhd. Oh

587
00:24:30,745 --> 00:24:31,845
No, no, no, no it's not.

588
00:24:32,035 --> 00:24:34,205
It's just your life. Your life. Yeah. Chris.

589
00:24:34,745 --> 00:24:37,885
Yes. How did you get from

590
00:24:38,575 --> 00:24:40,645
after you graduated high school?

591
00:24:42,225 --> 00:24:44,745
I did two years at the local community college

592
00:24:44,975 --> 00:24:46,065
College of DuPage.

593
00:24:46,295 --> 00:24:48,545
Okay. Okay. I know College Illinois Glen of DuPage,

594
00:24:48,545 --> 00:24:50,145
they have their best jazz station there.

595
00:24:50,215 --> 00:24:51,785
They do, yeah. They do have good jazz Station

596
00:24:51,785 --> 00:24:52,785
W dcb.

597
00:24:52,785 --> 00:24:53,785
Yep, they do.

598
00:24:54,885 --> 00:24:56,945
And then was dating someone

599
00:24:57,565 --> 00:25:01,305
and was doing theater in the Chicagoland area.

600
00:25:01,435 --> 00:25:02,625
Non-equity kind of theater. Wait

601
00:25:02,625 --> 00:25:03,785
A minute, how did you get into theater?

602
00:25:03,925 --> 00:25:05,265
You can't skip over that. Okay.

603
00:25:05,405 --> 00:25:08,345
So No. So I was in dance. Yeah.

604
00:25:08,345 --> 00:25:10,465
And then when I was in the fifth grade,

605
00:25:10,465 --> 00:25:12,865
they had local auditions for the Wizard Oz.

606
00:25:13,665 --> 00:25:16,305
Auditioned for the Wizard of Oz was cast as a munchkin

607
00:25:16,305 --> 00:25:17,465
and the Lollipop Guild.

608
00:25:17,725 --> 00:25:20,465
Oh. And then kind of started my theater journey from there.

609
00:25:20,695 --> 00:25:24,105
Yeah. And then kind of when I was in the seventh

610
00:25:24,205 --> 00:25:26,985
and eighth grade, it was like made clear to me

611
00:25:26,985 --> 00:25:28,985
that like you had to choose theater or dance.

612
00:25:29,525 --> 00:25:31,385
You couldn't do both when you got to high school. Yeah.

613
00:25:31,865 --> 00:25:33,605
So I ended up going towards theater.

614
00:25:34,345 --> 00:25:39,245
And so I did theater sophomore through senior year I act,

615
00:25:39,245 --> 00:25:41,085
sorry, freshman year I was in one show.

616
00:25:41,845 --> 00:25:46,325
I was in Jack and the Beanstalk. I was a bean stalker. Oh.

617
00:25:46,865 --> 00:25:49,165
Oh, Nice. See you

618
00:25:49,165 --> 00:25:52,005
Guys had, you had schools that offered those programs.

619
00:25:52,165 --> 00:25:53,765
I know, I know. That's crazy. I hated

620
00:25:53,765 --> 00:25:54,805
you guys, but that's okay.

621
00:25:55,825 --> 00:25:59,365
That's my sophomore. We did not. But that's all so good.

622
00:25:59,425 --> 00:26:01,045
And that's one, one thing I really love

623
00:26:01,045 --> 00:26:02,125
about Kalamazoo. Yeah.

624
00:26:02,305 --> 00:26:04,685
We have so many maca opportunities here.

625
00:26:04,825 --> 00:26:05,925
Yes, yes. Go

626
00:26:05,925 --> 00:26:06,925
Ahead.

627
00:26:06,925 --> 00:26:09,485
So then my sophomore year they were doing Into the Woods

628
00:26:09,905 --> 00:26:12,525
and I did not wanna audition for some reason.

629
00:26:12,795 --> 00:26:15,045
Just decided I didn't wanna be on stage. Yes.

630
00:26:15,105 --> 00:26:16,965
And so I assistant directed the show.

631
00:26:17,505 --> 00:26:19,965
But you were still there. Yep. Still in the media.

632
00:26:20,185 --> 00:26:23,285
And so the director had me do a few scenes

633
00:26:23,505 --> 00:26:26,085
and so she ended up changing my title from assistant

634
00:26:26,325 --> 00:26:28,165
director to student director, which is really cool.

635
00:26:28,625 --> 00:26:31,125
And so I was able to kind of work my way up in

636
00:26:31,125 --> 00:26:34,445
that theater program and direct a few shows

637
00:26:34,665 --> 00:26:37,525
and choreograph a few shows and kind of too.

638
00:26:37,795 --> 00:26:40,205
Yeah. Kind of had that side as well.

639
00:26:40,585 --> 00:26:41,925
And then went to community college,

640
00:26:42,225 --> 00:26:44,045
did some theater in the Chicagoland area.

641
00:26:44,535 --> 00:26:48,205
Which, which groups? I did a show with the,

642
00:26:48,265 --> 00:26:51,645
or a few shows with Oaklawn Park District Theater.

643
00:26:51,795 --> 00:26:54,245
Okay. I did a show with,

644
00:26:55,865 --> 00:26:56,885
oh my god, what are they called?

645
00:26:57,465 --> 00:27:02,325
Is they center? No, Brightside Brightstar Theater. Okay.

646
00:27:02,725 --> 00:27:04,085
And then I did another one

647
00:27:04,155 --> 00:27:07,005
with Jed Laca Performing Arts Center in Cicero.

648
00:27:07,155 --> 00:27:08,245
Okay. And I was in Miss

649
00:27:08,445 --> 00:27:09,645
Saigon there. So that was really cool.

650
00:27:09,825 --> 00:27:11,445
Oh, why Now? It was my fav, one

651
00:27:11,445 --> 00:27:12,525
of my favorite experiences.

652
00:27:12,725 --> 00:27:14,885
I met a friend named Shauna there. Yes.

653
00:27:15,505 --> 00:27:19,525
And they were doing the production of Miss Saigon.

654
00:27:19,665 --> 00:27:22,885
She had been called in to come

655
00:27:22,885 --> 00:27:26,085
to a civic theater in South Bend to play the part of Kim.

656
00:27:26,305 --> 00:27:28,445
And so I went to go see her in the show

657
00:27:28,865 --> 00:27:31,165
and the guy I was dating at the time that we had kind

658
00:27:31,165 --> 00:27:35,315
of broken up, there was some like abuse going on

659
00:27:35,315 --> 00:27:37,035
and it was just, it was not a good situation.

660
00:27:37,455 --> 00:27:41,595
And, and so I ended up finding, like the director

661
00:27:42,215 --> 00:27:43,595
who directed the show, Ms.

662
00:27:43,645 --> 00:27:46,435
Lagon, that she was in, invited me to come

663
00:27:46,435 --> 00:27:49,035
and stay with them for a year to kind of get out

664
00:27:49,035 --> 00:27:50,915
of my situation and kind of spend time.

665
00:27:50,935 --> 00:27:53,155
Oh yeah. What? And so I was like,

666
00:27:53,345 --> 00:27:54,555
well like I would obviously

667
00:27:54,575 --> 00:27:55,715
pay you rent and stuff like that.

668
00:27:55,715 --> 00:27:57,675
And they're like, Nope, we want you to come down

669
00:27:57,675 --> 00:28:00,035
to South Bend and just be here

670
00:28:00,215 --> 00:28:02,435
and you can have a job and all that.

671
00:28:02,615 --> 00:28:05,955
And as long as you're taking care of stuff around the house

672
00:28:06,175 --> 00:28:07,395
and helping us out.

673
00:28:07,395 --> 00:28:08,595
Great whiz.

674
00:28:08,745 --> 00:28:10,795
What are these people? Right. That's what I'm saying.

675
00:28:10,835 --> 00:28:12,875
I know. But you know, they're really all around. They are.

676
00:28:13,065 --> 00:28:15,115
They really are. They really are good people.

677
00:28:15,385 --> 00:28:17,795
Gravity to those people. But

678
00:28:17,795 --> 00:28:19,475
Also like you would pay it forward.

679
00:28:19,535 --> 00:28:21,835
Oh, do you know what I'm saying? Like icy Topher.

680
00:28:22,025 --> 00:28:23,115
Yeah, exactly. Yes.

681
00:28:23,115 --> 00:28:25,755
Like this is exactly what you would do as well. Yeah,

682
00:28:25,935 --> 00:28:26,935
Indeed.

683
00:28:26,935 --> 00:28:28,595
That's your spirit now. Yeah,

684
00:28:28,595 --> 00:28:29,595
For sure.

685
00:28:29,595 --> 00:28:31,875
And so did some stuff at South or in South Bend area?

686
00:28:32,555 --> 00:28:36,515
I was in production of Chicago there at St. Mary's College.

687
00:28:36,815 --> 00:28:38,235
Oh yeah. Right. With

688
00:28:38,255 --> 00:28:39,435
and Notre Dame had,

689
00:28:39,505 --> 00:28:41,635
they had some male students from Notre Dame come over

690
00:28:41,635 --> 00:28:43,355
and do some show or do the show as well.

691
00:28:43,455 --> 00:28:46,475
And yeah. So got to know a lot of the Notre Dame and St.

692
00:28:46,535 --> 00:28:50,235
Mary's group and then did some stuff at their civic theater

693
00:28:50,235 --> 00:28:51,555
there, the South Bend Civic Theater

694
00:28:52,015 --> 00:28:54,035
and a few shows at Premier Arts.

695
00:28:54,855 --> 00:28:58,395
And then met my ex-husband now,

696
00:28:58,415 --> 00:29:01,755
but met, his name is Chucky and we are still friends.

697
00:29:01,755 --> 00:29:03,275
Good. And I worked for the travel agency

698
00:29:03,275 --> 00:29:04,475
that his family Okay.

699
00:29:04,945 --> 00:29:08,035
Owns. And so yeah, we started dating,

700
00:29:09,675 --> 00:29:11,695
I worked at a restaurant in the area.

701
00:29:11,775 --> 00:29:15,335
I worked at a AAA for Diamond Restaurant there as a server.

702
00:29:15,355 --> 00:29:16,495
Really loved my job

703
00:29:17,755 --> 00:29:20,815
and ended up getting married in 2020.

704
00:29:21,315 --> 00:29:22,575
We moved to South

705
00:29:22,715 --> 00:29:24,015
or we moved from South Bend

706
00:29:24,015 --> 00:29:26,695
to Kalamazoo in July of 2020. And

707
00:29:26,695 --> 00:29:27,695
What prompted that move?

708
00:29:28,475 --> 00:29:31,095
You know, the restaurant industry was really

709
00:29:31,795 --> 00:29:32,975
in not in a great spot.

710
00:29:33,195 --> 00:29:36,015
Yes. He was missing his family. Mm.

711
00:29:36,415 --> 00:29:38,095
I had become very close with the family

712
00:29:38,195 --> 00:29:40,295
and so we kind of just made the decision

713
00:29:40,365 --> 00:29:42,285
that it was best to move here.

714
00:29:42,565 --> 00:29:45,355
'cause my job wasn't, it was gonna be,

715
00:29:45,405 --> 00:29:46,915
there was gonna be restaurant jobs,

716
00:29:47,175 --> 00:29:50,485
but it just wasn't something I wanted to do at that point,

717
00:29:50,485 --> 00:29:52,445
either with COVID going on.

718
00:29:52,505 --> 00:29:54,605
So yeah, it was weird. Yeah, it's interesting.

719
00:29:54,605 --> 00:29:58,125
And then that brought me here and then kind of auditioned

720
00:29:58,145 --> 00:30:00,365
for a show or we got married in December.

721
00:30:00,435 --> 00:30:02,725
Yeah. Of 2020. Yeah.

722
00:30:03,185 --> 00:30:04,765
And then we,

723
00:30:05,665 --> 00:30:08,525
or I auditioned for Mama Mia at the Kindle Burger Festival

724
00:30:08,525 --> 00:30:11,845
here in Kalamazoo and was cast in Mama Mia.

725
00:30:11,845 --> 00:30:14,925
And then met some people and led me to the Civic.

726
00:30:15,545 --> 00:30:17,565
Met some people at Kindle Burger.

727
00:30:17,595 --> 00:30:19,725
They were like, you've gotta come to the Civic.

728
00:30:19,985 --> 00:30:23,205
Yep. They sure did. Oh wow. Nice. Yeah.

729
00:30:23,205 --> 00:30:25,725
So I met my friend Carly Stoker

730
00:30:25,985 --> 00:30:28,845
and my friend Maggie used to be Pelo Cho.

731
00:30:28,865 --> 00:30:31,405
Now it's ow wi, I think I said it right this time.

732
00:30:31,985 --> 00:30:35,005
Sna ni. I knew I was close.

733
00:30:35,105 --> 00:30:37,605
You're welcome Maggie Ci. So Skin.

734
00:30:38,555 --> 00:30:41,285
Okay. So, yep. And they both were civic people.

735
00:30:41,545 --> 00:30:44,365
So we all auditioned for Newsies and we were all in Newsies.

736
00:30:44,385 --> 00:30:45,645
And that was my first show at the Civic.

737
00:30:46,275 --> 00:30:47,485
I've heard so much about that show.

738
00:30:47,665 --> 00:30:50,245
It was a great show. It Was Beau, it was so fun. Yeah,

739
00:30:50,515 --> 00:30:51,885
Well the Civic is

740
00:30:53,355 --> 00:30:55,805
amazing. It's

741
00:30:55,805 --> 00:30:57,605
Just, we are so lucky. So

742
00:30:57,695 --> 00:30:58,695
Lucky.

743
00:30:58,695 --> 00:31:01,045
It's family. I mean, it's my family, you know,

744
00:31:01,525 --> 00:31:03,565
touching about, it's your family again

745
00:31:03,745 --> 00:31:05,885
and ex you become family, you know?

746
00:31:06,185 --> 00:31:07,445
So yeah. Yes.

747
00:31:09,785 --> 00:31:13,755
So tell me about

748
00:31:14,345 --> 00:31:19,275
your experiences, some of your best, worst moments

749
00:31:20,255 --> 00:31:23,195
at this place we love called the Civic

750
00:31:23,545 --> 00:31:25,795
Theater of Kalamazoo.

751
00:31:25,975 --> 00:31:28,675
No, you said that there was a civic theater someplace else.

752
00:31:28,925 --> 00:31:29,995
South Bend Civic Theater.

753
00:31:29,995 --> 00:31:31,115
South South. South Bend, civic.

754
00:31:31,335 --> 00:31:35,395
So is the Civic like part of a A group?

755
00:31:36,095 --> 00:31:38,795
So this is what I like to think of it as. Okay.

756
00:31:38,865 --> 00:31:40,875
Community theater is the thing. Okay.

757
00:31:41,055 --> 00:31:42,555
And then I feel like there's Civic theater.

758
00:31:42,555 --> 00:31:47,195
Community theater is very much your Mon Pop. Yes, yes.

759
00:31:47,515 --> 00:31:50,555
Everyone volunteers. Your civic theater has like a staff.

760
00:31:50,825 --> 00:31:52,195
Okay. And established staff.

761
00:31:52,615 --> 00:31:55,875
And then they have volunteers that do the shows

762
00:31:55,975 --> 00:31:59,075
and help around with hair and makeup and costumes

763
00:31:59,335 --> 00:32:00,755
and scenery and stuff like that.

764
00:32:01,215 --> 00:32:02,675
And I feel like they're very,

765
00:32:02,785 --> 00:32:04,675
they're two very different entities

766
00:32:04,805 --> 00:32:07,635
where we have a few community theaters in Kalamazoo

767
00:32:07,635 --> 00:32:09,115
and then we have the Civic theater.

768
00:32:09,495 --> 00:32:12,115
Yes, yes. And then you have the Farmer's Alley

769
00:32:12,295 --> 00:32:14,395
And then you have your Equity, which is equity.

770
00:32:14,535 --> 00:32:17,465
Yes. Yes. The Civic.

771
00:32:17,825 --> 00:32:19,625
I did not even know about the Civic

772
00:32:19,925 --> 00:32:22,625
before I came to Chicago, you know,

773
00:32:22,625 --> 00:32:24,665
and I'm in Chicago, so I know about Stephan Wolf

774
00:32:25,105 --> 00:32:27,425
and I know about the Goodman, then I know about lots

775
00:32:27,425 --> 00:32:29,425
of other smaller theaters.

776
00:32:29,765 --> 00:32:31,585
And those are basically on the north side.

777
00:32:32,225 --> 00:32:33,545
I lived on the south side,

778
00:32:33,625 --> 00:32:36,225
I had my own little performing arts group.

779
00:32:36,325 --> 00:32:37,865
We didn't do professional theater,

780
00:32:38,405 --> 00:32:41,695
but we, I still train them as actors and dancers.

781
00:32:42,235 --> 00:32:45,695
But coming here to Kalamazoo

782
00:32:45,955 --> 00:32:47,255
and then getting involved

783
00:32:47,255 --> 00:32:50,395
with the Civic was a total experience.

784
00:32:52,125 --> 00:32:53,805
A total experience.

785
00:32:54,465 --> 00:32:57,325
And what was it like for you

786
00:32:58,155 --> 00:33:00,205
when you first came to the Civic?

787
00:33:02,165 --> 00:33:03,285
I mean, I was bit by the bug.

788
00:33:03,885 --> 00:33:07,885
I, I had taken time off to get married, have babies.

789
00:33:08,645 --> 00:33:10,845
I invented a beauty tool.

790
00:33:10,845 --> 00:33:14,565
So I had all these like things, you know, that led up to it.

791
00:33:14,745 --> 00:33:16,925
And then Oakley actually auditioned.

792
00:33:16,995 --> 00:33:18,085
Were you doing hair here?

793
00:33:18,885 --> 00:33:20,485
I was doing it on the side. Okay.

794
00:33:20,545 --> 00:33:22,725
So salon wise it was just in Florida.

795
00:33:22,825 --> 00:33:25,645
And then I've done like hair and makeup. All different. Yes.

796
00:33:25,825 --> 00:33:28,885
So yes. But just not at a salon here. Okay. Yeah. Okay.

797
00:33:28,955 --> 00:33:30,445
Yeah. But I definitely did it.

798
00:33:30,445 --> 00:33:32,125
Like all my clients, they would come to my house,

799
00:33:32,145 --> 00:33:34,165
I'd go to theirs, you know. How did you get your

800
00:33:34,445 --> 00:33:35,445
Reputation here?

801
00:33:36,245 --> 00:33:37,925
I think, 'cause again, I'm just a talker

802
00:33:38,425 --> 00:33:40,445
and usually word of mouth.

803
00:33:40,705 --> 00:33:41,925
And then they're like, you do hair

804
00:33:41,925 --> 00:33:43,125
well, duh, duh dah, you know?

805
00:33:43,125 --> 00:33:44,925
So then I started going around

806
00:33:45,665 --> 00:33:48,165
and highlighting colors my specialty.

807
00:33:49,425 --> 00:33:51,965
But Oakley auditioned for Newsies.

808
00:33:53,015 --> 00:33:55,565
She's like, mom, can you teach show? I know.

809
00:33:55,615 --> 00:33:58,325
She's like, can you teach me how to tap dance in an hour?

810
00:33:58,425 --> 00:34:03,285
And I'm like, ha, no, I tried. But that was it.

811
00:34:03,305 --> 00:34:05,205
And then I didn't get that one.

812
00:34:05,345 --> 00:34:07,525
She then went to audition for Polka Dots.

813
00:34:07,635 --> 00:34:10,285
Were you here for that? No. What year was Polka Dots?

814
00:34:10,315 --> 00:34:13,085
Like three years ago, right? Yeah, it was three years ago.

815
00:34:13,785 --> 00:34:14,965
And I got called in.

816
00:34:15,445 --> 00:34:18,525
'cause my reputation as a cosmetologist. Yeah.

817
00:34:18,525 --> 00:34:20,085
And they're like, can you please help us with wigs?

818
00:34:20,305 --> 00:34:23,685
We have 30 wigs that need to be cut and styled.

819
00:34:23,825 --> 00:34:25,165
It was Tuesday of tech wig.

820
00:34:25,945 --> 00:34:30,105
And so that is how I 30 wigs. 30.

821
00:34:30,125 --> 00:34:31,265
30 blue wigs.

822
00:34:31,605 --> 00:34:34,465
One wait, 29 blue wigs, one purple wig, right? Yep.

823
00:34:34,465 --> 00:34:37,385
Because it's the Ruby Bridges story. Okay.

824
00:34:37,885 --> 00:34:41,175
And so there's one girl that is a

825
00:34:42,125 --> 00:34:43,125
Polka dot.

826
00:34:43,125 --> 00:34:45,525
That's a dot. And then the rest are squares. Okay.

827
00:34:45,585 --> 00:34:48,595
So, So it's about race, but it is

828
00:34:48,665 --> 00:34:49,665
Nuts.

829
00:34:49,665 --> 00:34:53,435
At the same time, color and shape was used. And Yes. So Oak,

830
00:34:53,575 --> 00:34:54,875
The drinking fountain is very

831
00:34:55,275 --> 00:34:56,275
Prevalent in the story.

832
00:34:56,275 --> 00:34:57,995
Yes, it is. Yeah. It was such a cute

833
00:34:58,215 --> 00:34:59,395
in the parish. Very interesting.

834
00:35:00,255 --> 00:35:01,715
Oh my God, That was great.

835
00:35:01,735 --> 00:35:03,035
So Oakley and then that was it.

836
00:35:03,035 --> 00:35:05,995
And then I decided to do like audition for Hunchback and,

837
00:35:07,695 --> 00:35:09,955
and I did not get cast, but that's okay.

838
00:35:10,555 --> 00:35:14,715
Actually, Mike Artis, who was directing the show, talked

839
00:35:14,715 --> 00:35:16,275
to Anthony and said, she's a great dancer.

840
00:35:17,035 --> 00:35:18,595
I think she might be a good choreographer.

841
00:35:18,655 --> 00:35:20,075
And then that's how

842
00:35:20,635 --> 00:35:22,075
I ended up on the choreographer

843
00:35:22,105 --> 00:35:23,355
side of things. And And what

844
00:35:23,355 --> 00:35:24,355
Did you choreograph?

845
00:35:24,355 --> 00:35:25,875
So my first show was Forever Plaid.

846
00:35:26,735 --> 00:35:28,235
The Carver. Okay. Okay. It

847
00:35:28,235 --> 00:35:29,995
Was And Cody was In that Cody, yes.

848
00:35:30,185 --> 00:35:33,435
Cody was in that. And so was Matt. So was Matt. So was Matt.

849
00:35:33,435 --> 00:35:38,245
Oh my. And one of the best experience,

850
00:35:38,435 --> 00:35:39,565
literally to this day.

851
00:35:40,585 --> 00:35:43,925
The whole entire company. Everybody. Yeah. It was magical.

852
00:35:44,315 --> 00:35:45,645
Awesome. It was magical.

853
00:35:45,875 --> 00:35:48,085
Awesome. How did you come to the Civic?

854
00:35:48,625 --> 00:35:52,205
So I was in Newsies and kind of got by that theater bug

855
00:35:52,385 --> 00:35:54,125
and really loved the group.

856
00:35:55,145 --> 00:35:59,925
And then they were hiring for a box office associate.

857
00:36:01,025 --> 00:36:02,485
And so I applied for that job

858
00:36:02,545 --> 00:36:06,565
and got that in the February of, oh God, what year was that?

859
00:36:06,565 --> 00:36:08,925
2024. 2024. Just

860
00:36:08,925 --> 00:36:09,925
2024.

861
00:36:09,925 --> 00:36:11,765
No, no, it had to be 2020.

862
00:36:11,765 --> 00:36:14,165
2023. Yeah, 2023. Yeah.

863
00:36:14,625 --> 00:36:18,125
Was when Hunchback was, it was May of 2023. Okay. Now, yeah.

864
00:36:18,125 --> 00:36:19,365
Yeah. It took me a second. Wow.

865
00:36:19,685 --> 00:36:21,165
And so I was working in the box office

866
00:36:21,425 --> 00:36:26,245
and then in January of 2024, the job came available

867
00:36:26,585 --> 00:36:28,125
for the audience engagement manager.

868
00:36:29,025 --> 00:36:30,765
And so that's what my job is now.

869
00:36:30,785 --> 00:36:32,605
So I went from the box office to that.

870
00:36:33,485 --> 00:36:35,495
Nice. And kind of have been there since. Yeah.

871
00:36:35,675 --> 00:36:37,015
And you're still doing shows.

872
00:36:37,355 --> 00:36:39,055
And I'm still doing shows. That is wonderful.

873
00:36:39,055 --> 00:36:41,495
I tried to do at least one a season this year.

874
00:36:41,495 --> 00:36:44,255
Hopefully two. We'll see the producers, he auditioned. Yeah.

875
00:36:44,395 --> 00:36:48,125
The producers auditions happen. So we shall see. Yep. Yeah.

876
00:36:48,225 --> 00:36:50,205
And you auditioned. I did audition. Yep.

877
00:36:51,045 --> 00:36:52,545
So we will see. Yeah. There's supposed

878
00:36:52,545 --> 00:36:54,225
to be a callback list sometime today. So

879
00:36:55,135 --> 00:36:56,145
It's probably today. It

880
00:36:56,465 --> 00:36:57,625
Probably is. It probably is. But

881
00:36:58,125 --> 00:36:59,125
You got the callback.

882
00:36:59,405 --> 00:37:01,705
You got It. We hope. We hope. We hope.

883
00:37:01,775 --> 00:37:03,545
Look at that face. Did you audition?

884
00:37:04,105 --> 00:37:05,465
I did not because I held true.

885
00:37:06,105 --> 00:37:09,145
I said I was gonna take time off member after Annie. Yes.

886
00:37:09,525 --> 00:37:11,745
And you went four shows in a three shows in a row.

887
00:37:11,975 --> 00:37:13,185
Yeah. I mean I, you know,

888
00:37:13,185 --> 00:37:14,865
and then when you do an opener,

889
00:37:14,865 --> 00:37:16,945
you start in the summer, you know, for Kama.

890
00:37:17,245 --> 00:37:22,105
And, but I have held through and I've taken my time off

891
00:37:22,165 --> 00:37:25,985
and I'll be ready to get back into it in May. Good, good.

892
00:37:25,985 --> 00:37:28,265
Yeah. Now I could talk about the Civic forever. Yes.

893
00:37:28,285 --> 00:37:31,065
But, and I will get back to the Civic. Yes. No, no, no.

894
00:37:31,065 --> 00:37:32,265
I'm gonna talk about the Civic a little bit.

895
00:37:32,585 --> 00:37:34,585
What do you really love about this Civic?

896
00:37:35,065 --> 00:37:36,865
I know my experience with the Civic is,

897
00:37:36,925 --> 00:37:38,265
has been really, really good.

898
00:37:38,445 --> 00:37:40,745
For one thing, I get to meet great people like you guys.

899
00:37:41,565 --> 00:37:44,265
And every time I'm in a show, I meet more people

900
00:37:45,205 --> 00:37:47,465
for more relationships and,

901
00:37:47,465 --> 00:37:52,455
and it's always just expanding my world, I think.

902
00:37:52,795 --> 00:37:56,895
And I get the opportunity at my age to get back on stage.

903
00:37:57,075 --> 00:38:00,055
Yes. To do something that I really, really love.

904
00:38:00,055 --> 00:38:02,695
That I feel like I'm connecting with the audience and,

905
00:38:02,915 --> 00:38:06,215
and that energy exchange on the stage,

906
00:38:06,215 --> 00:38:07,695
there's just nothing like it.

907
00:38:07,795 --> 00:38:09,175
I'm messing up, Christopher's looking

908
00:38:09,175 --> 00:38:10,335
at me like, what are you doing?

909
00:38:10,445 --> 00:38:12,415
What happen? That is not the step.

910
00:38:13,275 --> 00:38:15,175
I'm like, oh, you're right. Want me get back on here.

911
00:38:15,385 --> 00:38:17,975
We're tripping upstairs with packages.

912
00:38:19,225 --> 00:38:20,575
Can't turn on the line. Cancer.

913
00:38:21,045 --> 00:38:22,055
Yeah. I can't find the bug.

914
00:38:23,555 --> 00:38:26,695
Nobody knows. But at least I hope nobody knows.

915
00:38:27,085 --> 00:38:29,175
When did you really fall in love?

916
00:38:30,215 --> 00:38:31,975
When I was doing Newsies, I fell in love

917
00:38:32,195 --> 00:38:35,565
and then kind of was volunteering and helping usher shows.

918
00:38:35,865 --> 00:38:39,485
And it's a great way to get meet new volunteers as well.

919
00:38:39,765 --> 00:38:42,445
'cause you'll see people that don't necessarily do things on

920
00:38:42,445 --> 00:38:43,845
stage, but they'll usher every show.

921
00:38:43,945 --> 00:38:46,005
So yeah. Got to meet those people.

922
00:38:46,145 --> 00:38:49,445
And then kind of just kept chugging along

923
00:38:49,465 --> 00:38:51,245
and really loved it since

924
00:38:51,875 --> 00:38:53,685
even working there, I still love it.

925
00:38:54,405 --> 00:38:57,535
Are there days where I'm like, every job?

926
00:38:57,535 --> 00:38:59,735
Yes, of course, of course. Yeah. Every, every place. Yeah.

927
00:38:59,795 --> 00:39:02,215
But it's nice to have a creative space as well,

928
00:39:02,225 --> 00:39:03,415
where you get to do what you love

929
00:39:03,475 --> 00:39:06,815
and then also have people that are also like-minded

930
00:39:06,915 --> 00:39:08,375
and love what they're doing as well.

931
00:39:09,505 --> 00:39:14,055
Katie, I mean, I just wanted to get on that stage.

932
00:39:14,335 --> 00:39:16,615
I do like behind the, the scenes. Yeah. Yeah.

933
00:39:16,625 --> 00:39:17,935
Which is very important.

934
00:39:18,845 --> 00:39:22,105
So the first show I actually made was Big Fish.

935
00:39:22,205 --> 00:39:26,785
The season opener for 20, 24. 23, 3. I don't even,

936
00:39:26,785 --> 00:39:27,785
Because it was after Hunchback.

937
00:39:27,945 --> 00:39:29,465
I mean, yeah. And,

938
00:39:29,765 --> 00:39:32,885
and once you're on that stage, you know, you know,

939
00:39:32,985 --> 00:39:34,965
and it just like, Ugh,

940
00:39:35,445 --> 00:39:36,725
I wanna do it again and again and again.

941
00:39:36,785 --> 00:39:39,525
Oh yeah. Yeah. And it just is the relationships you formed.

942
00:39:39,525 --> 00:39:40,565
Yeah. They're family.

943
00:39:41,265 --> 00:39:43,365
You know, I would say like one

944
00:39:43,365 --> 00:39:44,925
of my closest friends is Sarah Aiello.

945
00:39:44,945 --> 00:39:48,845
And I met her on Big Fish, one of our icebreakers.

946
00:39:48,845 --> 00:39:50,525
It was our first rehearsal.

947
00:39:50,825 --> 00:39:52,925
We had to sit back to back with someone we didn't know.

948
00:39:52,955 --> 00:39:55,925
Yeah. This was Shannon Hill, who was our director, did this.

949
00:39:56,345 --> 00:39:58,605
So it was Aiello and I who sat back to back.

950
00:39:58,815 --> 00:40:01,685
Isn't that funny? So when I look back at that, yeah.

951
00:40:01,705 --> 00:40:03,325
We didn't know each other. Yeah. We knew of

952
00:40:03,725 --> 00:40:05,165
'cause you just kind of do in the community.

953
00:40:05,235 --> 00:40:07,685
Yeah. And to be now

954
00:40:08,425 --> 00:40:11,245
and just how much we progressed or develop.

955
00:40:11,665 --> 00:40:13,805
And then you and I, we would always say hi to each other.

956
00:40:13,875 --> 00:40:15,885
Yeah. Yeah. But to be in a show with you

957
00:40:15,985 --> 00:40:16,985
In a show, there's nothing like

958
00:40:16,985 --> 00:40:17,925
It.

959
00:40:17,925 --> 00:40:19,325
There was nothing like, it was just always magical.

960
00:40:19,505 --> 00:40:21,645
But it was like that much more, you know?

961
00:40:21,745 --> 00:40:23,925
And then, I mean, Topher is family.

962
00:40:24,625 --> 00:40:25,685
He is part of our family.

963
00:40:25,745 --> 00:40:27,805
How far you've been calling him? I've heard you. I know.

964
00:40:27,835 --> 00:40:31,245
Wait, wait a minute. We, we would be backstage

965
00:40:31,245 --> 00:40:32,325
and you say Topher, I'm like,

966
00:40:32,585 --> 00:40:34,085
Who is to, who is it?

967
00:40:34,085 --> 00:40:35,165
Who is this? Topher. I know.

968
00:40:35,305 --> 00:40:36,845
And I finally got it tonight.

969
00:40:37,445 --> 00:40:40,925
Yeah. Just now, Right Christopher? Yes. Yes. Topher.

970
00:40:41,355 --> 00:40:43,845
Well that's so cute. Well, and

971
00:40:43,845 --> 00:40:45,165
I think, does anybody else call you that?

972
00:40:45,995 --> 00:40:48,325
Well now people have, but I know it it,

973
00:40:48,385 --> 00:40:49,845
people always ask me, do you want,

974
00:40:49,875 --> 00:40:51,005
what do you prefer to go by?

975
00:40:51,005 --> 00:40:52,525
Like, Chris, Christopher, what do you like?

976
00:40:52,545 --> 00:40:54,165
And I said, I don't really care.

977
00:40:54,505 --> 00:40:56,565
And then I was telling a story one night at dinner

978
00:40:56,595 --> 00:40:59,085
that I had a teacher, 'cause my mom was very particular

979
00:40:59,085 --> 00:41:00,845
that I had to be Christopher and everything.

980
00:41:01,305 --> 00:41:03,605
And so I had a teacher her,

981
00:41:03,705 --> 00:41:05,285
she could never remember to say Christopher.

982
00:41:05,295 --> 00:41:06,805
She'd always call me Chris. So she

983
00:41:06,805 --> 00:41:07,845
ended up calling me Topher.

984
00:41:08,225 --> 00:41:11,285
Oh, I see. So that's, that's what ended up like ended up.

985
00:41:11,755 --> 00:41:12,965
Yeah. Yeah. Because I used

986
00:41:12,965 --> 00:41:14,845
to call Christopher in high school, Topher.

987
00:41:15,065 --> 00:41:16,965
Oh. And that's the first time I had heard

988
00:41:16,965 --> 00:41:18,125
it when he told me.

989
00:41:18,125 --> 00:41:21,405
And I said, wait a minute. And so it's been to another

990
00:41:21,465 --> 00:41:22,465
One of those moments.

991
00:41:22,685 --> 00:41:24,565
But we were in Cinderella together

992
00:41:25,095 --> 00:41:26,525
where we had a Prince Topher.

993
00:41:26,865 --> 00:41:28,245
So that was funny. That was real fun.

994
00:41:28,245 --> 00:41:29,365
When they're like, which Topher?

995
00:41:29,365 --> 00:41:32,165
And I'm like, obviously this one I would call Peter. Peter.

996
00:41:32,625 --> 00:41:33,625
Yes.

997
00:41:34,625 --> 00:41:37,045
So when did you guys really connect?

998
00:41:37,225 --> 00:41:39,685
We met through Wendy. We did Wendy Wheeler

999
00:41:39,965 --> 00:41:41,925
During, what was that? Big fish.

1000
00:41:42,225 --> 00:41:44,245
Oh, it was Big fish. Well, well like we met, we met

1001
00:41:44,245 --> 00:41:45,245
Before that.

1002
00:41:45,245 --> 00:41:46,005
But like, yeah, it was during Big Fish

1003
00:41:46,105 --> 00:41:47,105
And it was instantaneous.

1004
00:41:47,195 --> 00:41:49,685
Yeah, for sure. I mean it was just right away.

1005
00:41:50,105 --> 00:41:53,005
And I mean, I can't imagine life without you. That's crazy.

1006
00:41:53,005 --> 00:41:55,245
That's crazy to even think that there was a time. Yeah.

1007
00:41:55,365 --> 00:41:57,685
I mean he is, he's part, like I said, part of our family.

1008
00:41:57,745 --> 00:41:59,445
He came to spend the holidays with us.

1009
00:42:00,065 --> 00:42:04,165
My in-laws, which is actually funny story. Oh lord. I know.

1010
00:42:04,865 --> 00:42:06,805
So he came to Jake's graduation this last May.

1011
00:42:07,345 --> 00:42:09,205
And my in-laws were there.

1012
00:42:09,205 --> 00:42:12,965
John and Susan And John taught at Wheaton.

1013
00:42:13,765 --> 00:42:15,575
Well, Topher went to

1014
00:42:15,575 --> 00:42:16,455
Wheaton. He was the gym teacher.

1015
00:42:16,675 --> 00:42:18,575
So we're talking about No, no, I

1016
00:42:18,575 --> 00:42:19,975
Know this is Okay. And Downers.

1017
00:42:19,975 --> 00:42:21,255
Yeah. They live in Downers.

1018
00:42:21,255 --> 00:42:22,575
Grove Shields. Yeah.

1019
00:42:22,675 --> 00:42:24,855
So there's And and Topher goes, wait,

1020
00:42:24,975 --> 00:42:27,175
I was there the time you were a PE teacher.

1021
00:42:27,365 --> 00:42:30,215
Like they literally, did you have him as a PE teacher?

1022
00:42:30,335 --> 00:42:31,615
I can't remember. I don't know for sure. Okay.

1023
00:42:31,775 --> 00:42:33,255
I can't remember. It was a long time ago.

1024
00:42:33,255 --> 00:42:34,535
He PE would've been middle. Yeah.

1025
00:42:34,535 --> 00:42:36,575
It would've been his middle school years. Wheaton.

1026
00:42:37,355 --> 00:42:41,855
And now my nephew goes to Wheaton.

1027
00:42:41,855 --> 00:42:43,775
Like went to Wheaton. Yeah. No, yeah, he does. Yeah.

1028
00:42:43,775 --> 00:42:46,975
Wheaton. I mean everything is like I know.

1029
00:42:47,075 --> 00:42:50,215
That's why I say like, you know, as much as you

1030
00:42:50,865 --> 00:42:53,015
wanna create your own path, things are laid out for you.

1031
00:42:53,255 --> 00:42:54,615
Things are there.

1032
00:42:55,115 --> 00:42:57,775
We were talking before the show started about

1033
00:42:58,665 --> 00:43:00,255
there are are the dimensions.

1034
00:43:00,455 --> 00:43:02,815
I believe now those are, you don't have to believe it.

1035
00:43:03,115 --> 00:43:04,655
I'm not pushing anything on anyone.

1036
00:43:04,875 --> 00:43:08,015
But I so believe that there are dimensions beyond

1037
00:43:08,635 --> 00:43:11,615
our understanding that exists.

1038
00:43:12,005 --> 00:43:14,855
Science might know about it, might not know about it.

1039
00:43:15,205 --> 00:43:16,895
They say we have five senses.

1040
00:43:17,135 --> 00:43:19,815
I believe we have several additional senses.

1041
00:43:20,355 --> 00:43:23,015
And you were telling me about one story. Yeah.

1042
00:43:23,015 --> 00:43:24,055
When you were in a car accident.

1043
00:43:24,155 --> 00:43:25,655
Can you just say that again because Yes.

1044
00:43:25,895 --> 00:43:27,655
I really want people to think outside the box.

1045
00:43:27,655 --> 00:43:29,935
Christopher, have you had some experiences like this?

1046
00:43:29,935 --> 00:43:31,415
Please share a couple of doors.

1047
00:43:31,415 --> 00:43:35,695
Yeah. Yeah. I mean I was 16, my birthday's January 15th.

1048
00:43:35,755 --> 00:43:37,215
And so I'm always, you know,

1049
00:43:37,295 --> 00:43:38,815
I went right into a blizzard when I drove

1050
00:43:39,155 --> 00:43:40,615
and I remember us coming back from

1051
00:43:41,535 --> 00:43:43,655
a guy's playoff soccer game for our high school.

1052
00:43:44,055 --> 00:43:45,055
A friend was following me home.

1053
00:43:45,655 --> 00:43:48,495
I went to turn left and got into a head on collision.

1054
00:43:48,755 --> 00:43:50,775
And my friend wasn't in my car, she was behind me

1055
00:43:51,515 --> 00:43:54,175
as my friend because there were no cell phones at this time.

1056
00:43:54,345 --> 00:43:58,735
Early nineties. My friend went to go use a house phone

1057
00:43:58,875 --> 00:44:00,015
to call my parents.

1058
00:44:01,025 --> 00:44:03,415
There was a gentleman with a yellow shirt on

1059
00:44:03,515 --> 00:44:04,615
who was keeping me calm

1060
00:44:04,635 --> 00:44:06,255
and saying everything's gonna be okay.

1061
00:44:06,675 --> 00:44:09,735
And really just instead of the freak out and go into shock,

1062
00:44:10,095 --> 00:44:12,175
'cause I broke, you know, a couple bones.

1063
00:44:13,435 --> 00:44:15,215
He kept me calm until my parents,

1064
00:44:15,355 --> 00:44:16,815
who luckily were just down the street.

1065
00:44:17,275 --> 00:44:20,215
So we were almost home. And then I was telling my friend,

1066
00:44:20,345 --> 00:44:22,335
thank God for that guy in the yellow shirt, you know?

1067
00:44:22,335 --> 00:44:23,935
And she goes, what guy in the yellow shirt?

1068
00:44:24,105 --> 00:44:26,255
There was no guy in the yellow shirt.

1069
00:44:26,555 --> 00:44:28,215
And it's like, you know, it's like that dream

1070
00:44:28,275 --> 00:44:30,295
how you can kind of Yeah, I can still picture him.

1071
00:44:30,295 --> 00:44:33,525
Yeah. Yeah. But I can't picture a face. Oh,

1072
00:44:34,585 --> 00:44:37,925
And energy came to you and I believe an angel

1073
00:44:37,925 --> 00:44:38,925
Came to you.

1074
00:44:38,925 --> 00:44:39,405
I do too. I do too.

1075
00:44:39,545 --> 00:44:42,445
It was an angel that was there right on the spot giving

1076
00:44:42,465 --> 00:44:43,765
you exactly what

1077
00:44:44,185 --> 00:44:45,185
You needed.

1078
00:44:45,685 --> 00:44:46,725
Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah.

1079
00:44:47,425 --> 00:44:49,805
Oh, and then there was something when you were in

1080
00:44:50,075 --> 00:44:52,205
Yeah, so then of course I, yeah.

1081
00:44:52,225 --> 00:44:54,325
Oh, Savannah. No, no, no. Go go with that one.

1082
00:44:54,405 --> 00:44:56,485
I was just gonna finish this one. So then I obviously had

1083
00:44:56,485 --> 00:44:59,685
to go, I actually got taken by ambulance to the hospital.

1084
00:44:59,905 --> 00:45:01,885
Yes. And I was getting X-rays

1085
00:45:01,885 --> 00:45:03,285
and they were like, Cynthia, you have to stay straight.

1086
00:45:03,285 --> 00:45:05,725
And I'm like, you know, obviously car accident shock.

1087
00:45:05,725 --> 00:45:07,085
And I'm like, wait, my name's not Cynthia.

1088
00:45:07,555 --> 00:45:10,565
Come to find out the lady that I hit. Her name is Cynthia.

1089
00:45:10,985 --> 00:45:14,205
So it just like, again, with all the alignment with that.

1090
00:45:14,465 --> 00:45:16,525
And you know, honestly I was,

1091
00:45:17,365 --> 00:45:19,285
I was raised believing in spirituality.

1092
00:45:19,825 --> 00:45:21,805
You know, I, if you're Lutheran, if you're, no matter

1093
00:45:21,805 --> 00:45:24,245
what religion, you know, you kind of take that spirituality.

1094
00:45:24,765 --> 00:45:27,205
So I do believe in like the angel that was there

1095
00:45:27,585 --> 00:45:29,325
and spirits and that.

1096
00:45:29,385 --> 00:45:30,885
Yes. That leads me to Savannah.

1097
00:45:31,365 --> 00:45:33,845
I have, I have a picture of a full body apparition

1098
00:45:34,805 --> 00:45:36,045
happened in one of the squares.

1099
00:45:37,035 --> 00:45:38,525
Over 200 bodies were buried.

1100
00:45:38,545 --> 00:45:40,045
We actually found that out the next day.

1101
00:45:40,065 --> 00:45:42,205
We did a segue tour. So we told the guy,

1102
00:45:42,225 --> 00:45:43,965
and we showed him the picture of the ghosts

1103
00:45:43,965 --> 00:45:46,885
that I showed you, which was a full body apparition

1104
00:45:46,905 --> 00:45:48,085
of a soldier.

1105
00:45:48,185 --> 00:45:51,485
Yes. The guy confirmed. Oh yeah. That lines right up.

1106
00:45:51,485 --> 00:45:52,965
And then we looked at the uniform,

1107
00:45:52,965 --> 00:45:54,245
everything lined up with it.

1108
00:45:54,505 --> 00:45:56,965
And so the energy is in that type of town where there's

1109
00:45:56,965 --> 00:45:59,325
so much tragedy and so much energy. Yeah,

1110
00:45:59,625 --> 00:46:00,625
So much energy.

1111
00:46:00,705 --> 00:46:03,045
The energy does not die. Yeah.

1112
00:46:03,465 --> 00:46:05,845
So when people talk about death, I'm like,

1113
00:46:05,945 --> 00:46:07,925
ah, it's a transition.

1114
00:46:07,955 --> 00:46:10,525
Yeah, it's transition. Because energies do not die.

1115
00:46:10,615 --> 00:46:12,525
Isn't that what the Einstein said?

1116
00:46:12,715 --> 00:46:15,445
It's energy cannot be born, does not die,

1117
00:46:15,505 --> 00:46:16,725
it just changes form.

1118
00:46:16,735 --> 00:46:19,285
Right, right. Oh, I was in, I was in Africa

1119
00:46:19,425 --> 00:46:22,285
and we went to the, I was in Ghana, we went down

1120
00:46:22,285 --> 00:46:25,285
to Cape Coast and where the slaves were held

1121
00:46:25,295 --> 00:46:27,285
until they were taken on the put on the boat.

1122
00:46:27,665 --> 00:46:29,165
And we were standing in,

1123
00:46:30,065 --> 00:46:33,165
in the ladies holding the women's holding cell.

1124
00:46:33,825 --> 00:46:38,405
And the energies were so strong in there, I could feel them

1125
00:46:39,065 --> 00:46:40,445
trying to communicate.

1126
00:46:40,445 --> 00:46:42,885
And I just started crying and it was like,

1127
00:46:42,885 --> 00:46:44,885
Have to get, it became visceral. It was,

1128
00:46:44,885 --> 00:46:45,885
Yeah.

1129
00:46:45,885 --> 00:46:50,005
It was. Oh my gosh. It was something. But what's your story,

1130
00:46:50,005 --> 00:46:51,005
Christopher?

1131
00:46:51,185 --> 00:46:52,765
So my ex-husband

1132
00:46:52,905 --> 00:46:57,245
and I, he, his really good friend Sarah, when we moved

1133
00:46:57,245 --> 00:46:59,605
to Kalamazoo, we, it was great to be with her.

1134
00:47:00,185 --> 00:47:02,005
She had been diagnosed with cancer,

1135
00:47:02,685 --> 00:47:04,605
breast cancer stage three at the time.

1136
00:47:05,545 --> 00:47:09,125
She ended up like beating it and then it came back.

1137
00:47:10,205 --> 00:47:14,625
So in 2022 in March,

1138
00:47:14,965 --> 00:47:18,425
her mom had passed away and she asked Chucky

1139
00:47:18,465 --> 00:47:21,345
and I, I, if we would be interested in living with her.

1140
00:47:21,405 --> 00:47:24,185
She was, she was lonely and wanted some people there.

1141
00:47:24,605 --> 00:47:27,145
And just also, I think it was good for us.

1142
00:47:27,485 --> 00:47:28,945
We were living with his parents still.

1143
00:47:29,010 --> 00:47:31,605
And it was probably, we had been there a little too long in

1144
00:47:31,605 --> 00:47:33,885
my opinion, at that point it was time to move out.

1145
00:47:34,705 --> 00:47:38,685
So we lived with her and she ended up getting cancer again.

1146
00:47:38,685 --> 00:47:39,845
So we were there to take care

1147
00:47:39,845 --> 00:47:41,365
of her and she became very Right.

1148
00:47:41,385 --> 00:47:43,125
We, we became very close as well.

1149
00:47:43,585 --> 00:47:47,405
And when she passed away, she did leave us her house.

1150
00:47:47,785 --> 00:47:51,285
And so there would be times when I was in the house

1151
00:47:51,315 --> 00:47:55,165
that I could smell her hairspray by the front door

1152
00:47:55,455 --> 00:47:58,005
where she would be, the cats would go there all the time.

1153
00:47:58,025 --> 00:47:59,645
So I knew she was there. Yes.

1154
00:47:59,905 --> 00:48:02,205
And then I, there are times now where she,

1155
00:48:02,205 --> 00:48:03,685
where I'll be at the Civic

1156
00:48:03,985 --> 00:48:07,165
and in places where like I've been with her

1157
00:48:07,505 --> 00:48:09,165
and like I just kind

1158
00:48:09,165 --> 00:48:11,845
of just know she's there in some way or another.

1159
00:48:12,035 --> 00:48:13,765
It's weird. Yeah, I know. Yeah.

1160
00:48:13,765 --> 00:48:16,165
It's really, really, it's really bizarre. Yeah.

1161
00:48:16,265 --> 00:48:18,885
But she's always kind of still around and Yeah,

1162
00:48:19,535 --> 00:48:20,605
She's with you.

1163
00:48:21,215 --> 00:48:25,005
She's with you comforting and cheering you on

1164
00:48:25,305 --> 00:48:28,085
and letting you know everything is all right. So

1165
00:48:28,085 --> 00:48:29,085
Yeah, when you were sharing

1166
00:48:29,085 --> 00:48:32,525
that story about just like walking down

1167
00:48:33,665 --> 00:48:37,165
to the, like the where the slaves were brought in

1168
00:48:37,985 --> 00:48:40,205
to the ships when I was in New York

1169
00:48:40,205 --> 00:48:43,125
with my friend Anastasia in May of last year.

1170
00:48:44,345 --> 00:48:47,285
She and I, when we crossed the,

1171
00:48:48,725 --> 00:48:51,865
the right before where Oh my gosh.

1172
00:48:51,925 --> 00:48:54,025
The twin Towers would've been Yeah. Oh my gosh.

1173
00:48:54,455 --> 00:48:55,985
Like we just both started crying

1174
00:48:56,445 --> 00:48:58,945
and just like, you could just feel that heaviness around it.

1175
00:48:58,945 --> 00:49:01,345
It was just Oh, kind of crazy. Yeah.

1176
00:49:01,765 --> 00:49:04,065
To think that there were so many people that were there

1177
00:49:04,205 --> 00:49:05,825
and now are no longer.

1178
00:49:06,015 --> 00:49:10,225
Yeah. And two giant towers that are just no longer there and

1179
00:49:10,545 --> 00:49:11,585
Attached to that Yeah.

1180
00:49:12,015 --> 00:49:13,465
Area. That's, yeah.

1181
00:49:15,235 --> 00:49:19,745
Was there ever a per,

1182
00:49:20,725 --> 00:49:24,225
how do I say this there, there needs to be,

1183
00:49:24,295 --> 00:49:25,785
well not there needs to be,

1184
00:49:26,445 --> 00:49:28,065
but can you see

1185
00:49:31,085 --> 00:49:35,815
a healing, a ceremony of some type

1186
00:49:37,265 --> 00:49:39,165
to release the spirits?

1187
00:49:39,765 --> 00:49:44,045
Yeah. To say it's okay.

1188
00:49:45,005 --> 00:49:47,085
I know when my brother passed, I had him,

1189
00:49:47,085 --> 00:49:50,245
he was in hospice at my house until he passed.

1190
00:49:51,025 --> 00:49:55,005
And sometimes he would be in such pain

1191
00:49:55,115 --> 00:49:57,885
that he would just scream and I would just release.

1192
00:49:58,755 --> 00:50:02,235
I just wish he could just relax. God just let go.

1193
00:50:03,245 --> 00:50:08,145
And finally he did. And it was so beautiful.

1194
00:50:08,605 --> 00:50:10,345
All of the family had come up.

1195
00:50:10,485 --> 00:50:14,865
My son from, from southern Illinois, my nephews, his, his,

1196
00:50:15,485 --> 00:50:18,865
the, the woman that he really loved, he had his son by

1197
00:50:19,365 --> 00:50:21,745
and he was there, my son was there

1198
00:50:21,885 --> 00:50:24,345
and all of the family was just around him.

1199
00:50:25,125 --> 00:50:28,365
And, and he, you could tell by the look on his face

1200
00:50:28,365 --> 00:50:30,725
that he had his peace, he had come,

1201
00:50:31,385 --> 00:50:32,085
Had come. Yeah,

1202
00:50:32,195 --> 00:50:33,365
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

1203
00:50:33,365 --> 00:50:34,525
And his soul was ready

1204
00:50:34,585 --> 00:50:37,215
and that night he made his transition.

1205
00:50:37,565 --> 00:50:39,055
Yeah, yeah, yeah,

1206
00:50:39,055 --> 00:50:40,055
Yeah.

1207
00:50:40,055 --> 00:50:41,655
That peace. And I think like that's something

1208
00:50:42,855 --> 00:50:45,655
I know when my grand, I was very close with my grandma

1209
00:50:45,655 --> 00:50:47,695
and grandpa o Brian, my dad's parents

1210
00:50:49,115 --> 00:50:50,735
and my grandma.

1211
00:50:50,955 --> 00:50:52,415
My grandpa passed first

1212
00:50:52,975 --> 00:50:55,135
and my grandma had Alzheimer's really bad.

1213
00:50:55,935 --> 00:50:57,135
But I came back, I was living in Florida

1214
00:50:57,275 --> 00:50:58,935
and I was doing her hair and makeup for the funeral.

1215
00:50:59,635 --> 00:51:01,615
And she became lucid.

1216
00:51:02,155 --> 00:51:03,895
She looked at me and all

1217
00:51:03,895 --> 00:51:05,775
of a sudden like knew why I was doing her hair

1218
00:51:05,775 --> 00:51:08,295
and her makeup and everything, and gave me a look

1219
00:51:08,395 --> 00:51:09,655
and, and had sadness.

1220
00:51:10,315 --> 00:51:11,655
And it was that one second our

1221
00:51:11,655 --> 00:51:12,775
eyes met in the mirror, right.

1222
00:51:12,975 --> 00:51:14,015
'cause I'm standing. Yeah.

1223
00:51:14,435 --> 00:51:16,895
And, and then just like that she was gone again.

1224
00:51:16,895 --> 00:51:18,015
And a jovial child.

1225
00:51:18,075 --> 00:51:20,695
She was a very happy person with Alzheimer's.

1226
00:51:20,955 --> 00:51:23,855
But it was like that, it was like that touch

1227
00:51:24,035 --> 00:51:25,215
of reality right there.

1228
00:51:25,355 --> 00:51:29,135
And when my grandfather was passing away, he said,

1229
00:51:29,865 --> 00:51:31,755
tell Katie not to worry about things.

1230
00:51:32,255 --> 00:51:34,875
It will be okay. And at the time I was living in Florida,

1231
00:51:34,995 --> 00:51:37,235
I had, you know, some things like young twenties as you do.

1232
00:51:38,575 --> 00:51:41,995
And that just message, just as he was passing away to know

1233
00:51:41,995 --> 00:51:44,435
that and, and that little Remi like just even talking about

1234
00:51:44,435 --> 00:51:46,075
it right now, it's been so long since I thought about that,

1235
00:51:46,655 --> 00:51:48,235
you know, but the comfort, yes.

1236
00:51:48,265 --> 00:51:51,195
That brings the eye contact I got with my grandma.

1237
00:51:51,345 --> 00:51:53,195
That was lucid at that point.

1238
00:51:53,655 --> 00:51:55,915
That's the stuff I think you just, you take with you

1239
00:51:56,015 --> 00:51:57,755
and you have to remind yourself. Yeah.

1240
00:51:58,405 --> 00:52:00,715
Connection. Connection.

1241
00:52:00,735 --> 00:52:02,475
We were talking about connections

1242
00:52:03,015 --> 00:52:05,395
and you guys were talking about, we have a few minutes left,

1243
00:52:05,415 --> 00:52:08,595
but I want to get to the importance

1244
00:52:08,895 --> 00:52:10,915
of human connection.

1245
00:52:11,695 --> 00:52:14,355
Our children are losing that

1246
00:52:14,835 --> 00:52:17,075
with probably not your children. Oh they are.

1247
00:52:17,545 --> 00:52:18,915
They're in there with cell

1248
00:52:18,915 --> 00:52:21,315
Phones online.

1249
00:52:23,315 --> 00:52:24,895
The human connection.

1250
00:52:25,235 --> 00:52:28,375
You might have some, but it's just not as important.

1251
00:52:28,995 --> 00:52:33,565
You guys were just connecting in New York,

1252
00:52:35,875 --> 00:52:37,725
That boy did we connect. I can see

1253
00:52:38,155 --> 00:52:40,005
That there were memories.

1254
00:52:40,025 --> 00:52:41,125
You guys just looked at each other

1255
00:52:41,225 --> 00:52:44,125
and I saw mom is just flashing between you.

1256
00:52:44,845 --> 00:52:45,965
I mean, what Was that like?

1257
00:52:46,845 --> 00:52:49,205
I think when you're, especially this age

1258
00:52:49,225 --> 00:52:50,925
and you're middle aged, not you yet,

1259
00:52:51,065 --> 00:52:52,325
but you hang out with the Middle Ages

1260
00:52:53,465 --> 00:52:56,405
and you can find a core group that you're able

1261
00:52:56,405 --> 00:52:57,925
to leave town with.

1262
00:52:58,065 --> 00:52:59,405
You know, it's one thing going to dinners

1263
00:52:59,405 --> 00:53:03,005
and doing things here, but be with someone four to five days

1264
00:53:04,105 --> 00:53:08,575
and still belly laugh on the last day as you're flying home.

1265
00:53:09,085 --> 00:53:10,455
That is something that you need to cherish.

1266
00:53:10,555 --> 00:53:12,295
And those are the friendships that you invest in.

1267
00:53:13,075 --> 00:53:16,135
And when I say like New York also,

1268
00:53:16,135 --> 00:53:17,735
we have our very own travel agent.

1269
00:53:18,255 --> 00:53:20,175
I mean we're like, Topher, we're going to New York.

1270
00:53:20,175 --> 00:53:21,735
And he is like, okay, big B,

1271
00:53:22,675 --> 00:53:25,845
he had everything like planned out, done and done.

1272
00:53:26,065 --> 00:53:28,445
We have to show up. He booked our shows.

1273
00:53:28,675 --> 00:53:30,765
He's, he's wonderful. I mean that's why we break.

1274
00:53:30,765 --> 00:53:34,965
No, I'm just kidding. But, but I mean, it just is,

1275
00:53:35,225 --> 00:53:37,885
and again, it's like a family thing, you know, without

1276
00:53:38,585 --> 00:53:39,885
the trauma of the family, without the drama.

1277
00:53:40,035 --> 00:53:41,645
Yeah, Yeah, yeah, yeah,

1278
00:53:42,355 --> 00:53:43,355
Yeah.

1279
00:53:43,355 --> 00:53:46,325
Wonderful. We went to see, I saw nine shows when

1280
00:53:46,325 --> 00:53:47,325
We were there.

1281
00:53:47,325 --> 00:53:47,805
Nine shows How many days?

1282
00:53:48,465 --> 00:53:50,645
How many days? We were there for four or five nights.

1283
00:53:51,485 --> 00:53:52,645
Thursday ending up

1284
00:53:52,645 --> 00:53:54,725
through Tuesday because we had to. Yeah,

1285
00:53:54,725 --> 00:53:56,685
We were were there during Snowmageddon. Oh

1286
00:53:56,785 --> 00:53:57,885
Boy. Yeah. That was fun.

1287
00:53:57,945 --> 00:53:59,485
Or the storm of the century. Storm

1288
00:53:59,485 --> 00:54:00,485
Of the century.

1289
00:54:00,745 --> 00:54:02,245
We saw rag time when we were there.

1290
00:54:02,305 --> 00:54:04,165
We saw, which was phenomenal.

1291
00:54:04,165 --> 00:54:07,045
And then we did see the Phantoms masquerade.

1292
00:54:07,665 --> 00:54:09,005
And if you have not heard of this,

1293
00:54:09,345 --> 00:54:11,005
it is an immersive phantom

1294
00:54:11,265 --> 00:54:13,245
and it is the most incredible thing I've ever seen.

1295
00:54:13,425 --> 00:54:16,325
Oh my God. So much so We went again. We saw it twice

1296
00:54:16,825 --> 00:54:18,685
The most in incredible.

1297
00:54:19,645 --> 00:54:21,525
I gotta go to New York. Here's the thing.

1298
00:54:21,635 --> 00:54:22,965
Tell every single everything.

1299
00:54:23,115 --> 00:54:25,325
Yeah, but have, I mean, when you, here's the thing

1300
00:54:25,515 --> 00:54:26,725
with immersion theater,

1301
00:54:26,995 --> 00:54:28,685
because we're on stage, we get immersed.

1302
00:54:28,705 --> 00:54:29,845
So, so we've, we've done a

1303
00:54:29,845 --> 00:54:30,965
show, we've done costume, you know.

1304
00:54:30,965 --> 00:54:33,325
Yeah. Being on stage. But when you go watch a

1305
00:54:33,325 --> 00:54:34,405
show and you watch it, you're great.

1306
00:54:34,875 --> 00:54:38,845
This brought you into the show. You were part of the show.

1307
00:54:39,145 --> 00:54:41,085
In fact, they would hand you props.

1308
00:54:41,805 --> 00:54:44,335
They would hand you held onto Christine's dress.

1309
00:54:44,995 --> 00:54:47,615
At one point, Ashley, our friend, got taken

1310
00:54:47,835 --> 00:54:50,455
to the other room, into the phantom's bedroom

1311
00:54:50,715 --> 00:54:52,095
and seated next to his bed.

1312
00:54:52,325 --> 00:54:55,895
Like it was so intimate. You're wearing masks. Oh my gosh.

1313
00:54:55,895 --> 00:54:56,935
Yeah. And you're looking around

1314
00:54:57,075 --> 00:54:58,295
And there's a dress code. So

1315
00:54:58,295 --> 00:54:59,295
Like there's a dress code.

1316
00:54:59,295 --> 00:55:01,335
Yeah. I, if you get the opportunity,

1317
00:55:01,475 --> 00:55:02,975
I'm gonna tell everybody, if you have the

1318
00:55:02,975 --> 00:55:04,535
opportunity, go see it.

1319
00:55:04,535 --> 00:55:07,615
Okay. Roddy. Yeah. My God. That was, yeah. It was amazing.

1320
00:55:07,995 --> 00:55:09,855
And then Hades Town. That

1321
00:55:09,855 --> 00:55:10,855
Was very good.

1322
00:55:10,855 --> 00:55:11,415
I saw Hades Town here,

1323
00:55:11,715 --> 00:55:13,215
but I can imagine. I can only imagine.

1324
00:55:13,895 --> 00:55:18,335
I mean, there's no per, oh my God. Let's see.

1325
00:55:18,335 --> 00:55:20,135
Yeah, that's what I, who said Persephone again?

1326
00:55:20,315 --> 00:55:21,415
I'm telling Marvinetta.

1327
00:55:21,475 --> 00:55:22,575
Oh, she'd be phenomenal.

1328
00:55:22,715 --> 00:55:25,175
Oh, she'd be a phenomenal vicious Hermes as well.

1329
00:55:25,475 --> 00:55:27,415
Oh my gosh. Let's, Anthony,

1330
00:55:27,505 --> 00:55:29,695
let's do Hades tone. Oh my God. Don't

1331
00:55:29,695 --> 00:55:30,695
Tell Anthony.

1332
00:55:30,695 --> 00:55:31,125
Anthony.

1333
00:55:31,805 --> 00:55:35,335
Okay. Stop. Marvinetta. I'm gonna be

1334
00:55:35,655 --> 00:55:38,295
Horrible because Haiti, when I saw Hayestown here,

1335
00:55:38,445 --> 00:55:40,295
just the traveling show. I was like,

1336
00:55:40,685 --> 00:55:44,255
That, that music, oh, that's that store.

1337
00:55:44,815 --> 00:55:45,935
I cleaned the house to that music.

1338
00:55:45,935 --> 00:55:48,415
When the chant comes on, I'm like, okay, let's go. You know?

1339
00:55:49,015 --> 00:55:50,135
I, I mean, it is beautiful.

1340
00:55:50,595 --> 00:55:53,455
So, yeah, you got so that in New York we did.

1341
00:55:53,645 --> 00:55:56,575
Well, there's a story. Okay. What a surprise. Yes.

1342
00:55:56,875 --> 00:55:59,655
So we realized that we had to cancel our flight.

1343
00:55:59,895 --> 00:56:02,055
'cause Delta was basically like, this is Saturday.

1344
00:56:02,205 --> 00:56:03,095
This storm is coming

1345
00:56:03,095 --> 00:56:04,735
Sunday, all flights are gonna be canceled.

1346
00:56:04,795 --> 00:56:07,255
So we decided to cancel our hotel, had our same rooms.

1347
00:56:07,675 --> 00:56:09,495
It was, it worked out again, you know,

1348
00:56:09,525 --> 00:56:11,015
just Synchron. We'll take it

1349
00:56:11,955 --> 00:56:12,815
Ity. That's right.

1350
00:56:13,155 --> 00:56:15,655
So toasts like, okay. Should we book another show?

1351
00:56:16,335 --> 00:56:17,775
I hadn't seen Book A Mormon

1352
00:56:17,915 --> 00:56:19,495
and Ashley hasn't seen Book A Mormon.

1353
00:56:19,495 --> 00:56:20,735
Yep. Amy. And you did. Yep.

1354
00:56:21,035 --> 00:56:24,925
And we got Book A Mormon tickets. So we go, we show up.

1355
00:56:24,925 --> 00:56:26,765
There's a line like, this is weird.

1356
00:56:27,065 --> 00:56:28,885
20 minutes before the curtain, we're like,

1357
00:56:28,885 --> 00:56:29,925
this is weird. Show

1358
00:56:30,125 --> 00:56:31,125
Canceled minutes.

1359
00:56:31,125 --> 00:56:32,965
Because all these shows are canceling, show canceled.

1360
00:56:33,225 --> 00:56:35,445
We look, here's another serendipitous. Yeah.

1361
00:56:35,585 --> 00:56:36,765
We look across the street.

1362
00:56:36,765 --> 00:56:38,805
There's Haiti Town, Haiti's Town Theater.

1363
00:56:39,285 --> 00:56:41,485
I had literally just said to Amy the night

1364
00:56:41,485 --> 00:56:44,445
before, I wish you could, it's such an experience.

1365
00:56:45,485 --> 00:56:48,965
I looked, now Boca Mormon starts at two Hades Town,

1366
00:56:49,175 --> 00:56:51,245
which had available tickets started at three.

1367
00:56:52,815 --> 00:56:55,715
So it's like, we ended up going to Hades Town,

1368
00:56:56,565 --> 00:56:57,985
the most amazing experience.

1369
00:56:58,205 --> 00:56:59,545
Get outta Haes, Hades town.

1370
00:56:59,905 --> 00:57:02,825
Topher bought us and Juliet tickets for Christmas.

1371
00:57:03,605 --> 00:57:04,745
And Juliet gets canceled.

1372
00:57:05,265 --> 00:57:06,345
I was so sad. So

1373
00:57:06,345 --> 00:57:07,545
I said, what are the chances

1374
00:57:08,055 --> 00:57:10,225
that they would mark down the phantom tickets?

1375
00:57:10,625 --> 00:57:11,825
'cause it's a steeper one. Yeah.

1376
00:57:12,085 --> 00:57:13,865
So I go on, they were marked down a tad.

1377
00:57:13,865 --> 00:57:14,745
Yeah, they were the

1378
00:57:14,825 --> 00:57:15,665
Christmas and I, and they were still having shows.

1379
00:57:15,665 --> 00:57:17,865
Everything else is canceled. Everything is canceled.

1380
00:57:18,385 --> 00:57:20,665
I said, let's you think we can do it now.

1381
00:57:20,665 --> 00:57:23,145
We had to run back, change into our either black, silver

1382
00:57:23,145 --> 00:57:25,065
or white, put our masks on.

1383
00:57:25,285 --> 00:57:26,425
We went a second time,

1384
00:57:26,805 --> 00:57:27,865
but it was just like one

1385
00:57:27,865 --> 00:57:30,545
of those moments when something closes, another

1386
00:57:30,545 --> 00:57:31,585
Door opens. Let's go.

1387
00:57:31,885 --> 00:57:34,025
Oh, let let, Yeah. Oh, wait, okay.

1388
00:57:34,065 --> 00:57:35,385
I have, I have less than three minutes.

1389
00:57:35,585 --> 00:57:38,865
I know what is on the horizon.

1390
00:57:41,415 --> 00:57:43,355
You can't talk about it. No, no, no, no, no.

1391
00:57:43,495 --> 00:57:45,995
Not for this today. Oh, for you personally.

1392
00:57:46,345 --> 00:57:49,635
What is on your horizon? What's your moonshot?

1393
00:57:50,435 --> 00:57:53,125
Hmm. More travel.

1394
00:57:55,075 --> 00:57:57,685
Done and done. Where you wanna go?

1395
00:57:57,685 --> 00:57:59,485
What's, what's your dream location?

1396
00:57:59,705 --> 00:58:01,405
Oh, I would love to see Japan.

1397
00:58:02,585 --> 00:58:04,165
I'd also like to go to Vietnam.

1398
00:58:04,785 --> 00:58:07,725
Mm Yeah. To see Vietnam. Yes.

1399
00:58:09,215 --> 00:58:12,305
Yeah. Nice, Nice. Egypt as well. But it's not safe.

1400
00:58:12,955 --> 00:58:15,055
But I would love to go to Egypt as well.

1401
00:58:16,795 --> 00:58:18,895
Things are changing. This is true.

1402
00:58:18,895 --> 00:58:20,375
Things are changing. This is true.

1403
00:58:20,995 --> 00:58:22,415
So, cool, cool, cool.

1404
00:58:22,695 --> 00:58:24,575
And do you see yourself still being at the Civic?

1405
00:58:24,585 --> 00:58:26,175
Maybe being the Ed one day

1406
00:58:26,685 --> 00:58:28,335
Executive director would be very cool.

1407
00:58:28,775 --> 00:58:30,735
I actually would like to be the artistic director

1408
00:58:31,475 --> 00:58:32,735
If I Being honest.

1409
00:58:34,195 --> 00:58:35,775
But Anthony's not going anywhere,

1410
00:58:36,235 --> 00:58:37,615
so I gotta wait a little bit.

1411
00:58:37,835 --> 00:58:39,775
No kidding. You'll never know.

1412
00:58:39,775 --> 00:58:42,815
He'll be back on Broadway in Sunday. He'll,

1413
00:58:42,945 --> 00:58:44,375
He'll be on Broadway when He'll be

1414
00:58:44,375 --> 00:58:45,535
directing on Broadway soon.

1415
00:58:46,005 --> 00:58:49,465
Yeah. Oh boy. Moonshot speed.

1416
00:58:49,495 --> 00:58:51,385
Army. Travel, travel. Travel.

1417
00:58:51,805 --> 00:58:54,465
I'm actually, I have a great trip coming up.

1418
00:58:54,645 --> 00:58:56,985
I'm going to Marrakesh with two of my besties.

1419
00:58:57,925 --> 00:58:59,305
One of my besties is turning 50.

1420
00:58:59,485 --> 00:59:00,825
And this is what she wanted to do. Yeah.

1421
00:59:01,765 --> 00:59:03,225
So we're gonna go to Marrakesh.

1422
00:59:03,235 --> 00:59:06,025
We're gonna do spend one night in Paris, fly to Marakesh,

1423
00:59:06,025 --> 00:59:08,025
and then tag back in Paris and fly home.

1424
00:59:08,245 --> 00:59:09,705
So I'm excited for that one.

1425
00:59:09,765 --> 00:59:12,585
And then Topher, Oakley

1426
00:59:12,585 --> 00:59:14,865
and I have a big trip coming up in July.

1427
00:59:15,685 --> 00:59:17,745
So we're gonna fly to London first.

1428
00:59:17,855 --> 00:59:19,185
Stay about five days in London.

1429
00:59:19,805 --> 00:59:22,845
Go see some Joe's. Go see. Oh yes. Paddington.

1430
00:59:23,005 --> 00:59:24,845
I mean, I'll see just for you. Well, you're gonna he, yeah.

1431
00:59:25,745 --> 00:59:27,085
No, nothing like theater in London.

1432
00:59:27,345 --> 00:59:29,445
Oh, west End and the west Side. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And

1433
00:59:29,445 --> 00:59:30,445
The tickets are cheaper.

1434
00:59:30,475 --> 00:59:32,005
America. We got some issues.

1435
00:59:32,115 --> 00:59:36,125
Yeah. The houses are really nice. They are small into get

1436
00:59:36,125 --> 00:59:37,125
The AC pumping.

1437
00:59:37,185 --> 00:59:40,565
No, but, and then we are,

1438
00:59:40,665 --> 00:59:42,085
and then we're gonna do Disneyland.

1439
00:59:42,085 --> 00:59:44,925
Paris and Paris. We're gonna do Bastille Day in Paris.

1440
00:59:45,705 --> 00:59:47,485
So my best friend was born in France.

1441
00:59:47,485 --> 00:59:48,925
She's the one that lives in Miami. Yeah.

1442
00:59:49,045 --> 00:59:50,765
I have a couple of best friends. You know everyone. Yeah.

1443
00:59:51,265 --> 00:59:53,605
But she will be in Paris the same time we're there too.

1444
00:59:53,745 --> 00:59:56,445
So it's just like, yeah. Again, we're staying in

1445
00:59:56,925 --> 00:59:58,565
A part of a castle or something.

1446
00:59:59,155 --> 01:00:01,845
It's like insane. Yeah. Like it's just gonna

1447
01:00:01,845 --> 01:00:03,045
Be Love it, love it, love it.

1448
01:00:03,045 --> 01:00:04,605
Yeah. I have to have a conversation with you after.

1449
01:00:04,885 --> 01:00:07,765
'cause I'm traveling a lot. And so yes.

1450
01:00:08,315 --> 01:00:11,005
This has been an incredible show.

1451
01:00:12,365 --> 01:00:16,165
I enjoyed every minute of hearing your stories.

1452
01:00:17,695 --> 01:00:21,935
Thank you so much for just opening,

1453
01:00:22,545 --> 01:00:24,695
being authentic, sharing,

1454
01:00:25,425 --> 01:00:27,495
going there wherever I wanted to go.

1455
01:00:28,315 --> 01:00:29,335
Having fun.

1456
01:00:29,725 --> 01:00:31,735
Reminding me of the magic, not only

1457
01:00:31,735 --> 01:00:33,135
of theater, but the magic.

1458
01:00:33,395 --> 01:00:38,055
The magic of life being present in the moment, being open

1459
01:00:38,235 --> 01:00:39,895
to whatever.

1460
01:00:40,555 --> 01:00:43,095
And just, I like being a blank sheet of paper

1461
01:00:43,115 --> 01:00:45,175
and just letting the experience fill it up.

1462
01:00:45,555 --> 01:00:48,655
Yes. Thank you for being who you are,

1463
01:00:48,835 --> 01:00:50,415
and thank you for tuning in.

1464
01:00:51,375 --> 01:00:55,975
Remember, get to know somebody's story and share your story.

1465
01:00:56,075 --> 01:00:59,385
The good, the bad there is no bad. It's all good.

1466
01:01:00,215 --> 01:01:03,105
Till next time, all stories matter. Bye-bye.

1467
01:01:07,535 --> 01:01:10,385
Programming on public media network is made possible

1468
01:01:10,405 --> 01:01:13,465
thanks to our community partners, including the city

1469
01:01:13,465 --> 01:01:16,905
of Kalamazoo, city of Parchment, Comstock Township,

1470
01:01:17,335 --> 01:01:20,185
Kalamazoo Township, and Omo Township.