How Performing Arts Help Kids Thrive, with Music Theatre Wichita's Angela Cassette

WEBVTT
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Hi, I'm Lydia.
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And I'm Kristen.
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Through our work at Learning LabWitch Top, we get a front row seat to innovation and personalized kindergarten through 12th grade learning.
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On this podcast, we share stories of how educators and parents are helping kids discover their passions so you can do the same for a child you love.
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Time to dive in.
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Let's get personal.
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Hi everyone, and welcome to Let's Get Personal Real Talk About Reimagining Education.
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Today we are so excited to have Angela Cassette, who is the managing director of Music Theater Wichita, here in the podcast studio with us.
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Thanks for joining.
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Yeah, thanks so much for having me.
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Of course.
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I'm so excited to have you here just because I'm a longtime fan of music theater and longtime fan of Angela.
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So double whammy.
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And I love um that you're a working professional and a mother.
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And I love what music theater does for young people.
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So all of those are good reasons to have you here.
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Yeah.
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I want to start talking about young Angela.
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And I know, I do know that you're a musician.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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It's a great great question.
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Great opening.
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So um I started playing piano at four and was pretty serious right away because I was pretty serious about everything.
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And um, and then added the violin a few years later.
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So I studied both of those like pretty intensely.
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Like I was like one of those orchestra kids where I did youth orchestra and I would go home every day and practice before doing my homework and all that kind of thing.
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And um, so when I took college auditions, I actually auditioned on both piano and violin, but knew I wanted to be a violin performance major.
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So I have two degrees, um, a bachelor and a master's degree in violin performance.
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Um, and I think I thought that I would play and teach.
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And I was really a focused, like non-stop, there's only one path kind of kid.
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Um, and so then when I got to be like 23, 24, and like I found that actually there were other paths.
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Um, and so I I really admire the young people that sort of like make room for like let's develop a whole bunch of skills.
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Because um, I don't think it's like a well, here's your option one and then here's your backup plan.
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I think it's like you don't really know who you're gonna be and what you're gonna want.
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And so, like the more sort of skills you have, like you can find a way to create a fun career for yourself.
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Um, so so yeah, I I really thought that I would perform and teach.
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And in some ways, I do perform.
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Um it's just a different kind of performance with a lot of spreadsheets, a lot of presentations.
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Uh-huh.
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I like that you can pivot that.
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That's really good.
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Where did you go to college?
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So I started, I did actually one year at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, but then um finished up my degree at Vanderbilt in Nashville and loved it there.
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And then I did my master's degree at Arizona State in Tempe, which is always a really different experience than Vanderbilt.
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Yeah, for sure.
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Very good.
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Very good.
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And so when did you have the realization that you might not be playing for a living?
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Yeah, as I was finishing up my master's degree, like I'd had some um like overuse injury issues.
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Like I had tennis elbow and golf elbow.
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People don't think about that for violinists.
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Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
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You're really like musicians are really small muscle athletes, right?
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And so um, so it's very common to get, you know, like tendinitis and those sorts of things.
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And what tends to happen, especially on instruments like the violin, where there's so much opportunity for overuse, is if you have like sort of like lean muscle mass, you're like more likely.
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And so I was really like in the demographic.
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I just have not have never had a lot of muscle mass, and I'm like tall, and you know, so um, so I ended up having some issues with that and and then just got felt a little burnt out after grad school.
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And then I also was getting married, and my husband's a trumpet player, and I was like, someone needs a job.
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And so I had always really loved the organization of things, and I was a graduate teaching assistant in college and found that I loved the like planning the program, organizing the string quartet visits and that kind of thing.
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And sometimes I loved that more than I loved the actual practicing the instrument, which can be pretty solitary.
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Yeah.
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Um, and so I started working and I worked at some summer festivals, sort of building my administrative skills too.
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And so then I thought, well, I'm gonna see about maybe working for an orchestra, and then I can always go back to school and get my doctorate.
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Um, and pretty much from day one, my first job was at the Omaha Symphony.
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And from day one, I was like, well, this is it.
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This is what I'm this is why I'm here on this planet, is to do this kind of work.
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Um, and when you're working in arts administration, you just need a whole lot of context.
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Like our um our artistic director Brian Markham often will talk about like the non-theater people, he'll call them muggles, right?
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And it really gets hilarious.
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That is so perfect now.
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Totally different worlds.
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Yeah.
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So if you're like a muggle dropped into Hogwarts, you're like, these people are cool.
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They may be.
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And so you kind of have to come from that artistic world and sort of understand like what are people talking about to and sometimes people find a way, they like just like grow the skill set.
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But it we're it really was helpful to understand like here's who these musicians are, and why this one thing is a big concern.
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Sure.
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And why this problem, this is actually a big problem, even though a muggle would think.
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A person would be like, yeah, yeah, that's fair.
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My husband coached college basketball, and I feel like like sports, that side of sports also has a similar thing of like it's just a totally different world.
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Sounds cool, sounds great, but you just don't know what that experience is until you're like you're in it and they're using words and things that you're like, I don't know what that means, um, but okay.
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Um I've never really I mean I think what you've done with your career is like remarkable.
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And I think it's interesting that in my head, like your degree doesn't I mean like it's art the arts, I get that, but it didn't ha it that clear connection wasn't there.
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But I wonder if it's actually more challenging to learn like the arts ins and outs than it is to learn the spreadsheet part, right?
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Yeah, yeah.
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I mean, I wouldn't I don't know that I would change much.
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Maybe I would take like an accounting class or something.
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Yes.
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But I do think that what a like serious study of an instrument teaches you is first of all, like a lot of frustration tolerance.
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Sometimes it is really boring and you have to just keep doing the work.
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Yeah.
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And I think that frustration tolerance is something we all need, and especially kids, especially these days.
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I love the great phrase.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So that I think is is one thing that music really gives you.
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And another thing is that you're just solving problems all day, every day.
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When you're in a practice room, you're like, well, this passage isn't clean and I want it to be clean.
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So I'm gonna pull out my metronome, I'm gonna go really slow, I'm gonna go note by note, I'm gonna look at what my muscles are doing.
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And you spend all this time just trying to solve that problem.
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And I think that's really like what work is is like, what kind of problems do you like to solve?
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What kind of problems are you good at solving?
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If you can match that to your career, then you'll have a really joyful career and probably a successful one.
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So that like kind of, oh, I know, I know how to figure out how to solve problems, I think serves kids really well.
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Yeah.
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Um, we often will tell, like parents often get really nervous about like, well, what's the future career of my you know, violin playing child.
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Um and they there are so many skills that are transferable.
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Like you are really you you're learning how to learn and you're learning how to make connections between things.
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And if you can do those things, then you can apply them other places.
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I feel like you frustration tolerance is a great phrase.
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We've talked about like productive struggle.
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There's like a a flip side of the frustration that I feel like I would be curious if you would agree.
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When you get it right, like that reward, that like that failure, but like you can have small wins, maybe report like and what does that do to the brain of a kid?
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Yeah, like um like the fact that your metronome and you did the work and now you're gonna do it.
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And now you got it right instead of it is interesting to think about.
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And I yeah, I think something about that attention to detail and being able to look at the spreadsheet for the number that's wrong or whatever you're trying to figure out.
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Yeah, I get it.
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That's interesting.
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We this was I think this is what I hear you saying that you being a musician and being able to empathize with the performer, I think is is the in teaching, there's like an art and science of teaching, right?
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The art of teaching is really hard to to teach, but like the science of how do you construct a lesson, that's more tactical.
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That's your spreadsheets, right?
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It's much easier to we see founders who are great at building education environments because they're educators, but they're not business people.
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So then when they're trying to start a business, like that's the the gap.
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I don't know if you've heard of um the trust triangle.
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I love talking about the trash triangle.
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Okay, but I feel like this must be something that you're probably exceptional at.
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So Nicole Gillespie is the researcher to have trust with someone or an organization, it's three parts.
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So first is empathy.
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Do I believe like you that you care about me?
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Can you understand where I'm coming from?
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Second is integrity, will you do what you say you're gonna do?
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And then third is capability, like will you actually do, are you actually able to do what you say that you're gonna do?
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And I feel like because of your lived experience all the way kind of coming through all the steps that at music theater or at the symphony, I feel like maybe those three things kind of converged.
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Yeah, that is really interesting.
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I love that trust triangle thing.
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Um, and yeah, I think um often I will tell folks, especially if we have like interns or that kind of thing, just that do the things that you say you're gonna do.
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It goes so far.
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It goes so far.
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It's a small thing, but yet society has such a hard time.
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And it's hard, right?
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Like it's hard to do.
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Like we all have really busy inboxes, like I mean, it's tough.
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Yeah, but I think like especially people that are sort of just starting out, it's like if you make the habit of saying when you say I'm gonna do the thing, if you do it, it just like moves mouth guaranteed success.
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Exactly.
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So you had a couple of jobs then before arriving at the end of the yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Yeah, we so I was in Omaha and then um we went to uh the Florida Orchestra, which is in St.
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Pete, Florida, and so and then moved um to Wichita from there.
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And we moved here because my husband had finished his doctorate um and got a job teaching at Wichita State.
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And so then we started saying, okay, how are we gonna like what can I do in Wichita basically?
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So I stayed in Florida for an extra year and sort of took a look at what there was, and then I came to visit Wichita doesn't show itself at the Basin.
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And it was like the old airport, and I remember flying in and being like, the air capital in the world, and there's carpet on the walls.
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It was like it was a different thing.
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And um, but um, I went to we had our youth auditions that weekend for Music Theater Wichita.
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So I met Wayne and I saw all of these children marching into the room and planting their feet and singing their song.
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And I was like, well, this is it.
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So were you interviewing or shadowing or what?
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I was interviewing.
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There was a job that came open that was a development director job, and I was like, perfect, I'll do that.
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Um, and it just really worked out.
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And I had no development experience.
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I was just telling Lydia, like when we were talking about you coming on.
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Well, we talk a lot because Lydia's husband's in development.
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Yeah, but we talk a lot about it's one of those skills that it's hard to teach.
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I mean, like I I kind of believe because I've had so much nonprofit volunteer and work experience, and I kind of believe that development people, you either are born able to do that or not.
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But I love like relationship building, which is essentially what development is, but I can't like cross the barrier.
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Like I can't point is that I think it's amazing that you I think you're really good at development and and you just landed here with no development experience and sustained this m massive organization.
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Yeah.
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Well, and you know, it really sort of started for me like I mean, I never thought that I would be able to ask anybody for money.
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Like, never.
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I mean, I didn't even sell Girl Scout cookies, like I had no experience.
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I never crazy.
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It's crazy, yeah.
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It is.
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Like I and and I would have said, no, I'm too afraid to do that.
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Um, and there is there is a little part of me that like every time I'm like, like I have to like listen to like just gonna pull myself up.
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But it is one of those, it's a muscle that like the more you do it, the easier it is.
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And I think like at I'm at a point where like really like my passion for the organization outweighs, like is greater than the discomfort that is inherent in asking.
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You were saying about art and science, it is certainly development, is both art and science.
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And the science part part is pretty fun to learn.
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Um, and the art part, like certainly like building relationships is also my big thing that I love and has been so that's the most fun part of development.
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Sure.
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Um Yeah, it's the only fun part of development.
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I don't know.
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When you get to move somebody that you've asked on one spreadsheet, you get to move them over to the yes column, and it is really fun.
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Um, and so I think that like getting the the work done and seeing like there are so many people out there that love like they love theater, they love the arts.
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There's so many things they love.
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They are not gonna be able to put on their tap shoes and get up on stage and do it.
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Right, right.
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But the resources that they have earned, they can share those and make it happen.
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So I mean, that is like really fun to put those folks together and to say, okay, well, you you have the funds that we need to make this a reality.
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And it doesn't happen without you.
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And that's that's really fun.
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Yeah, I just think it's a really good story.
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And who, like when you were 18, you probably never would have thought, like, I'm gonna do development for music theater.
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No way.
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Nobody thinks they're gonna do development when they're 18.
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Well, that's true.
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Um, well, let's talk about music theater Wichita.
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So, can you tell our audience a little bit about your organization?
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Yeah, so Music Theater Wichita has been in existence since 1972.
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And from the start, education was a big part of the mission.
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Really, it was about how do we take young people who are on the brink of a professional career and give them all of the professional tools that they need in order to succeed at the highest level.
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So, for us, like one of the hearts of our organization has always been our resident company, which is, you know, a professional group, but they are college age and just ready to move to Broadway.
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Um, I was just in New York with a patron group last week and we saw several shows.
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And in every show, it's like, well, here's the music theater which taught alums.
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Sometimes it's one or two.
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Sometimes we saw one show, Shmigadoon, that had like nine alums in it.
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It's like everybody on that stage basically.
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They come here, they have this very intense experience where they're doing five shows in a short period of time with the best that's out there.
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It's really high production quality, and they get great audiences.
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Um, and then they move to New York and they're like, I've got four weeks to rehearse this.
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I just did it in seven days.
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Uh-huh.
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Right.
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So they they there's so much success there.
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But then also like behind the scenes, we've always had young people, college age, often high school age, learning there are all these careers out there that I didn't know existed.
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Um, and I also think like even if they don't end up in a technical theater, it's a great like learning project, like hands-on learning project.
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Because if you are in our scene shop, you're gonna build something that's gonna be on stage in three weeks.
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And you don't often get to have like that kind of experience where you see something, you work on it today, you see it on stage tomorrow.
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Um, so we have an incredible, like behind the scenes program as well.
00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:10.079
And then really, since Brian, our artistic director, arrived in 2020, some things really purposeful and some pe things really fortunate, um, where we've really grown our education programming throughout the year.
00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:20.880
So um we have young people that put on productions where like they're it's like all kids are are in the cast, and sometimes they also get to perform for other kids.
00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:23.200
Like we'll have school field trips and that's really fun.
00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:31.920
Um, and then we have classes and those sorts of things for the kids that maybe aren't ready to do like a full tech week and a full scale production.
00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:35.440
Um, so and then we're planning to really grow all of that.
00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:39.359
Our our biggest issue has been space and like where do we do these things?
00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:43.279
And we've sort of hopped around to every university and church basement.
00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:50.079
And um, so we're we're working on this new project on Emporia, just a few, just a little bit north.
00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.559
Yeah, it's really exciting.
00:17:52.720 --> 00:18:01.839
So we'll have multiple spaces there and two small-scale theaters that will um enable us to grow those education offerings even more.
00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:08.480
We also have a lot of success with our adult musical theater classes, and we'll probably expand those too.
00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:08.880
Oh my gosh.
00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:09.839
Because people just want to sing.
00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.039
I know people know that.
00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:13.759
I really knew that there were adult classes.
00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:21.279
I think it's amazing that music theater Wichita does all of those things.
00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:42.319
So there are a lot of community theaters that maybe put on a high quality production, but um how common is it for like all of the like behind the stage stuff, the set, and the props and all of the costumes, all of that to be completely created in the city that the community theater is in.
00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:44.640
Yeah, I would say it's increasingly rare.
00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:50.960
It is like, as you know, it is tough out there for nonprofits and it is tough out there for arts organizations.
00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:57.839
And so we have seen just of through a variety of reasons and sort of escalated by things like pandemic and that kind of thing.
00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:59.759
There are a lot of theaters that have closed.
00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:01.200
Um that's so sad.
00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.400
It's really sad.
00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:11.920
Um, we have always in Wichita had sort of like an outsized, like we shouldn't have what we have in a city of this size.
00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:22.559
Um, and actually, like my my husband saw a production at Music Theater Wichita before I do, before I did, and he came here and he left the production and called me and was like, you're not gonna believe this.
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.000
This does not belong here.
00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:28.880
Um and and I think there are a lot of things in Wichita that are that way, right?
00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:32.160
Where you live and you're like, wow, this is this does not make sense.
00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:53.839
And um, so I think that that has always been the case, and especially on kind of like the size budget that we have and the that kind of thing, it's like we're really small compared to what um other like theaters are and like the number of staff we have compared to, which has grown, but compared to other theaters in other cities, it's like they have twice what we have.
00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:58.559
And so we're just like really trying to little engine that could this thing.
00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:01.039
Um, but it but it is pretty rare.
00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:01.839
Yeah.
00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:10.960
And if you think about it, you're talking about like the resident company, that's like a big part of what music theater does.
00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:17.039
You guys travel around the country to find those college kids, so it's like the cream of the crop.
00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:24.160
I think people don't know that college kids in music theater would like die to come to Wichita, Kansas.
00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:36.799
And for me, that education piece of like you're giving them the real life experience that they need to like take that next step.
00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:45.759
And then and like you said, the amount, the number of Broadway performers who have stopped at music theater Wichita, it has to be like a record.
00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.960
Do you have data on that?
00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:53.279
I don't have data on it, no, but it is um it's some of it's like some of the best ones.
00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.240
It's like the best one.
00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:56.079
I mean, there's so many of them.
00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:06.079
And what I think is really fun, I mean, like theater people are so fun and like as a general rule, like such good humans.
00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:22.240
Um, and that's something that we we work really hard to do at Music Theater Wichita because we have this sort of series of like we use a lot of local kids, right, in our productions, and those kids and those teens are gonna be around those college students and around those professionals.
00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:37.279
And I kind of think it's like if you had a kid that was like a really serious baseball player, and in your hometown, there's like every summer they can go, and they are major league, because there's about as many people on Broadway as there is in the is Major League Baseball at any given time.
00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:49.359
So it's like you've got major league baseball players, and then you've got the best minor league and college people, and they're all handpicked to be kind, to be good examples, to be you know, and then your kid gets to go.
00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.160
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:50.960
Well, do this.
00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:54.640
No, I mean I my kid got to do that.
00:21:54.960 --> 00:23:05.680
I mean, and so as a uh as a parent who's experienced it, it is like you know she chose her score over a music theater which like kind of broke my heart for her at the time like my some of my favorite parent parenting experiences even the um youth show that she was in um Matilda like one of my favorite like mom memories just because it just I I I can't say enough about what theater does for kids because of the confidence piece and the poise and the performance and you know relationship building developing a skill um it's just such and you can learn so much more than singing like it wasn't about singing in the end like great you can sing but um there's just so many more pieces to the puzzle and then Violet got to be in two shows during COVID um and one of them she was the one of two kids in it and it was like the most amazing experience because those professionals treated her like a professional and like I just can't I mean yeah like which one was that?
00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:21.920
Yeah that's what we came to watch her anyway I mean like the gratitude that I have as a parent for that experience and just knowing like multiply that by however many kids have been involved which is like thousands.
00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:28.079
Thousands yeah uh what a thing that is doing for our city when I think about it in those terms.
00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:48.240
Yeah that's right yeah well and I think Violet's like a really great example of taking what musical theater has to offer and then applying it to everything else that she's doing in life right like I have no doubt that her ability to like get up and perform adds to her ability to like when she's disappointed with how a tumbling pass goes like she knows how to face her face.
00:23:48.559 --> 00:24:32.160
Yeah like she knows how to do all that we talk about all the time it's like that performance quality I mean because Violet is like dynamite on the floor for gymnastics and she just has a performance quality and like they're not supposed to give you extra points for that but tell me they don't really make it and it does have to do with her face and just her showmanship you know yeah yeah Will um Grimet was an elf this summer so like yeah we have lots of little connections across music theater which taught here kids are here and but yeah I mean they're everywhere they're everywhere they're everywhere yeah well and I think like one of the things that is always amazing to me like as a mom is like these little humans are so sensitive.
00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:42.000
They have so many big thoughts and big feelings going on and for them to be able to like get up and sing about it that is so nice.
00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:59.039
So helpful like where do all those big thoughts and big feelings go right and um and I've just seen like I mean my kids are not like super theater kids like we'll see but they're not like some some kids like come into those auditions and you're like there is no way you could keep this child off the stage.
00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.359
They're just so determined.
00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:55.680
And that's not my kids but I have learned so much about how they learn by watching them in theater classes and just sort of see okay like we had this just the best like incredibly sweet and gifted um teacher who did um a lot of our teaching artists who did a lot of our classes for us and she would always be like you know Noah is just like he I really think he has director qualities and I'm like you're saying he's bossy thank you he wants to know where everybody is and what everybody's doing he is a firstmore child I'm like it is nature and nurture but it is really fun to just see them like one of the things that I love about musical theater education is that you there there is no bench to sit on there is no um there's no way to not participate.
00:25:55.839 --> 00:26:02.000
Like you are working on all of these soft skills and these social skills from the first moment you get in the classroom.
00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:16.240
And I think that we um we certainly like I mean we could go real deep on education um and I'm sure we will but um we know that these kids need more opportunities to work on soft skills.
00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:21.839
Oh wow and um so I think that that is like theater education immediately gets there.
00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.799
And so I love that.
00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:43.839
Oh yeah we've been talking about that a lot um we just had uh someone on the podcast that developed a software to work on soft skills um but it's just something that's very challenging to teach and I would think that theater would be like a lead thing that actually works.
00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:51.440
That actually works even if you're just on stage pretending to interact with others you know what I mean it's just so valuable.
00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:59.759
Well it really builds empathy too like what I've noticed about my little guy is like he would be you know I would think he's not picking up any of this he's like way too young for it.
00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:05.519
But then he would be like in the car like listening to Frozen and he's like Anna is so sad.
00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:20.400
Oh yeah and I'm like oh like they just need to be able to like name emotions and play and it's it's it's part it's a it's an elevated form of play really a couple summers ago you guys had frozen um and my sister was here from California.
00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:23.440
Her kids had never seen the movie so that was their first exposure.
00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:27.359
Well they live in California I love her so much.
00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:32.240
It's not they are just not not TV people, not movie people.
00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.880
But they just they talk about it all the time.
00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:39.759
They let they loved they were they were also blown away by the quality of the performance.
00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:42.000
It was not what they expected at all.
00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:49.839
And I guess they went back home and they did watch the movie Frozen and the kids were like this is not as good as what we saw in the TV.
00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:55.920
I mean you set the bar like so high it's amazing.
00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.039
But they really loved it.
00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:01.920
It was very I still get goosebumps when I think about how they did the um the dress transition.
00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.920
Yes I mean it was so cool.
00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.200
It was so cool.
00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:07.359
Yeah it was so well done.
00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:25.759
Well okay so your youth programming right now how does it work especially like the shows that the kids are able to do where do you have them and and how much time does that take to share a little bit about yeah so we have right now we're there they perform at Mary Jane Teal Theater.
00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:36.319
So um there'll be a a show this spring and it's what we call an enrollment show which means um you have to show up for an audition and you made it.
00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:49.440
And you've made it and we have made a like we've worked really hard on like sponsorships and grants and stuff to keep those enrollment show fees really low so that it's like it's like a$50 fee.
00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:55.759
And now theaters in other cities will do I mean it'll be hundreds of dollars and we were just like we just don't want that to be a barrier.
00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:59.759
There are already time barriers right there's already you have to get your kids there and that's a lot.
00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:10.160
So um so but we just wanted to take away the financial piece of it and we have scholarships for if so if a parent is like I have four kids and I can't you know do this.
00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:17.119
So but what what we have started saying is that like all kids want to be in a show.
00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:21.200
And so we've started to say we need you to have one other experience first.
00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:32.240
It can be a camp it can be something because what often happens is that parents are shocked when we get to tech week and it's like oh no you now have to be here every night.
00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:35.279
And like like my children have not done a show yet.
00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:37.599
We've done lots of camps which are great.
00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:52.240
We have them all summer and it's usually like nine to twelve for a week or one to three for a week and um they've done those things but I'm like they cannot do homework and whatever else like whatever sport we're doing and like you have to you have to really want to do it.
00:29:52.480 --> 00:30:04.960
That's really but the experience of like when these kids are in costumes and they're with they're I've um I've been reading some about how useful it is for there to be like multi-age play.
00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:05.599
Right.
00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:17.200
So they're in this space where it's like it is on one hand very safe but it also is like kind of mixed age and so that's really great for all of the kids because the big kids kind of like take care of and look out for the little ones and vice versa.
00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:22.079
And um it it's just like an incredible experience.
00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:35.920
The the one thing that I can like guarantee a parent is that at the end of the week when their the performances are over those children will be crying tears of sadness because they had the best experience.
00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:40.160
Like they they just have it's it's it's its own world.
00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:54.079
So so we do that um and there will be have we announced yet I think we've announced it um so this spring we'll do a production of Raw dolls Willy Wonka which will be so fun.
00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:56.079
We'll have so many little umpa loompas.
00:30:56.240 --> 00:31:16.160
Yeah we'll be so and um I'm really excited about the the juxtaposition of like literacy and theater as well um so like my kids like we'll be rereading Willy Wonka before we see that show this summer we're doing Mary Poppins and like the I'm so excited.
00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:18.000
Yeah it was so great.
00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:25.359
So that combination of like okay we know this story and we're seeing this story in lots of different iterations than we see it on stage is really exciting.
00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:25.839
Yeah.
00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:40.319
So so that's some of it and then I think our I think the summer camps is where a lot of families have found like a great intro it's five days your kid might be like a little nervous day one by day two they're gonna it's like they were born for it.
00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:46.559
And then they but it's a short term commitment and I think that's a really great introduction for people for people.
00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:56.240
And there's usually some kind of a performance element at those camps so it's not like they don't get to perform to do that the full scale I think that's great.
00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:56.480
Yeah.
00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:05.920
Yeah because you're I mean you're so right like if you end up having a kid that doesn't enjoy the camp well let's not enroll them for the thing that is the big scale stuff.
00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.200
So let's just try it.
00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:20.000
We love when kids get to just try touch and feel something before they're like oh yeah I like that that's like one of my favorite things about raising kids in Wichita honestly is that there's so much you don't have to pick and commit to one thing.
00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:35.599
You can try a bunch of different things because it doesn't take you two hours to get across to them it doesn't here's a fun fact Angela because you've lived other places when we did research for this place we're in downtown Wichita because people don't want to drive more than 10 minutes to take their kids to their learning environment.
00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:42.640
Yeah yeah and I was like oh well a mile it would be 10 minutes.
00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:50.480
Yeah it's just it's such a different it's just such a different type of city so yeah but things are accessible.
00:32:50.720 --> 00:33:01.920
Um okay so if you're a parent and you're thinking about this for your kid you have the camps you have the productions and then there are some opportunities to do the professional shows.
00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:21.680
There are yeah this so this winter we'll have um a we'll have auditions and that'll all that information will be up on the website and there this summer is actually a great summer for kids because we're doing Joseph and the amazing technicolor dream code and that features the kids' choir and what the kids choir has to be able to do is sing and look like children.
00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:30.559
I'm like interested like they are observers in the show so um so it's like a great experience for kids.
00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:41.359
Mary Poppins um also has some children in it and so like and also like the audition experience itself is so positive.
00:33:42.240 --> 00:34:09.679
So I always like get excited for kids like we have hundreds of college students that come take our auditions and a lot of them know like you know like of course you take an audition hoping you're gonna book it but like they have to learn how to audition and just the just the part about going into a room that's really friendly and like singing your song and doing your best um and getting positive feedback is also like really fun and valuable.
00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.079
Yeah.
00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:12.960
It is such a nice audition experience.
00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:14.960
I got to sit in on them one time.
00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:26.960
Well first of all through Violet I think she auditioned a few times um before the summer season um but you just don't leave feeling bad.
00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:38.639
You know I think uh hearing from the college kids that it's such a much more positive audition experience than what they're used to experiencing because they do they're just treated really well.
00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:46.000
Yeah and you know the our audition team is really good about just like giving everybody attention and we all want that.
00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:48.719
No we all like to be seen.
00:34:48.880 --> 00:35:00.960
Yeah um I was just curious about well I'm sorry are there any other questions you want to ask about the programming because I'm gonna go all the way back because I want to know about Angela as a student growing up.
00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:06.559
You talked about you as a musician sounds like you were a very like committed kind of gal.
00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.280
Serious.
00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:10.480
But what were you like for your learning experience?
00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:12.719
But I want to make sure you asked all your programming questions.
00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:13.519
Okay, okay.
00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:25.119
I um yeah it's really interesting actually I've been thinking about a lot about it since I have these little ones right and um I am like fundamentally I'm like type A people pleaser.
00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:27.360
So like school was fantastic for me.
00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:32.000
I was like here I am I can get A's I can be the teacher's pet.
00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:38.400
Like the one time that I was called to the principal's office it was in fourth grade I will never forget it.
00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:48.639
I was in fourth grade no it was because we had been assigned a book report and I was like no problem and I it was due in like a week and I brought it back the next day.
00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:57.119
So they sent me to the principal's office to get a sticker and so I like loved it.
00:35:57.280 --> 00:36:07.360
I also like I love to learn things but a lot of times like people love to learn things but like not like school the school environment isn't necessarily how they want to learn.
00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:11.360
Yeah for sure but it that like that all worked great for me.
00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:22.079
So um and I've always loved to read um and sort of like coming out of like having babies have gotten to like rediscover like oh yeah reading something more than emails.
00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:23.840
Yeah so that's great.
00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:30.719
And then but and so it's really interesting to see like because my two children are so very different.
00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:45.840
The younger one is like a lot more like me in that he like loves to read like loves to um like is pretty quiet has sort of like two friends at a time and the older one is like the mayor of the school.
00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:47.920
I think that's so great.
00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:54.639
Yeah yeah and also like so smart but like a really different like he's gonna do things when he's gonna do them.
00:36:54.800 --> 00:37:34.719
He does not have a people blazing bone in his body I mean so happy for adult him there's sometimes I'm like can't you're trying to like please me a little bit um but yeah it's been it's it's fun I I just I love um like I love learning new things and I really love um like in-person learning um and I know that we have a lot of um different options to us avail uh available to us now um and I think it just sort of like I don't do well with like online learning and some people do a lot better with online learning.
00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:45.119
So I think it just sort of goes to like well every brain is just like wired a little differently it's kind of like do you read um like ebooks or do you still want the paper book?
00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.639
Yeah I prefer the paper.
00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:50.079
I mean I will do it in any format but I prefer the paper.
00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:59.280
I've been struggling with I subscribe to like a book app and I've been reading so much more but I still feel like it's not it's just not the same.
00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:02.400
It doesn't it counts but it's not the same.
00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:16.000
Do you feel like um I mean it sounds like you got committed to to music very early but do you feel like your education experience for you kind of prepared you for the next step?
00:38:16.159 --> 00:38:19.519
It sounds like you did well but did you did you have any friction points along the journey?
00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:28.400
Because of you or did you do well because of your education or I think one of the best things so I did sort of a combo of public and private school.
00:38:28.480 --> 00:38:34.800
I mostly went to public school um and then for four years from like seventh to tenth grade I was in a private school environment.
00:38:35.360 --> 00:39:00.559
And then when I made the call to go back to public school um and this was in Charlotte North Carolina and I went to an arts magnet and the the the arts magnet part of it was great like the student body was great but the academic teachers were like out of this world and they really challenged me and my thinking and my writing in a way that like the private Christian school I was going to did not.
00:39:00.800 --> 00:39:02.800
Like everything was more like black and white.
00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:05.599
And like okay you did the thing and so you get the check.
00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:09.760
And I had a few teachers that were like this isn't good enough.
00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:24.400
And that like changed my life because I was like well I'm gonna make it good enough but that for that for that to have to be like no I want you to make connections between things.
00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:27.679
I don't want to I don't want you to find the right answer.
00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:36.719
I want you to analyze and that I think really that level of like college prep and and life prep was really useful.
00:39:37.199 --> 00:40:00.800
It makes me think about my husband for better or for worse he teaches freshman English and like that piece of like no it's not just a formula you're going to think and use your brain like it was he said something on the yeah it's a he said something on the podcast that uh I he he gives a comment or something about like that's just not inter like what you wrote isn't interesting.
00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:08.719
Like like tell me something interesting or something he made some comment and I was like well dang I mean I'm just trying to write the paper but but I think that's different.
00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:15.519
When you're 14 I think your brain is having a hard time doing that but it kind of has to have opportunities.
00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:18.639
And it has to be trained to think like that.
00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:25.199
Or when you go to college or you're trying to do problem solve in your career like it's challenging.
00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:25.679
Yeah.
00:40:26.079 --> 00:40:31.039
Yeah yeah I had my older boy had like the best teacher last year.
00:40:31.280 --> 00:40:51.679
I mean he's got a great we've had only good experiences but this teacher last year like Noah has really his his brain works fast he does not enjoy writing and when you look at his handwriting you're like um but his teacher last year was like he really has voice and he does like he he's gonna say something clever or something funny.
00:40:51.760 --> 00:40:58.000
And so he has that feel I'm like but we have to get the words like he he has actually taught me to be like a much better editor.
00:40:58.159 --> 00:41:09.760
I'm like he would be great at getting it into like 25 words because I would be like why don't you write this down and he'd be like I'm gonna make it two words I'm gonna write as few letters as possible.
00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:18.559
But it is really interesting how like some of us are like so it's it's so easy to like write lots and lots of words and like that part is not hard.
00:41:18.880 --> 00:41:28.960
And then for some kids like they have the voice part they just have to figure out like well then how do I get that onto paper in a way that is acceptable to my teachers.
00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:32.000
Yeah or make a decision about like what do I want to write about?
00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:40.000
Because I have a hundred I have a hundred thoughts on whatever the topic is but how am I supposed to narrow it down to the three to write about or whatever.
00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:41.280
Big decisions.
00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:45.039
Did you have who taught you who was your music instructor?
00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:48.719
Your parents did you have a like where did you who were your teachers?
00:41:48.880 --> 00:41:49.920
Are you self-taught?
00:41:50.239 --> 00:41:55.760
No Yeah so my parents had no musical experience.
00:41:55.920 --> 00:42:00.960
There is a method called the Suzuki method and that's how I started piano and it's really beautiful.
00:42:01.199 --> 00:42:20.000
So um Suzuki was this uh Japanese violin teacher and he developed this whole method of learning that is called like the mother tongue method and he's basically like anybody can learn like any child can learn and all children by the age of three four learn their mother tongue.
00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:25.440
It's incredibly complex they all learn it so let's copy that for music.
00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:44.400
And so what he would do and American Suzuki has evolved because parents aren't gonna do this but what he would do is he would teach the mother and the mother would start taking violin lessons and then at some point the two-year-old because that's usually how young they were starting them would say I want to do it.
00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:47.679
I want to do what you're doing and then they would start with a child.
00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:53.760
And there are many many incredibly proficient musicians that have come up out of this method.
00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:57.039
Because you don't really have to wait until you learn to read.
00:42:57.280 --> 00:43:03.119
Like in more traditional learning like you learn you have to read and then you learn to read music.
00:43:03.199 --> 00:43:08.000
Yeah right and so um so this started before that and it's really learning to play by ear.
00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:14.239
So it means that you know when you're six or seven years old you can be playing really complex things.
00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:20.320
At some point then you have to go back and figure out how do I read the notes on the page.
00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:39.920
And um I have I learned a lot as I look back on that it it makes me like really understand a little bit more about like literacy because it is so frustrating for these kids that have whole worlds going on in their brain and then they're supposed to read spot was here.
00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:40.239
Right.
00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:42.000
Like it's so boring.
00:43:42.320 --> 00:43:45.679
Um and so like I definitely experienced that of like I don't want to do this.
00:43:45.760 --> 00:43:54.000
I'd rather cheat and have it played for me and memorize it than go through this like pretty painful process of learning.
00:43:54.159 --> 00:44:02.559
So and really it was like when I started playing the violin where I was like starting over on an instrument that That's when I really became more proficient at reading music.
00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:05.840
But um but I had a series of teachers.
00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:08.079
Music is really like an apprenticeship.
00:44:08.320 --> 00:44:19.760
Um so and you're getting constant feedback, constant, ideally constructive, but it is a lot of like you're like you bit you have lessons every week and they're telling you everything that you're doing wrong.
00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:20.079
Yeah.
00:44:20.239 --> 00:44:27.199
So you really learn, okay, I'm gonna fix this, and you really ideally get to a point where you can accept a lot of feedback.
00:44:27.519 --> 00:44:30.079
In spite of that, I am still pretty sensitive.
00:44:30.559 --> 00:44:31.920
You think it would have gotten out of me?
00:44:32.079 --> 00:44:33.119
I'm still pretty sensitive.
00:44:33.280 --> 00:44:39.679
But um, but it it's really um instructive to just have that like I'm gonna fix all of these things.
00:44:39.840 --> 00:44:42.159
It's not personal, it's about getting better.
00:44:43.119 --> 00:44:44.800
Do you ever still play?
00:44:45.199 --> 00:44:46.559
Uh sometimes I play piano.
00:44:46.639 --> 00:44:47.840
I really don't play violin.
00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:49.119
Um Do you miss it?
00:44:49.360 --> 00:44:51.119
I feel like that was such a huge part of your life.
00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:52.800
It was a really huge part of my life.
00:44:52.960 --> 00:45:02.000
I think sometimes, but I also um and I think like like I don't know, Mike, maybe some athletes kind of feel the same way.
00:45:02.079 --> 00:45:05.119
It's like once you do something at a certain level, like you don't want to do it.
00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:06.480
Yeah, you did it.
00:45:06.800 --> 00:45:11.119
I do get that, but yeah, because when you pick it back up, it's not gonna be the same.
00:45:11.360 --> 00:45:11.599
Yeah.
00:45:13.360 --> 00:45:17.119
Do you love music or did your parents like put you in that path?
00:45:17.519 --> 00:45:23.039
Yeah, I started playing because I had a friend who was doing it and I wanted to do it too.
00:45:23.119 --> 00:45:25.360
And I think I always loved music.
00:45:25.599 --> 00:45:27.599
I don't feel like my parents ever pushed me.
00:45:27.760 --> 00:45:28.239
That's true.
00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:32.000
My mom was certainly accused of pushing me, but it was not true.
00:45:32.400 --> 00:45:37.280
Um there were a couple moments where they were like, listen, if we're gonna pay for these lessons, you're gonna have to practice.
00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:48.719
Um but early on, like the the the American version of the Suzuki method, you're you have a primary Suzuki parent that sits through the lessons with you and sits and practices with you when you're really young.
00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:56.000
So my mom and I would do like, you know, like an hour together when I was five and six, and then at a certain point I started doing it just on my own.
00:45:56.159 --> 00:45:59.039
And she would sort of say, like, is that right?
00:45:59.199 --> 00:46:02.800
And I'd be like, You don't know what you're talking about, you know, like and she did.
00:46:02.960 --> 00:46:07.119
And um, but um, but yeah, they they really did not push.
00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:11.440
They um when I was in high school, they were like, I really think you should be an engineer.
00:46:11.519 --> 00:46:14.000
And I was like, not gonna happen.
00:46:14.719 --> 00:46:15.760
Why did they think that?
00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:16.960
Like, what do you think it was?
00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:20.239
I think they really wanted something stable for me.
00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:27.599
And I think they saw that I was like analytical, and they just thought they all like my parents have always been like my biggest cheerleaders.
00:46:27.679 --> 00:46:33.840
Like they think I'm so smart, they think like they're just you know, they're just like they just want what's best for me.
00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:34.480
Yeah, sure.
00:46:34.719 --> 00:46:41.440
Um, and they were very supportive of me majoring in music, but they were also like you'd probably also be really good engineering.
00:46:42.159 --> 00:46:45.519
Which I I wouldn't, I wouldn't, but I really appreciate the confidence.
00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:48.000
You like people, I think, right?
00:46:48.400 --> 00:46:48.960
I do like people.
00:46:51.119 --> 00:47:01.440
Which is so interesting because your personality type, you could see that you would be analytical and that somebody would put you in that box of like what's big smart engineering.
00:47:01.760 --> 00:47:07.519
I do think what's also interesting is because you were talking about um there's just so many behind-the-scenes jobs.
00:47:07.679 --> 00:47:13.519
Like you, yes, there are the people who are on the stage, but it takes so much effort from so many people to make those moments happen.
00:47:13.679 --> 00:47:24.079
There are so many engineering moments that I'm sure you do think through or that you have so many people who are thinking through that you're still able to kind of mom and dad, don't worry, she is an engineer.
00:47:24.480 --> 00:47:25.519
Like, let's just call her an engineer.
00:47:25.679 --> 00:47:26.400
Like, same, same.
00:47:26.639 --> 00:47:28.719
Yeah, there's a lot of project management for sure.
00:47:29.440 --> 00:47:29.519
Yeah.
00:47:29.840 --> 00:47:30.480
There's a lot of that.
00:47:30.880 --> 00:47:34.960
Um do you okay, so this was the point of view that my parents had.
00:47:35.119 --> 00:47:36.639
I'm one of six kids.
00:47:37.119 --> 00:47:41.920
All of us had to play music fifth grade through eighth grade.
00:47:42.079 --> 00:47:43.199
We all had to be in band.
00:47:43.840 --> 00:47:47.280
Fun fact about Lydia, I used to be a big performer when I was little.
00:47:47.519 --> 00:47:50.639
I don't know what changed, but by middle school I wanted to know part of it.
00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:58.719
But there are plenty of like family videos of me on our fireplace with my tap dance shoes on, making my family sit and watch me perform.
00:47:58.800 --> 00:48:00.480
And then I just have no interest in it.
00:48:00.639 --> 00:48:04.480
So by middle school, it was like you could do choir or you have to be in band.
00:48:04.559 --> 00:48:05.760
So all of us did band.
00:48:06.079 --> 00:48:13.119
I played clarinet and then bass clarinet, so I could wear pants to the concerts, and it was a much easier bass line to play.
00:48:13.360 --> 00:48:25.440
Um, but what is your so and then in high school you got to choose because that's where marching band came in, and and we were all athletes too, and we were 4-H'ers, and so it was just making choice of like how do you want to spend your time.
00:48:26.079 --> 00:48:35.440
What is your I don't know, point of view on should is is music education something every kid should experience?
00:48:35.760 --> 00:48:36.159
Yes.
00:48:37.440 --> 00:48:38.800
Tell me more and why.
00:48:39.039 --> 00:48:39.440
Yes.
00:48:39.679 --> 00:48:47.360
Um I think that like I mean the data's pretty clear, right?
00:48:47.519 --> 00:48:48.559
The data's clear.
00:48:48.800 --> 00:48:52.480
Better grades, better SAT scores, better everything.
00:48:52.880 --> 00:49:00.400
Also music is something that works for a variety of different brains.
00:49:01.199 --> 00:49:14.159
Like you can be, you can struggle with academic subjects and find that you're incredible with music, right?
00:49:14.320 --> 00:49:22.639
Like, or you can be great at academics and then find like, oh, like I also really enjoy this, or it is hard for me.
00:49:22.800 --> 00:49:26.960
And if it is hard for you and everything else is easy for you, then you need that.
00:49:27.119 --> 00:49:34.800
So it's like, I feel like for kids, it'll either be something that it's like they love and it's hard for them, or it's something that they love and it's easy for them.
00:49:34.960 --> 00:49:38.480
And it's because they they have they're the opposite somewhere else, right?
00:49:38.800 --> 00:49:41.840
For me, like there was a lot that came easily to me.
00:49:42.159 --> 00:49:49.039
Music is never easy because there's always something, there's always somebody better, right?
00:49:49.119 --> 00:49:55.679
And so you really learn how to be like, I did a great job, and also my work is not done.
00:49:55.920 --> 00:49:58.480
And it's like, well, that's all of our lives, right?
00:49:58.639 --> 00:50:02.960
Like we can we can have the best day, and like there is so much more left on the channel.
00:50:03.199 --> 00:50:04.960
That's a really good analogy for life.
00:50:05.280 --> 00:50:06.559
Yeah, yeah, I agree.
00:50:06.800 --> 00:50:14.960
I played the clarinet and it was so hard for me, and I was a straight A student, and like getting an A and band was the hardest freaking.
00:50:16.719 --> 00:50:22.880
So I was that person, like I just don't have a natural like inclination for it.
00:50:23.199 --> 00:50:27.039
But I do appreciate for many reasons.
00:50:27.199 --> 00:50:38.639
Like, I like that I can like find the beat and that I understand sheet music in church, but I also just feel like having an appreciation for music happens.
00:50:39.199 --> 00:50:39.440
Yeah.
00:50:40.079 --> 00:50:50.719
But like if you had made it all the way to college and you had never had a class that it was hard for you to get an A in, like how much does that change make your college experience tougher, right?
00:50:50.880 --> 00:51:00.000
Like it's great to have those experiences when mom and dad can be like, well, maybe you should practice four times a week instead of trying to shove it all into the day before batch, right?
00:51:00.159 --> 00:51:06.000
Like it's like I think that there's there's just like no question that it's additive in so many ways.
00:51:06.079 --> 00:51:07.840
And I think choir is really similar.
00:51:07.920 --> 00:51:10.400
Like it doesn't, it doesn't necessarily have to be an instrument.
00:51:10.480 --> 00:51:18.559
I think there are a lot of benefits to an instrument, but there are also a lot of benefits of learning how to like control and use your own body and your own voice.
00:51:18.960 --> 00:51:23.199
Um and if you are working on practicing breath control, you're gonna need that later.
00:51:23.360 --> 00:51:23.599
Yeah.
00:51:23.760 --> 00:51:24.400
That's right.
00:51:24.719 --> 00:51:25.599
That's right.
00:51:26.000 --> 00:51:27.280
That's exactly right.
00:51:27.599 --> 00:51:28.960
Tell me a little bit more.
00:51:29.280 --> 00:51:35.199
You made the comment of like um the research shows that you have better grades and and better different things.
00:51:35.360 --> 00:51:37.440
What do what is behind that?
00:51:37.599 --> 00:51:40.800
What is what about music is causing that sort of outcome?
00:51:41.199 --> 00:51:44.320
I think it's that like things happen in a different spot in your brain.
00:51:44.480 --> 00:51:49.119
Like I don't really understand enough about brain chemistry and like how that all works.
00:51:49.199 --> 00:51:52.079
Yeah, but I will tell you like a real personal story.
00:51:52.239 --> 00:52:05.440
Um, like my sister has um petite mile seizure, she's epileptic, and she also like has a beautiful singing voice and sang a lot when she was younger, and she would never have a seizure while she was singing.
00:52:05.679 --> 00:52:06.159
How interesting.
00:52:06.320 --> 00:52:07.280
I'm like, you should sing all the time.
00:52:07.519 --> 00:52:08.239
You should sing all the time.
00:52:08.480 --> 00:52:09.440
You're like snow white.
00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:12.159
There's like something, there's something happening.
00:52:12.239 --> 00:52:14.559
It is activating different parts of your brain.
00:52:15.280 --> 00:52:26.800
And um, and I think there's like so much that like we don't understand about the brain and about learning, but there's like you're in this like different space.
00:52:27.119 --> 00:52:28.960
Yeah, different processing part of your brain.
00:52:29.119 --> 00:52:29.280
Yes.
00:52:29.920 --> 00:52:37.920
And also, like, I also think the group impact is really like I hated group work, hated it.
00:52:38.639 --> 00:52:43.280
But well, probably your peers didn't practice as much as you when you were younger.
00:52:43.599 --> 00:52:46.559
Well, when like and it was more like the pre group presentation stuff.
00:52:46.639 --> 00:52:48.239
I'm like, I'm gonna carry this whole thing.
00:52:49.039 --> 00:52:52.400
But like when you're doing that, but I loved being an orchestra and I loved band.
00:52:52.639 --> 00:52:55.840
And I think that it is because like you're you don't get to hide.
00:52:56.000 --> 00:52:56.159
Yeah.
00:52:56.320 --> 00:52:57.840
It's real obvious to everybody.
00:52:59.760 --> 00:53:14.000
And so like that because group work and living in a society together, I mean, like how else do you so efficiently demonstrate what it is to like if we all go together.
00:53:14.320 --> 00:53:16.079
We go up together, we go down together.
00:53:16.320 --> 00:53:21.599
And if you're sitting in a choir or a band or an orchestra, someone doesn't have to say those words to you.
00:53:21.679 --> 00:53:23.440
Like you're experiencing it in real time.
00:53:23.599 --> 00:53:23.760
Yeah.
00:53:24.000 --> 00:53:26.159
One person gets off, we're all going down.
00:53:26.800 --> 00:53:26.960
Yeah.
00:53:27.119 --> 00:53:27.440
Oh yeah.
00:53:27.840 --> 00:53:32.960
So I think that just from like a civic, ethical, moral perspective, it's really instructive too.
00:53:33.440 --> 00:53:35.280
You something you just said made me think about.
00:53:35.440 --> 00:53:38.000
My my band teacher was a crazy man.
00:53:38.239 --> 00:53:39.440
I mean, not in a bad way.
00:53:39.840 --> 00:53:40.719
I think they mostly are.
00:53:41.119 --> 00:53:46.400
But he was so I think about very often, uh and we were talking about this the other day.
00:53:46.559 --> 00:53:51.599
I had my teacher mentor had the saying of like, nobody rises to low expectations.
00:53:51.840 --> 00:53:53.039
And that's what I think about.
00:53:53.199 --> 00:53:54.239
His name was uh Mr.
00:53:54.320 --> 00:53:54.880
Naylor.
00:53:55.039 --> 00:53:56.320
He was in Valley Center.
00:53:56.559 --> 00:54:02.880
He had like his expectations were here, and that was the standard, and that was the expectation, and you will get there.
00:54:03.119 --> 00:54:16.239
And the whole time he's telling you Valley Center band gets ones at district performance, you know, like he set this like vision that was like relentless, and we all, I mean, we all rose to the occasion.
00:54:16.480 --> 00:54:30.639
There's has to be something about like mu all of these music, whether it's theater or a band or some or whatever, where um like the expectation is you will rise to the expectation to your point, because if you don't know the music, well, it's gonna be very obvious.
00:54:31.119 --> 00:54:42.960
I think music theater Wichita is such a good example of that because they have to learn these shows so quickly, but like the expectation for those actors to know their lines and be on time and all of it.
00:54:43.119 --> 00:54:51.199
I mean it's a very professional experience in that and in theater the whole audience knows if you mess up.
00:54:51.440 --> 00:54:51.519
Yeah.
00:54:51.840 --> 00:54:54.960
And so it they have to be you have to do well.
00:54:55.920 --> 00:55:02.639
I just think that's like for kids, how many spaces in their life hold that level of expectation, right?
00:55:02.880 --> 00:55:11.039
Like on a sports field, yes, it can happen, but it doesn't maybe I mean it doesn't carry the same yeah, it doesn't carry the same weight.
00:55:11.280 --> 00:55:20.800
Um you can mess up on a on a project in school and it probably doesn't feel the same, but there's something about that performance moment that it's like, yeah, your people are gonna have one moment.
00:55:20.960 --> 00:55:21.679
You only have one moment.
00:55:21.760 --> 00:55:22.800
You you better meet the moment.
00:55:22.880 --> 00:55:23.519
Yeah.
00:55:24.159 --> 00:55:24.880
Very interesting.
00:55:25.920 --> 00:55:36.320
Well, just really briefly, you you've talked a little bit about each of your boys, but can you share like what type of education, like how did you pick their education environment for them?
00:55:36.880 --> 00:55:41.679
Yeah, so my boys are at the independent school and we love it there.
00:55:41.840 --> 00:55:47.840
Um there's something about like it is, it feels like magical in that lower school.
00:55:48.079 --> 00:56:04.000
And we talk a lot about like the kids are really known there, and like, and it's a great, it's true, but um like what that has looked like for us is like my my younger child, like I am sometimes shocked at how well the teachers know.
00:56:04.079 --> 00:56:06.960
They're like, well, this is who he plays with at recess, and this is what he likes to do.
00:56:07.119 --> 00:56:16.159
And this is, you know, he he doesn't like to talk to these teachers because he's so shy, but he will talk to the librarian because there are books there and that's his currency.
00:56:16.400 --> 00:56:18.159
I mean, they know him so well.
00:56:18.320 --> 00:56:22.559
And like your your children live two different lives, right?
00:56:22.639 --> 00:56:24.639
Like, I know who they are at home.
00:56:25.199 --> 00:56:27.760
And they show up differently at school than they do at home.
00:56:28.239 --> 00:56:29.360
And they don't always tell me.
00:56:29.519 --> 00:56:36.800
So it's so fun to feel like you have partnerships with these with these teachers where you're like, well, this is what he can do at home.
00:56:37.280 --> 00:56:41.840
And sometimes they aren't showing that in the classroom, but then the teacher tells you this is who they are at school.
00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:44.559
And sometimes that has been really surprising to me.
00:56:44.960 --> 00:56:50.880
Um my older child at this point, like, I'll get notes um from teachers.
00:56:51.039 --> 00:56:59.920
Like, I got like the sweetest note and picture from the art teacher at the beginning of the semester saying, you know, I've they she she has a classroom pet.
00:57:00.000 --> 00:57:01.199
She's like the coolest person.
00:57:01.280 --> 00:57:03.519
I'm like, I had I could never be this cool.
00:57:03.920 --> 00:57:08.480
She will like walk her dog and like invite one of the fourth graders to walk with her.
00:57:08.639 --> 00:57:15.199
And so she sent me this note and said, you know, Noah really wanted to be one of the first to like walk with me in Everest.
00:57:15.280 --> 00:57:29.440
And he's really turned into quite a conversationalist, and he's really, you know, and just like that level of they can see the growth and where things are maturing and where, you know, maybe we need a little nudge is just incredible.
00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:33.199
Um so yeah, so we've but we've loved it there.
00:57:33.360 --> 00:57:44.639
But you know, I also love what about Wichita that like there are so many like camps and other things available where you get to like dip a toe in.
00:57:45.199 --> 00:57:50.320
Um like Noah did uh Cosmosphere Camp at the Learning Lab this past summer.
00:57:51.440 --> 00:57:52.639
Had a fantastic time.
00:57:52.719 --> 00:57:57.840
I mean, he loves anything having to do with planes, and I'm like, we birthed you into the right space.
00:57:59.119 --> 00:58:00.079
That's true.
00:58:00.480 --> 00:58:04.000
And that teacher was like super into what he was teaching.
00:58:04.880 --> 00:58:11.760
It was just like the cutest little, like, not in a negative way, like nerdy group of kids to talk about space together.
00:58:12.079 --> 00:58:15.920
They were so happy to do it, they were all just so excited about it.
00:58:16.320 --> 00:58:17.039
Yeah, yeah.
00:58:17.119 --> 00:58:27.760
So, like that kind of thing I think is so fun where it's like, well, we can do we can do a little chess and we're doing a little musical theater and we're doing a little space camp and we're just doing like so many different things.
00:58:27.920 --> 00:58:30.239
I think it gives them the opportunity to be really well-rounded.
00:58:30.559 --> 00:58:31.119
Yeah, yeah.
00:58:31.440 --> 00:58:42.159
We talk a lot about this idea of like piecing together your kids' education, which I feel like so many times parents aren't thinking that way.
00:58:42.320 --> 00:58:58.719
Just because like we grew up, we went to the elementary school in our neighborhood, we went to, you know, we might have done an instrument or a sport, but like now there's just so many opportunities that you can really make it what you want it to be for your family.
00:58:58.880 --> 00:59:06.480
And I love that you're exposing them to all those different things because you're right, I think they'll be well-rounded little guys when they're done.
00:59:06.880 --> 00:59:07.360
Yeah.
00:59:08.719 --> 00:59:14.719
I like to ask this question of everyone, and then Kristen, you can ask what other questions you could share, whatever else you want to share.
00:59:15.119 --> 00:59:20.719
I like to ask people so you, Angela, and your role.
00:59:21.599 --> 00:59:23.760
We'll just focus maybe on music theater witch talk.
00:59:24.079 --> 00:59:27.199
Music theater witch talk, see, like I've got to unlearn that for myself.
00:59:27.440 --> 00:59:29.760
Um, what are your non-negotiables?
00:59:30.000 --> 00:59:34.880
So when you think about your work, what are the hills you'll die on, the things you will not compromise?
00:59:35.039 --> 00:59:37.119
Like, what are your non-negotiables?
00:59:38.639 --> 00:59:39.199
Yeah.
00:59:39.519 --> 00:59:41.360
That's a really good question.
00:59:41.599 --> 00:59:44.400
The problem is, like, gosh, I have such a long list.
00:59:44.559 --> 00:59:46.960
I'm just like not an easy um person.
00:59:47.360 --> 00:59:48.239
There doesn't have to be one.
00:59:48.480 --> 00:59:49.119
You can have a list.
00:59:49.840 --> 01:00:01.199
I I think you know, one of the things organizationally that we are really focused on is like we get to do theater.
01:00:01.760 --> 01:00:05.280
It is not, we we need to maintain the joy in it.
01:00:05.519 --> 01:00:05.760
Yes.
01:00:06.000 --> 01:00:10.639
Like we are not going to be angry, bitter, mean.
01:00:10.800 --> 01:00:12.880
Like, that is not what we're gonna do.
01:00:13.119 --> 01:00:20.159
And that takes a lot of work um when you have so many creative people.
01:00:20.400 --> 01:00:23.199
Like it is, and it's su and it is hard work.
01:00:23.519 --> 01:00:32.719
Um, so that is one of the things of like we're not like we're gonna be kind and we're gonna be joyful and we're gonna like mandatory.
01:00:33.119 --> 01:00:33.920
Yeah, no, I think that's a good idea.
01:00:34.159 --> 01:00:42.800
So that's a non-negotiable um I just like love perfection so much.
01:00:43.199 --> 01:00:46.159
Like I just love it.
01:00:46.719 --> 01:00:57.679
And um so for me, I mean, like, of course, like things are not gonna be perfect, but I'm like, we are not gonna stop striving for perfection.
01:00:57.760 --> 01:00:57.920
Yeah.
01:00:58.079 --> 01:01:00.639
Like, and I think we see that at every level.
01:01:01.119 --> 01:01:07.519
Um, when I arrived, I felt like we were seeing it so beautifully on stage.
01:01:07.840 --> 01:01:13.760
Um, and I think now we're we see it a lot more like on the administrative side too.
01:01:13.840 --> 01:01:19.679
Like, we want things to look beautiful, we want them to be accurate, we want them like we want one font.
01:01:19.840 --> 01:01:20.480
We want one font.
01:01:20.880 --> 01:01:21.599
Oh man.
01:01:23.760 --> 01:01:31.679
Um so and and we try to really strive for that, like with our events, like with everything where there's just there's just a high standard.
01:01:32.320 --> 01:01:43.840
Um and I think that when we are all saying together, here's our standard, then when there is a mistake, it is easy to be like, we are human and it is okay.
01:01:44.000 --> 01:01:54.639
And that's like so it's my preference for us to be like we're all we're all fixated on perfection, and then we can be kind to one another when and if we fall short.
01:01:54.880 --> 01:01:55.119
Yeah.
01:01:55.360 --> 01:01:58.400
Um, so that's that's another one for me.
01:01:58.639 --> 01:02:16.960
Um Yeah, like with our with our education programming, we've really had this sort of like one of the non-negotiables has been like not like not every program is for every kid, but we have a program for lots of different kids.
01:02:17.119 --> 01:02:25.039
Like we don't um we need we need future performers and those people will identify themselves.
01:02:25.199 --> 01:02:27.280
But what we really need are future audiences.
01:02:27.840 --> 01:02:34.639
And the number one indicator of I will go attend and support the arts is if I participated as a child.
01:02:34.800 --> 01:02:35.039
Yeah.
01:02:35.199 --> 01:02:35.440
Yeah.
01:02:35.599 --> 01:02:41.599
Um, so for us, it is also like a real um like it's just like a business decision.
01:02:41.679 --> 01:02:41.840
Yeah.
01:02:42.000 --> 01:02:42.239
Right?
01:02:42.320 --> 01:02:45.039
Like these five-year-olds, not all of them are gonna be on Broadway.
01:02:45.119 --> 01:02:50.000
We don't want them to be on we don't want them all to be on Broadway, but we want them to be sitting, we want them to be subscribing.
01:02:50.320 --> 01:02:51.280
Yeah, absolutely.
01:02:51.440 --> 01:02:51.679
Absolutely.
01:02:52.079 --> 01:02:53.519
So have to think long term.
01:02:53.920 --> 01:02:54.320
Yes.
01:02:55.199 --> 01:02:56.400
No, I love those.
01:02:56.719 --> 01:03:03.360
I think with what maybe across all of them, like it's clear that you there's intentionality.
01:03:03.519 --> 01:03:07.599
Like, like we are not going to not be intentional about everything that we're doing.
01:03:07.679 --> 01:03:15.840
There's a level of care for the the employees and the performers and your audience members that you want to come across.
01:03:16.079 --> 01:03:20.639
So so having programs for a lot of kids to engage in is care.
01:03:20.719 --> 01:03:24.639
I mean, it's it's care, it's intentional care for for the community at large.
01:03:24.800 --> 01:03:25.679
So I love that.
01:03:26.800 --> 01:03:40.400
Well, kind of along those lines, I feel like um I mean, I've we're not like super close friends, but I've gotten to watch you kind of like grow into your role, which has been really fun.
01:03:40.960 --> 01:03:45.599
Um, and I just think you're you are doing an excellent job.
01:03:45.760 --> 01:03:49.920
And we just have a lot of people that we're working with who are founding something.
01:03:50.239 --> 01:03:53.679
They're just giving birth to a baby organization.
01:03:54.079 --> 01:03:59.280
Uh Lydia in particular is working with a group of education founders.
01:03:59.519 --> 01:04:07.519
So in terms of leadership, what advice can you give to somebody that suddenly finds themselves leading an organization?
01:04:07.920 --> 01:04:11.119
Boy, it is like it's you know, it's really interesting.
01:04:11.440 --> 01:04:17.039
I um I think it is really easy to get into a leadership role, actually.
01:04:17.199 --> 01:04:20.559
It's like it's that I don't think it is hard to be in a leadership role.
01:04:20.960 --> 01:04:34.480
Um, and I think I knew pretty much as soon as I started working for orchestras that at some point, probably early, I would ask to run one because they're just there just aren't that many people in that particular field.
01:04:34.800 --> 01:04:45.840
So for me, the choice was do I want to get there as quickly as possible, or do I want to be prepared to actually do the job when I am in that seat?
01:04:46.079 --> 01:04:49.679
Um, and I chose to be like more prepared to do the job.
01:04:49.840 --> 01:04:56.159
And then in in that time frame, I also decided like, well, no, I really like this community and I really like this organization.
01:04:56.320 --> 01:05:04.159
So it hasn't for for me, like my ambition has gotten to be for the organization in this place rather than where's my next stop.
01:05:04.400 --> 01:05:06.320
And that's not the right choice for everybody, but it has been.
01:05:06.880 --> 01:05:08.480
And I love that that's your choice, though.
01:05:08.719 --> 01:05:10.239
It's good for what's the top.
01:05:10.559 --> 01:05:14.639
Um, but I think, you know, like we're none of us are good at everything.
01:05:14.960 --> 01:05:30.639
And um, like the awareness of like w what do I love to do and what do I not love to do, um, and how do I bolster those areas um is really it's so hard, but it's really key.
01:05:31.280 --> 01:05:42.000
Um I do think that like oftentimes there are people that love to start things and then there are people who run to love who love to run things.
01:05:42.400 --> 01:05:50.239
And if you can if you can if you're somebody who loves to start things, yeah, but you don't love to run it, okay, great.
01:05:50.400 --> 01:05:52.400
So like start the thing, what's the plan?
01:05:52.639 --> 01:05:55.119
Like how how are you gonna pass it along?
01:05:55.679 --> 01:06:01.280
Um I I think it's just it's It's just so hard.
01:06:01.440 --> 01:06:03.840
Um yeah, I think it's it's hard.
01:06:04.400 --> 01:06:06.239
It's hard to found something.
01:06:07.360 --> 01:06:14.880
Um and it is even harder to found something and then to say, now I'm gonna turn this over to somebody.
01:06:15.119 --> 01:06:17.599
And you don't get a lot of praise for turning it over.
01:06:18.159 --> 01:06:21.519
Um I I've been so I was so impressed.
01:06:21.679 --> 01:06:30.320
Um I was so impressed by Adam Barlow Thompson because he started something and then he said, okay, now it is time for somebody else to run with this baton.
01:06:30.800 --> 01:06:34.079
And um, and I I you don't see that all the time.
01:06:34.159 --> 01:06:36.559
And sometimes the right thing is for somebody to stay for 30 years.
01:06:36.719 --> 01:06:38.239
This is not helpful.
01:06:40.320 --> 01:06:43.199
I think I'm gonna circle, I'm gonna gather my thoughts.
01:06:43.280 --> 01:06:44.400
I'm gonna circle back.
01:06:45.280 --> 01:06:59.599
Yeah, I do I think that I think that knowing yourself and what you want to do and what is the thing that brings you joy, and then figuring out, okay, an organization, I I cannot be everything to an organization.
01:06:59.920 --> 01:07:02.320
So what is my next step plan?
01:07:02.480 --> 01:07:04.079
What is my exit strategy?
01:07:04.239 --> 01:07:07.039
What is my, you know, what is what is that next thing?
01:07:07.280 --> 01:07:11.199
Um, and having that sort of long-term plan.
01:07:11.519 --> 01:07:12.000
It's a plan.
01:07:12.400 --> 01:07:12.639
Yeah.
01:07:12.960 --> 01:07:33.599
Um I think that's a good point because well I I think about it for our work, but and even for the founders that are starting something, you need to be conscious of what things are working just because it's you and the role doing the work and like it's reliant upon you versus is it a transferable thing?
01:07:34.000 --> 01:07:39.840
You don't want an organization to only be successful because this one person.
01:07:40.320 --> 01:07:41.119
You know what I mean?
01:07:41.280 --> 01:07:55.119
Like so, so for any leader, maybe maybe your your commentary is like the reflection of what are you, what part of the organizations are working just because of you, how are you helping other people carry it forward?
01:07:55.280 --> 01:08:00.800
I think it's a really good because we see a lot of school founders that their school models are only working because it is them.
01:08:01.039 --> 01:08:06.320
Like it is them, and they are like the conviction and the wind beneath the sails.
01:08:06.480 --> 01:08:07.679
And that's not bad.
01:08:07.840 --> 01:08:15.280
It's just there's a life cycle then to that, because then when you leave, then then perhaps the the organization ends.
01:08:15.360 --> 01:08:18.720
But systems are not fun to build for most of us.
01:08:19.199 --> 01:08:22.720
But that is the thing that sustains, and I think there was a lot of concern.
01:08:22.880 --> 01:08:31.439
So um when Brian and I started running Music Theater Wichita, we were taking over from Wayne Bryan, who had been at the organization for 34 years.
01:08:31.840 --> 01:08:32.399
That's wild.
01:08:32.560 --> 01:08:35.760
Um and there was a lot of fear.
01:08:36.319 --> 01:08:42.319
Um, and I think rightly so, because he had done such an incredible job of growing the organization.
01:08:42.479 --> 01:08:47.840
When he took over, there was a lot of fear because of the person just before him, right?
01:08:48.000 --> 01:08:56.720
So I think sometimes, like if you've worked really hard to build a great system and a great like pipeline, then it it's okay.
01:08:56.800 --> 01:09:00.159
Like the there might be bumps, but that that transfer will happen.
01:09:00.399 --> 01:09:01.439
I'm not worried.
01:09:01.600 --> 01:09:02.880
I'm like, that's gonna be fine.
01:09:03.039 --> 01:09:04.159
The organization is gonna be fine.
01:09:04.479 --> 01:09:07.119
But you do want to build, you want to solve problems.
01:09:07.359 --> 01:09:09.199
Um, I've thought about this a lot lately.
01:09:09.359 --> 01:09:15.039
It was like I don't want the next person in my seat to say, why didn't she try to solve these problems?
01:09:15.359 --> 01:09:15.920
Yeah, right.
01:09:16.319 --> 01:09:20.399
Um, so it's but it's it's tough out there.
01:09:20.479 --> 01:09:23.600
It's tough to start something and it's tough to pass it off.
01:09:23.840 --> 01:09:24.720
Yeah, yeah.
01:09:24.960 --> 01:09:27.680
No, and again, have good systems.
01:09:27.840 --> 01:09:28.159
Yeah.
01:09:28.560 --> 01:09:31.840
Well, Angela, thank you so much for giving us your time today.
01:09:32.159 --> 01:09:32.800
Yeah, thank you.
01:09:33.279 --> 01:09:34.560
That's fun to talk to you.
01:09:35.039 --> 01:09:40.479
Anything you want to share with people about upcoming music theater related things.
01:09:42.000 --> 01:09:58.880
Yeah, I think you know, we have so much information on our website at mtwitchdaw.org, but we have a Christmas show coming up in December, 11th to 13th, I believe, which is really fun and like designed to be like a whole like family tradition kind of thing.
01:09:59.119 --> 01:10:04.479
So um, so I think people should they're if they're interested in checking us out, they don't have to wait till June.
01:10:04.640 --> 01:10:05.359
They can come see it.
01:10:05.600 --> 01:10:08.000
And there actually will be a lot of kids and teens in that show.
01:10:08.239 --> 01:10:17.199
So if parents have kids that they think maybe would be interested, it would be a great way to say, hey, let's go check this out and see if that child then says, I'm gonna do that.
01:10:18.000 --> 01:10:18.800
Yeah, that's great.
01:10:19.439 --> 01:10:25.039
The the story of most Broadway performers is that they went to see a show, often cats, strangely enough.
01:10:25.199 --> 01:10:27.920
And they're like, Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do.
01:10:28.479 --> 01:10:29.760
That would not be a good show.
01:10:32.000 --> 01:10:34.000
That's gonna be awesome.
01:10:34.319 --> 01:10:34.720
Well, thank you.
01:10:35.760 --> 01:10:36.319
Yeah.