One, two, three, four.

Get my shoes then out the door.

Five I'm alive, six, seven, eight feelin' great.

Nine, gonna shine, life is good I'm doing fine.

Ten, Gonna do it right then do it again.

Yeah yeah.

I look up to the sky with all the beautiful color but, there's more than just for me so gonna share it with another.

I got to show, to give, let out, I want to sing and shout.

Take a look and see A beautiful morning that turns into beautiful evening.

And together make a beautiful life.

And if you want see, then come along with me.

That's right.

Hey, I'm Irish Dave and welcome to Experience Michiana.

I can't wait to share with you next week on the show why I'm here at the Century Center in South Bend.

But what about this week's show?

Well, this is something that I heard about when I first moved to Michiana, and I still haven't been to it.

Courtney this week went along to the longest garage sale.

It's on us 12.

Have you ever been to it?

Well, she's going to show you all about it this week on the show.

Also, Kelly is going to be lifting our voices.

It is a celebration of African music and dance.

But first, where art thou Kelly.

I'm sorry.

Please don't judge me on that.

She's at Notre Dame for their Shakespeare festival as they present Romeo and Juliet.

They say behind every great play is a great director.

And here she is in the flesh.

Chris Anthony.

And boy, I was reading your bio and I felt like just saying, what haven't you done?

You know, actor, director, you really have such a great career.

But I wanted to always know that it always intrigues me how people get involved and why in a very rewarding but challenging career such as this.

I think that I was just I was honestly called to it.

I think it was just the thing I kept showing up for.

I mean, I think I got into theater because it was free and I could get a ride.

I could get a ride home.

So.

You got a ride?

I got a ride home.

So my parents didn't have to be involved.

I can just do it.

But I had great support and I had great teachers.

And so really, I entered the theater as a performer, but I entered directing as a teacher.

Oh, okay.

And so what made you want to go into directing?

I think that I enjoy seeing people find the best thing in themselves.

I enjoy people finding that spark that makes them light up and and that makes this piece of literature, no matter what you're doing, come alive.

Like no one's ever heard those words before.

So that is is just what what gets me excited to get up and go out and work in the morning.

And I've been really fortunate to have a lot of really great colleagues.

So I've had great collaborators, great students, and that just transferred into the professional theater.

You know, it's such an iconic play.

So as a director, how do you, you know, be true to what Shakespeare wanted, but also kind of bring it into the times that we're in?

Right.

I think that Shakespeare was writing to the audience he was writing to.

And we do the same.

And so we kind of take what are the big ideas that he's playing with and move it here.

So I was I've really been thinking a lot about what's going on in the world these days.

And I, I find it really fascinating that Shakespeare gives us no reason for the feud.

There is no reason why the Capulets and Montagues are at war with each other.

And a lot of times, to make this make sense, we make it the Sharks and the Jets.

Right.

We create two sides, but there really aren't any sides.

It's just these two families and they're kind of maybe trying to get over it or maybe not.

And so I was really looking at what are the reasons why we hang on to things that maybe we should let go.

That is really that's very powerful.

That's very but I have to come to this.

I want to see what you want to do with it.

Tell us a little bit about this awesome cast.

The cast goes from, you know, professionals who have been doing Shakespeare for a long, long time to students are Romeo and Juliet are in school.

And so this is a chance for them to shine.

To really put all those good lessons to work.

So it's it's really fun working with these folks.

Lastly, I just want to touch on your passion for arts and community empowerment.

How do you combine the two and what are your hopes for that?

I have lots of ways.

And here at Notre Dame, the Shakespeare, Notre Dame does lots of work.

Working in community, working at the Robinson Center and just finding ways to to help people use Shakespeare to get that spark.

And so understanding that what Shakespeare is talking about is still happening because we're still people.

We're still people.

And so the details of our experience might be a little different, but understanding that you're not alone.

And that's one of the things to say to young people you're not alone.

And that other people have felt this way before and every other people have been through things.

And so I think any time I have the opportunity to work in community, it's my chance to say, yes, you you can do it.

Yes, you are an awesome director and I can.

Not wait to come here and see Romeo and Juliet.

I want to tell you.

You better come to.

We are so excited to have Krosby here with us.

And I'm just going to say, I don't know your acting skills yet, but can I just say typecasting he is Romeo, I mean can I say that look like what Romeo would look like.

No, but I'm just want to welcome you here to Notre Dame.

This is your first time?

Yes, indeed.

Yeah.

And how excited are you to be part of the Shakespeare Festival here?

Oh, it's really just thrilling, you know, both to be a part of a festival with such a fabulous name and reputation, but also just to experience a part of the country that I've never really had the chance to before.

It's really lovely.

Now, how do you approach a role like Romeo?

Because, like you said, so iconic.

I feel like it's one of those roles like your Jesus, which you could play.

Like Jesus.

I mean, just say that, too, but it's kind of like, how do you play Jesus?

You know, we have an idea of him, but you also want to bring yourself.

Absolutely.

I think that's a really good point, because you're playing this iconic part and your own idea of that iconic part can start to ruin whatever the truth is of your own performance.

So I think that the key with a role like Romeo or Juliet or Jesus is to is to really bring yourself to it, to to really be open to the bravery that it takes to show the parts of you that are Romeo.

And that can be painful sometimes, you know?

I know you're still in rehearsals yet and the show will be coming out soon and.

Yes.

What do you think that you're going to take away from this whole experience?

Oh, I think what I'll take away from this whole experience is, first off, a deeper understanding of myself as an actor, for which I'm very grateful.

When you have the chance to play a role like this, it it locks in certain things that you that you are trying to reinforce.

And then I'll also take away from this a real appreciation for the power of of Shakespeare and the relevance.

And in the modern day, I've always loved Shakespeare, but to be a part of a production that is so visceral, that is so current, it really is thrilling.

And it's really exciting to think that the the audience is not going to know what they're in for when they sit down.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

So a couple of twists and turns, some things we're not going to expect.

I you know, my lips are sealed.

My lips are sealed.

Okay.

Well, I'm going to end on that because everyone now is saying we have got to go.

Got to see it.

You got to see it.

You have to see it.

So come and see Romeo and Juliet again.

I mean, this is something you don't want to miss.

Krosby Thank you so much.

Thank you so much, Kelly.

I appreciate it.

Well, we met the fabulous director.

We met Romeo.

So guess who we have now.

We have Josie who is playing Juliet.

And you are that we didn't have anyone from the Midwest.

But you are a midwestern girl.

Yes.

You are from Michigan?

Yeah, I'm from Ann Arbor.

And I go to school in Chicago, so.

Yeah, Midwestern girl.

All right.

Now, this is really interesting because this is your very first professional job.

You're not even out of college.

Like, how did you how did that happen?

Yes.

So Chris is one of my professors, and I've had her quite a bit, particularly this past year, and I had her my freshman year as well.

So I found out about her doing this project and I sort of had some other summer plans that fell through.

And I asked Chris about auditioning for summer jobs and opportunities, and she was like, Well, I'm doing Romeo and Juliet and please audition or Yeah.

And then, yeah, I auditioned and the rest is kind of history.

Now we mentioned again that, you know, this is such an iconic play and Juliet, I mean, it's such an iconic character.

How do you approach her?

And do you have any kind of, you know, maybe just a little intimidation of playing her?

Oh, absolutely.

Intimidation, yes, absolutely.

But as far as playing Juliet, I mean, she's iconic for a reason, as far as I think that growing up, I related to her as far as she has so many feelings that she's trying to figure out how to express and falling in love for the first time.

Yeah, I think that a lot of the things that she's feeling are natural, instinctive, human emotions, and that's what I tap into when playing her, is that.

Yeah, finding the vulnerability.

I am sure they're going to be a lot of young people that come and see this play.

What are you hoping they'll get from watching this play?

I hope that they get to see that Shakespeare isn't always a bunch of white people, a bunch of people in period dress.

Can I just say amen that's right.

That we can see very contemporary characters brought into the 21st century into 2022 of what is happening in our lives today.

Things like, you know, dealing with the emotions of the pandemic, doing with grief, dealing with all of the things that are happening in our world that can be overwhelming of seeing how that can be processed through theater, through this type of art form.

And yeah, maybe maybe falling in love a little bit with the show.

I'm sure that they will.

Think, well, that's what I feel about this.

I'm like, Wow, it's so beautiful.

How do you think this will change you as as a person and also as an actress?

Yeah.

I mean, I think that as a person, there are a lot of parallels in my life with Juliet as far as kind of growing up, this being my first professional job, learning a lot on the job and yeah, just making deeper connections in the work that I'm doing here.

It's I'm just so excited about all of it.

Well, Josie, best of luck to you with the play as well as your senior year coming up.

Thank you so much for being with us.

And might I say you are a beautiful Juliet.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

On Saturday, August 13th at 7 p.m., you are all invited to come on out to Potawatami Park and celebrate the rich culture and history of African American music and dance.

Now, tonight, we're here at St Michael's Church because the dancers and the singers are all in there rehearsing for this concert.

So let's head on in and see how things are going.

Well, gentlemen, thank you so much for taking a break from rehearsal.

It's exciting to be here.

There's a great energy in this atmosphere.

Now, Marvin, I want to start with you.

Okay.

Because.

So the community foundation reached out to you.

To kind of be the lead in this project.

And I thought, man, you are the most workingist retired person.

I know.

But what made you decide that you have to say yes to this.

Opportunity to do black music, which I love, course part of who I am.

But also the chance to educate folks about African-Americans is all about.

So when Laura approached me, I thought, okay, this gives me a chance to do a couple of things.

And then there was you as the I can get Kelly It will be a really big thing.

Oh, my goodness.

They don't see the dance part.

Right?

That we know.

Absolutely.

Now.

Let's go back to that.

What are some of the misperceptions that people have as it relates to African-American music?

It doesn't exist except in gospel or jazz or rap.

There's classical African-American music.

There's spirituals which are part of our heritage.

People see it as entertainment where it's not entertainment.

It is.

As I said before, it's worship.

Yes, it is.

There's also coded of music.

Because lot of spirits are coded songs.

Because of the Africans idea of singing about somebody which you cannot sing to their face.

Absolutely.

The spirituals.

The enslaved Africans were able to talk to each other without slave master knows what is going on.

Other history is very important.

And in the era of what people think is critical race theory kind of thing.

You can't talk about African-American music without talking about why it was invented why it was done in America.

It was created this country out of slavery.

So if you want to talk about our music, you have to talk about that.

And folks, I want to do that.

And classical music is a part of that history.

It is.

There were classical composers, 1800s.

Back in the 1700s, there were African descent.

There are not in our history books.

No, they're not.

Not going to get to the history books symphonys don't perform it because they don't know about it conductors don't study them.

And I was one of those students who knew about it and sort of pushing it.

And I've seen the results of my pushing with the symphony and other things so this is a celebration of a lot of different things you got the symphony's quintet.

You got you dancing you got us singing.

And it is giving people a chance to see and hear.

And there'll be some narration about the history.

That was lovely.

Absolutely.

Now, this is really a community collaboration because this guy started with do that Turrell.

Was always late Turrell and he that I worked together with the one of the King concerts.

So he's a sweet home of faith industries and one of our former students.

My name is on his diploma.

All right.

And this summer, that's a I ran into him at Linton Festival.

And I thought talk to him and turned out that he became our collaborator.

So he's now part of the equity the diversity and inclusion committee.

That's great.

Congratulations.

Now, what are you bringing to the concert?

Cause I know you do some wicked gospel.

Yes.

Yes.

So I'm pretty much collaborating with Dr. Curtis and bringing the gospel side of it.

Like he said, a lot of people often associate black music with only gospel and rap and stuff and so.

I mean, of course I'm bringing the gospel to it, but it's in collaboration to what Dr. Curtis is bringing.

So I'm excited to be a part of this.

What are some of the songs you will be doing?

One of them is actually if you watch the celebration for a king on what was that.

WNIT.

yeah WNIT.

The station your on right now.

First of all, they never tell me about these things.

I just get an email like it's going to be on at this time.

Here's the link.

Sorry.

It is his fault, No.

but, anyways, yeah.

So on that program, we did a song.

I did a song with the church choir called Look and Live, which is a gospel remake of an old hymn, which is actually not a popular black hymn.

And so it's a black gospel rendition of part of a hymn.

So I'm actually teaching that to the choir, and we're going to perform that.

That's just one of them.

But yeah, so if you watched the special on WNIT.

Which was fabulous, by the way.

Yes, you saw me directing that song on there.

So.

Yes.

All right.

Well, then, Pierre, as he said, he is the assistant director and assistant choreographer for the UZIMA!

Drum and dance.

I call him my right hand man.

But Pierre, you know, we haven't been able to rehearse for over two years.

How has it been to come back together?

You know, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster in some of the best ways.

It's always pretty chaotic trying to re learn and get and get back into the habit of movement, generally speaking.

But because UZIMA is also more than just dance.

We also had to learn to exist together as a unit and a community again, and learn what it means to be in the same space, to not just move as one physically, but also move as one emotionally, spiritually, and in another sense of the word, too.

So it's it's it was it was fun.

It is fun.

We're still getting working out all the kinks, but I'm really excited to be back together again.

Three years is a.

Long time.

It is a long time.

And can you tell everyone what UZIMA really stands for?

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know, we we exist in as a family and as a community and as UZIMA as a word, we learn that there isn't really a strong word that represents dance in Swahili outside of UZIMA, which represents life, wholeness and health.

And that's kind of our motto.

It's on the back our shirt are we represent wholeness, health and life.

And with every space that we go into, we move into we want to leave that space with a deposit of what we of of that wholeness, health and life.

Absolutely.

And, you know, one of the things we have talked about today, Marvin, is an African culture.

I mean, you don't have any kind of life celebration, whether it's a wedding, a birth, even a funeral without dance.

and music.

And music yes.

Part African culture.

So when last we do this program, I just didn't envision just a gospel sense and envision culture of us.

And so I said let me call Kelly.

Well, we are thrilled to be a part of this.

It's going to be an amazing concert.

Now, we already told them it's Saturday, August 13th, 7 p.m.. Potawatomi Park at the Chris Wilson Pavilion.

It's a free concert and there'll be a soul food food truck out there.

As well as a picnic basket will sit on the lawn.

And and we were there for about 75 minutes.

There'll be a celebration.

it won't be just at table of educational for the celebration.

And I want people to know some things about culture and heritage.

Absolutely.

Well, gentlemen, I'm going to let you get back to rehearsal.

But again, it's Saturday, August 13th.

For more information.

You can also go on to experience Michiana dot org.

But come on out.

Join your voices with ours.

Let's lift our voices in celebration.

Well, if you love garage sales as much as I do, you can see a lot of my garage sale signs behind me.

Michael as well.

This is one of the best events happening.

Really, I feel like across the nation.

But in Michigan in particular, the U.S. 12 Heritage Trail, garage sale.

And I have with us, Khris, who is planning this event out.

Hi, Khris.

Hello.

Hi.

This is an awesome thing.

And it's really been going on for a number of years, hasn't it?

Yeah.

This is actually the 19th year the sale has taken place.

it started back in 2003.

That's amazing.

And it's known as Michigan's longest garage sale.

How long does it stretch.

Ranging from It's all the way from New Buffalo to New Buffalo, Michigan, and the west part of Michigan.

All the way going east until downtown Detroit.

Right in Woodward ave. That's amazing.

So my I'm originally from the Detroit area, and I remember last year my mom.

called me and she was like, I'm at the longest garage sale ever.

Do you want me to pick you up this, this or that or whatever?

And I just put two and two together.

She was at the same garage sale, but I could start here.

In Michiana.

Very good.

Yeah.

Small world, right?

Yeah.

It attracts everyone.

And it's been growing in popularity in the Detroit and Dearborn area these last several years in particular, too.

So that's great.

So it stretches all that way.

When is this event happening?

Yeah.

So it's always taking place in the second weekend of August.

And this in this case, it takes place August 12th through the 14th.

The sales generally range Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Of course, the sooner you get out, the better options and items that are definitely available.

And so but we always recommend checking out our website for further information.

Some people have their sales drawn in certain days and those are available for for searching and for more details.

Now, what is your website where people can get that information?

So everything's available at U.S. 12 Heritage Trail dot org.

Also find us at US 12 Heritage Trail on Facebook as well, too, for more details and an event that's focused on this where you can become a discussion or ask any questions or things like that.

What's your estimate on how many, I guess, homes or locations are take part in this garage sale week weekend?

Yeah, great question.

So fortunately, we've been growing in popularity each year even through these last these last few years in particular.

Last year, we had our highest number of over 300 people to sign up to participate in sales.

As of now, we have 103 registered and a lot more show up and sign up in these last few weeks leading up to the sale.

That being said, we estimate that there is a number of people that are not registered that also participate in this event.

So so it's not too late to register if you wanted to host your own graduate yard sale, correct?

No.

Yeah.

So we offer a free registration on our website.

It's just a just takes a few minutes of your time to sign up.

It's available right on our home page.

And yeah, that's sign ups available essentially leading up to the sale.

I'll be managing that and posting it a week prior to the to the event.

There'll be a public listing available.

All of the sales for people to either plan a route.

We have a wide range of ways you can either search by it of various items, days, locations and things like that.

You're able to view at mobily or do old school and do a print PDF with various directions and and things like that.

So you can kind of customize your own route and trip itinerary through our website if you'd like and if you have any questions.

My contact information is on there.

Be happy to answer or help direct you in any way.

All right.

Well, thanks so much, Khris.

Is there anything else you want to tell us about this?

I mean, it really is.

It isn't just about the garage sale, too, but it really kind of brings the community together and across the entire state of Michigan.

That's really a big thing.

Yeah.

Yeah, we like to I mean, this is the big highlight for the road, but there's just so much unique history and charm to these communities along the way.

For those of you that don't know this, this route itself was called by many names prior to us 12 from the Chicago Road.

It was one of the second federal highways that was established in the United States back in 1825, with an appropriation from the federal government to connect this way.

It was used by the indigenous people of North America for thousands of years, and it also has a lot of relevant history, even to the Prohibition era, taking things from Canada to Detroit.

So there's a lot of unique charm.

Luckily there is a lot of museums and buildings that are still up from that, the 18th and 19th century.

And on our website, we not only list garage sales, but we also list recommendations and attractions.

And there's a history.

There's been several books published actually on that, and we list those on our website too, if you want to learn more information.

But yeah, it's a little bit unique because most people wouldn't consider US 12 a large, you know, interstate.

But back in the day, it was it was the I-94 or the 196 of of Michigan.

And I always recommend for people to, you know, please, please be safe and courteous for for everyone out there reminding everyone to please drive safe and to slow down when traveling along U.S. 12 and pay special attention for pedestrians exiting and parking.

And we do recommend that people park their vehicle if they are parking to find a safe space to do that and to never park in the road and to always look both ways.

And always things are always changing.

So this is largely an outdoor event.

We always recommend, you know, everyone has a different comfort level.

So social distance when possible, you bring hand sanitizer and think about others in regards to other health and things like that.

Please stay tuned for local guidelines if things change in that matter.

Awesome.

Well, again, the Michigan's longest garage sale is happening August 13th, 14th and 15th.

So grab your wallet, grab your trailer.

And get to treasure hunting, huh?

Yeah.

Well, thank you so much for the coverage.

And I hope I hope your viewers get a chance to go out and enjoy this annual event.

Next year will be the 20th year.

Amazing.

Thanks so much, Khris.

All right.

Have a great day.

Another great episode this week of Experience Michiana.

Don't forget that we need your suggestions and we love getting them as well.

So if you'd like for us to go out and experience something, maybe you went along with your family or loved ones and you thought, Hey, Dave, Kelly and Courtney, you should do that on Experience Michiana you can always follow us on Facebook or Instagram, send us a message or use the hashtag Experience Michiana.

Until next week, you'll find out why I'm here at the Century Center.

We'll talk to you then.

Experience Michiana is made possible in part by the Community Foundation of Saint Joseph County and the Indiana Arts Commission, which received support from the State of Indiana.

And the National Endowment for the Arts.

This WNIT local production has been made possible in part by viewers like you.

Thank you.