one, two, 34.

Get my shoes on at the door.

I'm Lapchick.

seven They feel great.

I'm gonna shine after I do it, I'm gonna do it.

But do they get a look at this guy with the beautiful color about the weather?

Just for me to not share it with another?

I got to show to give that out.

Singing show, I'll take a look at a beautiful for That's Earth, your beautiful.

The to make beautiful life.

And if you want to see that come along with me, that's right.

Welcome to experience Miss Gianna.

I'm so glad that you're with us this week.

Last week, we spoke about some of our favorite things about the holidays and one of the things that kept on popping up with Christmas lights.

And this week, we're going to give you some opportunities to enjoy them locally.

Isn't that right, Courtney?

That's right, Dave, and I'm so excited that we have a couple of opportunities for you to either drive through or walk through.

So driving through, we're going to be heading over to the Laporte County Fairgrounds.

Really cool opportunity there.

As well as walking through some holiday lights at the Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart.

one of our other favorite things that we talked about was music, and I know that's one of Kelly's favorite things.

Isn't that right, Kelly?

Yes, it is, Courtney.

You know me so well.

And so we're going to have a little Laporte county, and we're going to find out about holiday at the Pops concert.

It's the 27th Annual one.

It's going to be wonderful.

But first, we're going to find out about a holiday classic that's being taken from the silver screen to the stage.

We are so excited to be back at twin city players in Saint Joseph, Michigan, with the amazing, the incredible, the talented cast of Elf, The Musical and guys say, Hi, hello.

OK, all right.

Well, we are going to start with you, Sara.

You are the director of this.

And before we started to talk about, you know what?

It's been like directing this production.

You know, I feel that Elf has become a holiday classic.

And it's happened really quickly.

What makes it such a classic?

I think the comedy that Will Ferrell brought to the picture and the complete, unrelenting joy that he brought as the film progressed from beginning all the way through and has really stuck with a lot of people and it's what they continue to seek out year after year .

Now it is.

This is out.

The musical is a little bit different than the movie, but is some of the differences.

Aside from the music, the music is definitely one.

There's no outside scenes.

Obviously, anything that you see that is outside has been painted by our lovely se director designer Cindy J-K.

Some of the plot has had to change slightly just to allow to make that transition from screen to stage a lot easier.

There's less clutter, so to speak, from the movie, and I don't want to call the movie clutte because it's not necessarily clutter, but just you have to keep things much more simple to do with a stage version of this show.

And next to you is Cindy Wright, the character on and off stage?

Cindy, tell us your role because you play.

I played Deb down, Mr. Hobbs Buddy's dad.

I play his secretary.

And then you also created this beautiful set design here.

Tell us a little bit more about this because this is pretty incredible.

I mean, you have a giant book onstage, so it was a long time ago.

Actually, Sarah had asked me if I would be involved in the set painting, and I said, sure.

And so she told me it was going to be this nine foot by five foot book.

So it actually, as the pages turn, it actually has the different scenes in the storyline.

Now, how long did it take you to do that?

Well, it's not done yet.

Oh, how many pages is it?

So it's actually six different scenes.

It has the title page which people will see as they enter and as the scenes change.

So there's different scenes like New York Skyline, and I won't say all of it, but yet?

Absolutely.

And the next lovely person is Avery, who plays Jodi.

I'd love to hear about your journey in playing her.

She's so fun to play.

She's such a grump.

She says no Christmas spirit, which is ironic because she works at Macy's, and this is my work outfit for Macy's.

It's been so fun to play this part and, you know, slowly work her from kind of you set a cynical person to at the end, she's just like Christmas and happiness, and so glad to be married to an elf.

And it's just now that's a complete turnaround.

And I'm sure you sing a few songs.

What's your favorite one?

I have to say my solo, which is never fall in love with an elf.

It's pretty jazzy and you didn't listen to your own song.

I don't like sing it and then immediately fall in love with them.

OK, can you give us maybe a line or two?

Would you mind?

Yeah.

OK.

The holidays will seem bittersweet.

Well, you are alone in bed.

But how can one girl ever compete with a magic fat guy in a flying sleigh?

Ed, go ask 100 single girls from here to Philadelphia to say it's clear as day you're in for sleepless nights, if you date a guy who has a thing for tights, oh, never fall in love.

Never fall in love.

I've never fall in love.

Within.

Well, if you're single, well, don't fall in love with the very nice.

You have a beautiful voice.

You all right, way to hit that high note.

And I guess that you guys, you fall in love with it.

Yes, really silly.

But.

So two guys, Tim and Jacob.

And so tell us, I mean, because I mean, Elf is kind of like one of those roles where it's, you know, it's almost like Santa Claus.

You know, it's so is everyone has this picture of Santa's to have this picture of the elf.

What is it like trying to play him and stay true to who he is, right?

It's just been a lot of fun.

I try not to think about it too much.

I have to confess I've never seen the movie, so how can I?

That makes it really easy, actually.

And that's a big part of why.

I mean, I I've seen a lot of the promos and things every year, but it's not on my holiday repertoire, but it's I tell you, it's been kind of a surreal experience because as you guys were talking about with when it first came out, it started becoming this holiday classic.

We had just talked about started doing The Grinch here.

I remember being in the room back here when Lisa Kripps brought up, you know, be really cool.

If we did, a stage version of Elf didn't even exist yet.

And now to fast forward that many years, like I remember when this was just someone throwing an idea against the wall.

And now here we are.

It's it's just been a really cool, gratifying experience.

I got to echo with Tim says about it being a gratifying experience.

So I actually have seen the movie now.

I remember very clearly remember going to see it when it came out.

And so for me, any time you play a role that's been done by a famous actor in this case, Will Ferrell, you always want to.

It's good to use their there, what they did as a starting point, but you really got to make it your own.

That's that's the challenge is to make is to take that character that so many people know and take this performance that so many people know and make it your own.

So it's a truly different experience because the last thing that I want to do is do a Will Ferrell impersonation.

I know what that looks like.

I want it to be, you know, you know, Jacob's putting the elf or Tim's buddy, the elf as you've been playing Buddy.

Has it done something for you personally because he is just always so optimistic?

I mean, nothing really gets to him.

And if it does, he doesn't stay there very long.

Is that something that as you were playing him, maybe you could kind of connect with in your own life?

I definitely ordered my Christmas presents early this year.

Oh, good.

I was in the spirits the year looking at Christmas trees, and it was ready to go right after.

So yes, absolutely.

It's hard not to leave a rehearsal.

And I mean, you're exhausted and drained because it's an incredibly challenging show.

But the Joy's infectious, I mean, you leave here.

It's it's hard not to do you think you go to sleep thinking about other people's songs?

It's just it's natural and it's a beautiful message.

I think that's a message that we all kind of need, especially with the way things were last year.

And, you know, a lot of things that are happening in our world that in our culture, I think it's a very important message.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

OK, now let's pass this mike down to Bill, who plays Santa.

And I have to say Santa is not your typical Santa in an elf musical.

See, that's what's fun about this part.

I mean, I've played Santa Claus in other contexts when we do the night before Christmas, and normally when you see Santa Claus, it's Santa Claus, the character.

You know, the joyful Merry Christmas, Santa Claus.

And this play is you see him at home and you see the real Santa Claus, who also has the same foil balls as all humans have.

And that's part of the fun of the real challenge for me i he also has to sing and I'm not a singer.

I don't read music.

So it's real difficult to try and figure out when you're supposed to talk and when you're not supposed to do.

And that's been a lot of fun, and I have to thank Sarah for allowing me to participate in this because she's been just an absolute joy to work with.

It's been amazing.

She even let me go for two weeks on a vacation during the middle of rehearsals, which I was amazed that she went to Santa Vacation, vacationed in Palm Springs with my little girl.

But this has been a joy, and I agree with you, Kelly, that there's one of the reasons that I enjoy doing shows at Christmas time is it is giving back to the community.

We've been through a terrible couple of years.

Hopefully there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

But to bring back some joy and some have.

And to see the faces of the kids and and how much they enjoy the whole process, it just it just makes you feel good and it gives you just hope for the future Absolutely.

Now, opening night starts this Friday, December third, and how long is the run?

What's until December 19?

Wow.

So every night weekends with a matinee on Saturday as well?

Very nice.

OK?

So come and see Elf the musical here at Twin City plays.

It's going to be wonderful.

And I think we need to end altogether with that famous line.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer they were around last year.

They're so excited that the magic of lights is coming to the Laporte County Fairgrounds, and I have with the Suzy today who's going to tell us all about it Hi, Susie.

Hi, thanks for having me.

You know, there is something to say about what Christmas lights kind of do for the soul.

Yeah, I think it stems back to childhood.

At least it does for me with all of the lights and all of the to do when the Christmas holiday comes around.

And it's just a magical glow that really sets the scene for just, you know, there's going to be great memories made when there's Christmas lights around.

So that's why the magic of lights at the fairgrounds this year, I think, is a really special event to have, not only for now, but also for future memories to be made.

And I know so many people and we do it ourselves as a family to have an annual tradition where everybody packs up their hot chocolate and then goes for a ride to take a look at the lights.

And that's something that you guys can do.

So this is the first time you guys are having the magic of lights.

Tell us what it's all about.

Sure.

So our organizations are not for profit, and it's only been around about a year.

So it's fairgrounds management and events corporation and we oversee the fairgrounds and this is our inaugural event.

So this is our first really big event as an organization and we brought them in.

We wanted to come out with a Big Bang and you know, it's you usually think of fairgrounds as having events in the spring or the summer or the fall.

And there's really nothing going on in the winter time with the magic of lights allows us to bring a really fun event during the winter that we normally wouldn't want to go out and and celebrate or take part in.

Absolutely.

And you were saying there's ten miles of light.

That's what like 1,000,000 lights.

How many lights does it take to light that up?

Right?

There's about 1,000,000 lights, they said.

It's ten miles worth of lights, all compacted into a mile and a half road They spent five weeks in getting this ready.

They've been out there since October, hand building the structures, which is just amazing.

And these guys work seven days a week.

Whether it was raining when they snowing, it didn't matter on their part.

There was a lot of work put into this.

Absolutely.

And I imagine they probably need to make sure, you know, if they're working out in the wind, the rain, they'll make sure that it will withhold the wind in the rain as you head into this season, right?

Oh, absolutely.

We did have some really heavy winds a week and a half ago that really tried the system, but now that they have this down path, they know what they're doing.

We have complete trust in them.

And now the whole magic of lights, you don't have to get out of your vehicle It's a drive through.

That's correct.

It is all drive through.

You can purchase your tickets online, you can get them at a local outlet and then you drive in.

You follow the path.

Everything is contactless, so you can enjoy your family and your loved ones in your own vehicle.

You'll tune your radio in to the specific station that's given to you where it will play, along with the Christmas music.

Some information about our sponsors.

And so between now and December the third, if you bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, you will get an additional good to go around, pass again so you can go through the lights again that same night.

And then from December fourth through January the second, you can bring at least a two dollar donation for Make-A-Wish Foundation, and you will get a pass to go through again on that evening.

That's great, I love that you guys are also taking this opportunity to support other nonprofit organizations in the community, too.

Yeah, and it's not weird.

FBC are very focused on keeping the fairgrounds very community centric, and so we're choosing companies that are also looking to do the same thing.

So the Magic of Lights Group is very big on give backs.

And it's not just those two donations for Make-A-Wish and for Toys for Tots, but they're also utilizing local people.

They're using local organizations and giving to scholarships.

They're utilizing local volunteers there.

They're hiring local people.

So we feel like it's a really good fit with us.

We're our community brand is considered.

And I know you mentioned that people can get their tickets at some of the outlets in the area, but they can also buy them online.

I think it's actually even a little bit cheaper to buy them a hat at a time.

Where can people go and get the information?

Sure, people can go to our website and help fairgrounds dot com.

There is a link right on the main page to get your tickets and find information.

Follow us on Facebook at La Porte Fairgrounds and Event Center.

You can also go to the magic of Lights Laporte Facebook page, or you can go to the magic of Lights icon, so all the information is on each of those avenues.

There's different scenes that you know, it's not just lighting you just drive through, but there's different scenes kind of set up throughout the mile as well, too , right?

There are, there are there is an area that's tropical, so it would have the big jolly guy hanging in a hammock there, Santas Mountain, which is probably my favorite structure.

I think it's three over three stories tall and 100 feet long.

There's the twelve days of Christmas that each of those days are lit up.

And of course, there is the tunnels, which are just tremendous.

I love going through tunnels.

The lights are lovely.

Poppy has joined us now.

He's excited about Christmas.

We do a lot of indoor decorations here at our place.

Not the outdoor decorations.

So I think this is really exciting to bring my family to something like magical lights to really get that into the spirit and just, you know, feel the ambiance of what Christmas is all about.

And, you know, like we were saying when we first started, that's really, you know, so many of us go back to that initial memory of how they spent time with their families.

A lot of it is that time together and that might be in a vehicle driving through and looking at Christmas lights.

Absolutely.

And I hope that people take advantage of it, not just in coming to the magic of lights but also incorporating other fun things to do with the sound the same evening with their family and just make it an event.

I'm joined right now by Eric from Westfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart.

Now, Eric, what is going on right now?

Sure.

Well, there's a lot of folks here maybe not even familiar with Wellfield Botanic Gardens here in Elkhart.

We are a 36 acre, beautiful botanic garden, lots of water, lots of great plants, just beautiful features.

But this time of year we have what's called winter wonderland holiday lights.

This is the fifth year of this event.

It's the biggest and brightest ever, and starting Friday evening, November 20, we are expecting thousands of people through here each night to enjoy some beautiful lights in a beautiful space.

What is it about the Christmas lights and the winter wonderland?

That's really different.

Well, I think something something that's made our event different is we created a five year master plan for our holiday lights.

And really, the goal, in addition to creating an amazing experience for families and people of all ages, was to do something that actually accentuates the beauty of Wellfield and the lights don't overtake the lights, actually help complement the beautiful trees and shrubs and all of the reflections in the water that we have or ice, as the case may be a little later in the season.

It's just absolutely incredible.

And the photos that you can take here are just absolutely amazing.

And this year we've got over 1,000,000 lights.

It's going to be awesome.

Wow, that's a lot of bulbs and you know, your staff and volunteers, because Wellfield is a nonprofit and the staff and volunteers there, the amount of work they put in to make this happen is just unbelievable, right?

It it really is.

You know, every night takes dozens of volunteers and having this many people come through, you know, we want to make sure that it's a safe environment, that it's a fun environment.

We have the best volunteers in the world.

They give us thousands of hours this time of year, getting ready.

There's a half a dozen volunteers out putting up some of the bigger features right now in preparation for our opening.

But our staff is great.

Everyone gets excited and this is one of those events that everyone pitches in.

It's kind of an all hands on deck sort of event, but it's the type of event that everyone likes to do.

So no matter what someone does and works at well, field, they love coming out and working this event because it's an event where people are happy.

Yeah, and we need more happiness in our life, you know we need.

To get off line and go into Westfield Botanic Garden, so you mentioned that so many people will be enjoying it.

And for for those have been before, they'll know how to do it.

But for anyone watching who hasn't been to, well, botanic gardens for the winter wonderland, what's the deal with price or getting in or how does that work?

You can go online any time and buy tickets that are not day or time specific, so you can buy them online today and you can use them on any of our scheduled nights.

And we run November 26 through December 26 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

And we're also open the week up until Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

We're closed those two days, but then we're open again for the 26th.

You know, it is such a beautiful way to enjoy this beautiful season.

And you mentioned 1,000,000 lights that are in Westfield Botanic Gardens this year.

So how much of the regular price tickets, then?

After that, that's what it's.

It's $12 at the gate for adults and members at Westfield.

They're $5 and three bucks for kids, so consider a membership.

If you're not already a member, it well, feel it could pay for itself in terms of the discounts for this event.

You can get them at Wellfield Gardens dot org.

We've got fire pits.

We've got two holiday music out there, played throughout the garden and also we've got Nivar Hospitality serving up some great drinks, hot drinks for kids, hot drinks for adults.

Just don't get them mixed up.

That's right.

Or do depending on the kid.

No, I'm just kidding.

Well, it sounds wonderful.

I hope everybody supports you.

And just a reminder again, when you buy these tickets, it's going towards a nonprofit.

It's going towards keeping the gardens all year round in such beautiful shape, and it's something you where you can enjoy.

And I would suggest a membership because, you know, you could go five different times of the year and see five completely different things.

It's just really wonderful, right?

Every day is a little different, and I really appreciate the opportunity to share our beds and thank you for having us on.

Well, thanks for making Elkhart a brighter plac this Christmas and spreading joy, because that's what it's all about.

So.

Eric, thank you so much.

And that web address again, for anybody who wants to get more information on tickets, Wellfield Gardens dot org.

one of the things that makes the holiday so special is music.

And joining us today from the Laporte County Symphony Orchestra are Dr. Carolyn Watson and Chuck Stack.

Thank you both for joining us.

Good to be here.

My pleasure.

Well, let's start with you, Dr. Dr. Watson.

Because first of all, just want to say congratulations on your new role as the music director of the Laporte County Symphony Orchestra.

I know it was quite a journey, but we are so glad to have you here.

And you know, there's such a beautiful tradition with this orchestra this year.

It's the 27th holiday concert holiday of the past, but this will be your first.

So what does it feel like to be part of such a great tradition in our community?

Honestly, it feels very special.

It's and it's quite an honor.

I remember last year when the is played through the pandemic.

I was actually able to watch the holiday pops online.

And so I think I have at least some sense of just what a magical event it will be, and I'm just absolutely thrilled to be a part of it alongside my wonderful colleague and associate conductor Charles Stick.

Yes.

And this is, of course, not your first one, but how excited are you?

Because this is quite a it's a first in the history of the Laporte County Symphony Orchestra.

You, too, will be co conducting.

This is very exciting for me.

Carolyn is an amazing conductor and I'm just honored that she would have me on the stage with her.

We're going to have a brilliant night.

There's some great music planned and we get to get to share these moments together.

I've been doing this a long time and I'm excited to watch Carol.

And as she gets to do her very first one and I will always remember all the beautiful faces and the audience as they look at the stag and she's going to get to experience it for the first time.

And I'm just happy to be up there witnessing it all with her.

It's exciting time.

That's me.

So I do know classical music.

I played violin for a number of years trying to learn how to play the cello, but I've never been in a situation where there's Coke and nothing.

So how does that work?

Are you doing it together or or one at a time?

Well, that could be a lot of fun and perhaps for future years, we'll try that.

But this is we're doing a little bit conservative in that regard.

We have allocated and distributed to each of us different works on the program.

So there are some pieces that Chuck will conduct, some pieces that I will conduct, and that's how we are co-directing as it were.

OK, now you know, one of the things I love.

About the season is music, but there's such a plethora of gorgeous and beautiful holiday music.

How did you choose what's going to be in this concert?

Carol Lin, let's start with you.

Yeah, so I mean, we did what we typically do, which is, I think, a lot of thinking and corresponding and chatting and mulling over ideas and putting forth various suggestions and figuring out what might be a good fit with what to what guests and what, what soloists, what singers, you know, all of those sorts of things.

And of course, from my experience with these kind of events before I feel I have, you know, some kind of understanding of the context and the sorts of pieces that I think will go down well with the audience.

So that was basically our starting point.

And then Chuck and I work together to figure out the best, the best fit, the program order and how we were going to combine our various ideas.

And Chuck last year, it was so different during the height of the pandemic.

How thrilled are you that you will be able to have an audience there and possibly it doesn't have to be so spaced out this year?

I have to tell you, last year's Pops concert was one of the most challenging things I've ever done.

first of all, we were spaced out and I was conducting and trying to cue the French words were at least 75 feet away from me.

They did a brilliant job of keeping it together, but it was so difficult.

And we, as musicians, are always used to having a piece and hearing the applause and the applause we got were from the six people on the deck crew who are with us.

It was it was well, well felt by them, but it wasn't the same.

And so now we look forward to seeing people.

When we did our November concert, that was of the most magical things we had.

So many people and people on the stage and in the audience were just ready to have this happen again So am I excited?

Oh, I'm over the top with excitement on this one.

I really am.

Well, I'm sure the community is excited to be back and the audience as well.

And the concert is taking place on Saturday, December 11th at 7:00 p.m. and it's Holiday at the Pops.

I saw last year's concert.

It was beautiful, it was magical, it was brilliant.

And I'm sure this year is going to be just the same, if not more.

Thank you both for being with us.

Happy holidays to both of you.

Thank you.

And happy holiday to you too.

And we are looking forward to a lot more holiday music.

Unexperienced Moceanu.

Maybe let us know what your favorite holiday song is.

Maybe you can play it on the show.

That's right, Kelly, and we have coming up.

We do this every year.

I'm so excited about this.

We have two full shows full of holiday music, all brought to you by amazing local talents.

We'll have music and so much more, and we can't wait to bring it to you next week here on Moceanu.

We'll talk to you.

That experience machina 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.