All right.

So we are heading to the Caribbean this week.

We're over at the South Bend Civic Theater, and I have some of my friends here joining us.

I love the costume So this is fantastic.

Tell us about the production that you guys have coming up.

This is wonderful.

Yeah.

So the name of the production is once on This island, and that is exactly where we're going to take you.

We're going to take you to a Caribbean island.

You'll get to enjoy the breeze, the song, the sights and the sounds of a beautiful story.

It's a retelling of everyone's favorite fairy tale.

Okay, well, I might have a different favorite than yours.

Did me, like, maybe a Little Mermaid.

Yes, a little bit of a Little mermaid.

Oh, it is actually based off of a book by Rosa guy called My Love, My Love, and she was inspired by the original telling of The Little Mermaid.

Okay, so that is what has inspired this beautiful story that you'll see here at once on this island.

I love it, and this one actually, I think won a Tony Award and on Broadway Yeah.

So the original production was Tony nominated and the revival won a Tony Award.

Fantastic.

So it's a musical.

So are you singing in this?

I am singing in there.

Okay.

Tell us about your character.

Yeah, absolutely.

So Papa Ge is the sly demon of death, which you can interpret as this menacing character or a character that guides people gently to their next stage in life.

Yeah, I look at it, and I think that with Papa, Ge has this beautiful opportunity to help the main character realize between choosing between, I don't want to give too much away, don't give too much away.

You're so right.

Exactly.

Yeah.

But it's it's this character that really wants the character to choose.

I think it's the biggest thing.

How do you feel that you have related to the character, like within your own life?

Oh my goodness.

I think that with Papa Ge the concept of being misunderstood, right.

And this character that is presenting kind of evil and menacing, but historically the characters are the how would you not the character, but, who is the origin story?

Yeah.

So yeah.

Thank you.

So historically, the origin of this character is someone who guides people gently.

And I think that especially being a black woman in America, having certain stereotypes placed upon you when you just want to present this beautiful, feminine, gentle beings, I think Papa Ge has allowed me to embrace aspects of stereotype and leaning more into that power.

And then also, what does it look like to embrace who I am naturally.

And this is really a powerful story to want to talk about that, especially its relevance to this time in the world right now.

Yes, the story is one that will inspire hope.

It is a story that will remind you of.

I do have a dream and I'm never too old and I can overcome any obstacle to to achieve that.

And it's a story that says, despite all else, just love, I love people, I love that love is love.

I love love absolutely.

Now you are the director.

Yes.

You have to tell us from a director perspective, what is it like to lead a cast and crew like this?

It is an opportunity that I feel like it's an honor and a privilege to to do so.

The story is great, and as a director, being able to put together a vision is one thing.

But having a cast that can come and challenge that vision to help you enhance it, to to bring it to life, that's the rewarding part.

And with this cast, I mean, we have folks that have done 20 shows, right?

Oh, wow.

Yeah that's great.

But then we also have folks that this is the first time right?

We have grandparents that are doing it with their grandchildren, mothers that are doing it with their sons.

So I love it.

And, you know, I always say this to you, the theater is really about community.

And this not only brings people together on the stage, but it brings together people in the audience as well, too.

You guys have a number of shows coming up where people can experience this.

When are the show date?

So we open on Friday, February 28th and we go all the way until March 9th.

So there are about 8 or 9 opportunities to come and see this.

And I love to you guys are offering throughout the entire year opportunities for students to kind of do field trips here so they can experience the theater that they might not otherwise get to as well.

Yes.

And so anyone at the Civic Box office is able to help with that.

There are a ton of educational opportunities.

And if you ever said, I want to try acting, there are acting classes are even better, even better for for all ages.

And I know South Bend Civic Theater, you guys always have auditions coming up and more productions on tap for everyone too.

But this one in particular.

Why do you want people to come see this?

So I'll ask you that question.

Yeah, absolutely.

Like Dexter, in saying it's this tale of love.

And I would also add a little bit of like betrayal as well.

And what is it look like to balance those emotions in this really, beautiful dance of melody.

Right.

And I think that I'm excited, especially with the time that we're in.

What does it look like to to balance those emotions and keep moving forward in life, pursuing that dream with great ambition and love in the midst of chaos or betrayal.

So now we have to talk about the set because this is just incredible.

Do you feel like you are in the Caribbean?

I do, yeah, I got my toes in the same movie, got my bright pink colors in the background.

It is what went into planning the set.

Yeah.

So our scenic designer, Chuck Berry did an amazing job of taking aspects of the Caribbean and bring it on stage.

The bright colors.

Right.

Looking at the structure of the houses as well.

And he worked with and great collaboration and partnership with the costume design to really bring elements of the island into how, I mean, this costume is just phenomenal.

Tell us more about what you're wearing.

Yeah.

I mean, I'm just the the body, which the costume is in, but I don't know.

Yeah.

So what's really great about the costume is the costume is designed by someone right here from South Bend.

Even better, there's lights or D.W., Styles who is home is home is South Bend for you.

And you came back to do that.

And then we talked about that element of family.

I was able to bring a little bit of my culture and my family, with, you know, having them help with building some of the additional pieces as well.

Wonderful.

I have to say, this hat is phenomenal I think we're going to maybe show some of the other hat pieces in there.

Incredible.

I know a lot goes into making a theater production happen.

You know, why should people continue to support the performing arts?

I, I can start everybody.

It's important because this is a space to learn more.

And it's also an opportunity to do more.

Right.

And so if you've ever had a dream and you're just like, I've always wanted to see what it's like to be under those lights, the other gives you the opportunity to do that, right?

And if you ever wanted to experience a bunch of different people together, it's a place of learning.

It's also a place to be healed as well.

And that's what why Theater is important and I love.

And we were talking about this before we.

Yeah.

To kind of behind the scenes, but we were talking about how the stage is really it's a communal place where everyone comes together.

So whether you are, you know, whatever you are in life, we're all the same here on the stage.

Work together to make this production happen.

Exactly, I love that.

Anything else you guys want to share about this performance with us?

It is a musical, right?

It is the musical.

Okay, okay.

And it is family friendly.

It is family friendly.

So aged 2 to 100 plus come enjoy the musical.

You.

I promise you'll leave dance a did.

Okay.

You going to tell us about the dancing?

Oh the dancing.

We have an amazing choreographer, Pierre Cooks who is also, assistant director with UZIMA dance group that's here.

He is.

Has this all working out?

Oh, really?

The story?

I've seen this before.

Like you're working on.

Yeah.

Through through dance.

And everyone gets to also put their own spin to some of the moves as well.

So again, it's just a place of just expression.

And we get to do that song, dance, monologue, sights and sound of the theater as well too.

So it sounds like a lot of fun.

So if I'm in the audience, it's okay for me to get up and dance a little too.

We encourage you to, we might call on you to do it.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, no.

No.

Yeah.

Just be ready, okay.

I think raising my hand over that, you follow me.

All right.

Thank you guys so much.

Break a leg.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.