>> WITH ME TODAY IS ZAC ALMONTE.

ZACH, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

TELL ME ABOUT THE MISSION AND HISTORY OF COLUMBUS CHILDREN'S THEATER.

>> SURE.

IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 60 YEARS WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH PRODUCTIONS AND CLASSES IN THEATER PRODUCTION AND WE ARE ALSO ALL OVER THE STATE IN TOURING PRODUCTIONS IN SCHOOLS AND OUT REACH.

>> AMAZING.

I CAN'T WAIT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

>> GOOD QUESTION.

IT LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR DEPENDING ON THE ORGANIZATION.

FOR ME, SELECTING THE SEASON FOR THE YEAR.

FINDING SHOWS THAT ARE A GOOD FIT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

AS WELL AS GENERALLY GUIDING THE ARTISTIC VISION OF THE COMPANY.

AND THEN I SERVE AS THE PRODUCER FOR ALL OF OUR SHOWS.

I AM THE ONE MAKING SURE ALL OF THE THINGS HAPPEN AND THAT ALL OF OUR TALENT, CREATIVE AND TALENTED CAST CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A SHOW POSSIBLE.

>> THAT MUST TAKE SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF TALENTS AND BRAINS TO BE A BUSINESS MANAGER AND CREATIVE MANAGER.

>> TELL WHAT ABOUT IT TODAY.

>> WE ARE DOING HANKY-PANKY.

IT IS AN APPETIZER, POPULAR IN THE 1970s.

IT IS A COMBINATION OF GROUND MEAT AND PROCESSED CHEESE TO MAKE IT NICE AND CREAMY.

>> CAN'T GO WRONG.

>> YOU PUT IT ON TOASTED BREAD AND IT IS A HIT FOR HOLIDAYS OR GATHERINGS.

>> THAT SOUNDS DELICIOUS.

I CAN'T WAIT TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE IT >> THE INGREDIENTS TODAY ARE A POUND OF GROUND BEEF, A POUND OF GROUND PORK, VELVETA, 16 OUNCES, HALF IT'SSPOON OF BLACK PETER AND RYE COCKTAIL BREAD.

>> I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THERE IT IS A SIMPLE AND COMFORTABLE RECIPE.

>> OUR NAME IS COLUMBUS CHILDREN'S THEATER, BUT OUR MISSION IS MORE BROAD THAN THAT.

TRANSFORMING FAMILIES THROUGH THE POWER OF THE STAGE.

SO, THROUGH OUR DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE SERIES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING WE SERVE LITERALLY EVERY PART OF THE FAMILY.

AND SO WE HAVE OUR SANDBOX SERIES THAT IS FOR 0-5-YEAR- OLDS, AND THOSE ARE LITERARY- BASED PROGRAMS WHERE KIDS CAN COME AND BE INTERACTIVE WITH A STORY BOOK THEY ARE MOST LIKELY FAMILIAR WITH.

DOES INVOLVE READING THE BOOK BUT THERE IS ACTIVITY AND GAMES.

SOMETIMES IMPROV WITH THE THEME.

THEN SPOTLIGHT SERIES THAT IS FOR YOUR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.

GENERALLY GOOD FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

THOSE ARE SHOWS LIKE JUNIE B. JONES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEN PROFESSIONAL SERIES, IT IS AN EXPANDED PART OF OUR PROGRAMMING THAT IS MEANT TO REACH TEENS AND ADULTS.

>> WONDERFUL.

I HAVE LITTLE KIDS SO I APPRECIATE THERE IS AN ACCESS POINT FOR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY LIKE YOU SAID.

THAT IS AMAZING.

AND I JUST LOVE THE IDEA OF INTRODUCING KIDS TO THEATER EARLY.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> IT IS.

THE MAGIC OF THEATER AND THE WONDER THAT STARTS IN CHILDHOOD.

SO EXCITING AND GLAD TO HAVE A TRAJECTORY THAT THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN LOVE THEATER.

>> AMAZING.

LET'S GET STARTED WITH THIS APPETIZER WHAT DO WE DO FIRST?

>> FIRST, BROWN THE MEAT.

START WITH THE GROUND BEEF OR PORK.

>> DROP IT IN AND WE ARE WARMING UP THE PAN.

>> GET IT IN THERE.

MEAT TIME.

WE HAVE GROUND BEEF AND SAUSAGE.

>> THEN, WE WILL BREAK IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> OKAY.

>> I LIKE TO BROWN IT UNTIL IT IS CRISPY.

>> GOT TO GET IT CRISPY.

>> WE WILL MAKE SURE IT IS NICE AND BROWN.

>> OKAY.

>> WE WILL SEASON IT UP WITH OUR GARLIC POWDER AND BLACK POWDER.

>> ALL OF, THE MEAT, THE CHEESE, THE BREAD, THE THREE MAIN THINGS YOU WANT.

>> EVERYTHING.

MY FAMILY MAKES IT FOR CHRISTMAS EVE.

>> LITTLE BITES.

>> YES.

IT FEELS FESTIVE AND DEFINITELY COMFORTING.

>> YES.

BROWNING NICELY >> IT IS.

PUT IT TOGETHER.

ADD THE SEASONINGS.

SIMPLE, RIGHT, GARLIC POWDER?

>> IT IS.

DUMP THAT RIGHT IN.

>> I DON'T LIKE TO ADD SALT BECAUSE THE THESE HAS SO MUCH SALT.

YOU CAN ADJUST BEFORE YOU PUT IT ON THE BREAD.

>> SOME LIKE TO ADD RED PEPPER FLAKES.

THERE IS THE SIMPLE VERSION.

>> I LIKE THAT.

DRESS IT UP HOW YOU LIKE.

>> YES.

ALL MIX TOGETHER.

ALL CRISPY AND BROWN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS LOOKING PRETTY DONE.

WE ARE GOOD TO GO.

>> OKAY.

>> OKAY.

NOW, FUN PART.

YOU WANT TO DUMP ALL OF THAT VELVEETA IN THE PAN.

ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF VELVEETA.

FOR HOLIDAYS WE WILL DOUBLE THE RECIPE.

>> WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED MORE CHEESE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SOMETIMES YOUR KIDS IT GETS TOO CHEESY.

ADJUST FOR YOUR TASTES.

WE WILL LET IT MELTDOWN.

>> NOT THE PRETTIEST BUT SMELLS GOOD.

>> SHE IS GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> NOT A BEAUTY CONTEST >> NO, HERE FOR THE TASTE >> AND EASE OF THE FLAVOR DELIVERY.

>> A COUPLE BITES AND YOU ARE GOOD TO GO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE GOOD TO GO.

>> THAT LOOKS PERFECTLY MELTED AND MIXED.

ALL RIGHT, DOUBLE SPOON TACTIC.

>> YES.

>> IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A SCOOP.

>> JUST LIKE A LITTLE BIT?

>> YES.

YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD MORE.

OKAY.

SHE LOOKS ADORABLE AND IN THE OVEN?

HOW LONG?

>> THEY DO.

10 OR 15 MINUTES.

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE BREAD TO GET TOASTY AND THE MEAT AND CHEESE WILL GET CRISPY ON TOP.

>> WHILE THOSE ARE IN THE OVEN TELL ME OTHER WAYS THE FAMILIES CAN EXPERIENCE CHILDREN'S THEATER.

>> WE HAVE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AND OUT REACH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WE HAVE NINE WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMP.

MOST YEARS, AND WE SEE OVER 125 KIDS EACH WEEK.

>> WOW.

>> PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THEATER THAT WAY.

AND THOSE KIDS GET TO DO A MIX OF THINGS.

WE CALL IT THEATER 360.

THEY GET TO DO SOME ACTING, SINGING, DANCE AND THEY LEARN ABOUT CARPENTRY AND LIGHTING AND SEWING AND WE HAVE ACADEMY CLASSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

KIDS CAN JOIN US ON SATURDAYS AND LEARN ABOUT A SPECIFIC AREA OF ACTING, MUSIC, THEATER.

AND THEN DRAMA CLUB PROGRAM.

NEW TO US THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AFTER SCHOOL MUSICAL PROGRAM WHERE A GROUP OF KIDS WILL WORK WITH ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO SAY LOCAL ACTOR AND DIRECTOR AND THEY PUT TOGETHER A FULL LENGTH KID'S SHOW AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF REHEARSAL.

>> SO WONDERFUL.

SO MANY WAYS TO GET KIDS INVOLVED AND TRY EVERYTHING OR FOCUS WHAT THEY LOVE THE MOST.

>> YES.

>> AMAZING.

>> OPTIONS FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO PURSUE IT AS A CAREER OR EXPERIENCING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND DON'T KNOW THEY LOVE IT AND THOSE THAT WANT TO PURSUE IT FURTHER CAN AND FAMILIES THAT JUST WANT TO CHECK US OUT CAN DO THAT THROUGH THE LIBRARIES AND SOME OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

INCLUDING THE CULTURAL PATH PROGRAM THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN LIBRARY THAT ALLOWS PATRONS TO CHECK OUT TICKETS.

WE WERE THE FIRST THEATER COMPANY INVOLVED IF THAT PROGRAM AND DO IT FOR EVERY SHOW IN OUR SEASON.

FOLKS CAN COME IN AND CHECK OUT A FEW TICKETS, A VOUCHER, MAKING THEATER ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS IS IMPORTANT TO US.

>> WHAT A INCREDIBLE RESOURCE FOR COLUMBUS FAMILIES.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ARE EXCITED TO DO THE WORK AND INTRODUCE FAMILIES TO THE LOVE OF THEATER.

>> ZACH, THESE LOOK INCREDIBLE.

THEY CAME TOGETHER SO EASILY.

THEY ARE JUST DELIGHTFUL.

I CAN NOT WAIT TO TRY ONE.

BEFORE WE DIG IN WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT COLUMBUS CHILDREN'S THEATER IN >> WE ARE EXCITED TO OFFER HIGH QUALITY THEATER PROGRAMMING FROM OUR SHOWS TO EDUCATION AND TRULY FOR ALL AGES.

SO, THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN EXPERIENCE REALLY GREAT LOCAL THEATER.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATER ARTISTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO IMPORTANT.

GREAT.

I THINK WE SHOULD TRY ONE OF THESE.

>> I THINK SO.

I HAVE MY EYE ON THIS ONE.

THEY LOOK SO DELICIOUS.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT HAS BEEN A BLAST.

>> WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE.