♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IMPACT GIVEBACK 2.0.

I'M YOUR HOST RICK FENNER, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT UTICA UNIVERSITY.

IN THE FALL OF 2021, AS THE NATION WAS COMING OUT OF THE COVID 19 SHUTDOWN, WCNY VISITED WITH 60 LOCAL BUSINESSES TO LEARN HOW THEY WERE HANDLING LIFE AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

>> HI, MY NAME IS TANNER.

I'M THE OWNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF WONDER BAR.

IT'S A QUEER BAR AND THEATER IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE.

>> MY NAME IS PAM RICHARDSON, I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD TO SERVE AS SYMPHORIA'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

>> I'M JILL ANDERSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT SYRACUSE STAGE.

WE ARE A FULLY PROFESSIONAL THEATER COMPANY IN RESIDENCE AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

>> MY NAME IS DIANE KUPPERMANN, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF MAKE-A-WISH CENTRAL NEW YORK.

OUR MISSION IS VERY SIMPLE.

OUR PURPOSE IS TO CREATE LIFE CHANGING WISHES FOR KIDS LIVING WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES.

>> HI, MY NAME IS DREAMER, THE OWNER OF MISS PRISSY'S LOCATED IN THE SOUTH CITY MARKET.

MISS PRISSY IS AMERICAN SOUL FOOD.

WE COOK FOOD THAT IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL >> TONIGHT IS THE SECOND IN OUR THREE-PART SERIES, FOLLOWING UP WITH SOME OF THESE BUSINESS OWNERS TO SEE HOW THEIR ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING TODAY.

I'M HAPPY TO BE JOINED HERE BY TANNER EFFINGER, OWNER AND DIRECTOR.

PAMELA RICHARDSON, DIANE KUPPERMANN, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF MAKE-A-WISH CENTRAL NEW YORK JILL ANDERSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SYRACUSE STAGE AND DREAMER GLEN, OWNER OF MISS PRISSIES.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING ME TONIGHT LET ME START WITH YOU, TANNER, YOUR BUSINESS WAS ONLY OPEN FOR ONE YEAR WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

CLOSED, YOU OPENED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, CLOSED AGAIN.

THAT HAD TO BE ESPECIALLY DISCOURAGING FOR A NEW BUSINESS PERSON.

DID YOU EVER THINK MAYBE THIS WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> SURE.

THERE WERE MONTHS AT A TIME THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE.

IN FACT, AT ONE POINT, WE REOPENED AND I WAS THE BARTENDER AND MY HUSBAND WHO HAS A FULL TIME JOB WAS THE WAITER AND I DID IT TO GET RID OF THE ALCOHOL AND PULL THE PLUG.

AT THAT TIME EVERYONE HAD TO BE SAT OUTSIDE.

REMEMBER WE ALL HAD TO BE AT TABLES AND SIX FEET APART AND TO ORDER A DRINK YOU HAD TO ORDER FOOD AND THERE WERE ALL OF THESE RULES.

AND SO WE DID OUR BEST.

WE DID TRIVIA ONCE A WEEK FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

AND EVENTUALLY WE HAD ABOUT 100, 150 PEOPLE OUT IN OUR PARKING LOT FOR TRIVIA EVERY WEEK.

I HAD MY PARENTS COME AND THEY HELPED OUT AND EVENTUALLY, I REALIZED OKAY, I GOT TO ORDER MORE ALCOHOL TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING AND I'VE GOT TO EVENTUALLY GET MORE STAFF, YOU KNOW.

AND SO SLOWLY WE STARTED TO COME BACK BRUT EVERYBODY R BUT EVERYONE WE HIRED EVEN IN THE EARLY DAYS, I SAID LOOK, IF YOU NEED THIS JOB, YOU HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO STAY OPEN.

WE PROBABLY WON'T BE.

WE ARE GOING DEEPER AND DEEFER INTO DEBT.

>> BUT YOU MADE IT.

>> WE MADE IT.

>> TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE BAR AND THEATER TODAY.

HAVE YOU RETURNED TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ARE OFFERING?

IS THE COMMUNITY COMING OUT UNDERSTOOD TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER AND WONDER BAR?

>> WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF NEW FACES ACTUALLY.

BEING A BUSINESS THAT WAS ONLY OPEN A YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WE WERE.

NOW WE HAVE DRAG BRUNCH EVERY MONTH ON A SUNDAY AND WE SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, 75% OF OUR AUDIENCE EVERY TIME IS COMPLETELY NEW.

SO WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE NEW FACES COMING OUT.

AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIG EXCITING THING FOR US RIGHT NOW.

>> WERE YOU ABLE TO TAKE ANY LESSONS AWAY FROM THE PANDEMIC?

ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF THIS?

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

I MEAN I THINK ONE THING THAT MAYBE WE ALL LEARNED WAS JUST TO LIVE FOR THE DAY, BECAUSE EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, PAST TODAY IS PROBABLY GOING TO CHANGE SO DON'T MAKE TOO MANY FUTURE PLANS.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO OPERATIONALLY LEARNED THAT WE WORKS REALLY WELL AS A CABARET SPACE.

WE BROUGHT IN TABLES BECAUSE THAT WAS THE RULE AT THE TIME AND IT WORKED REALLY WELL FOR US.

THERE WERE OPERATIONAL THINGS THAT WE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY THAT ARE MAKING US MOVE MORE SMOOTHLY NOW.

>> WHERE DOES WUNDERBAR GO FROM HERE?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR BUSINESS GROW TO?

>> WE NOT ONLY SUPPORT GLBILITY LGBTQ FOLKS TO LIVE VISIBLE AND TO BE PROUD OF THEIR LIVES.

WE ALSO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE CAREERS.

SO I HOPE TO SEE MORE THEATER IN THE SPACE.

I HOPE TO SEE MORE ARTISTS KIND OF LOOKING AT SYRACUSE AS A REGION THAT THEY SHOULD MOVE TO BECAUSE OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE OFFER AT WUNDERBAR AND BREAD CRUMBS PRODUCTIONS.

SO I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE A RESOURCE AND CONTINUE TO GROW WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

>> YOU MENTIONED BREAD CRUMBS PRODUCTIONS.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> THAT IS OUR NON-PROFIT THEATER COMPANY THAT STARTED BEFORE WUNDERBAR BUT THAT'S THE THEATER COMPANY IN RESIDENCE.

WE CREATE NEW SHOWS.

WE DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACH ARTISTS ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS LIKE WRITING GRANTS, DEVELOPING BUDGETS, HOW TO PAY YOURSELF.

BUT THE IDEA IS HOW DO I BE AN ARTIST AND STAY IN SYRACUSE AND KEEP THE CULTURAL CAPITAL THAT ALL OF US HAVE AS ARTISTS HERE IN SYRACUSE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO AT BREAD CRUMBS PRODUCTION.

>> ARE YOU A ARTIST YOURSELF?

>> I'M A THEATER ARTIST AND THAT'S WHY WE TOOK OVER THE SPACE BECAUSE WE CAN CREATE THEATER AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, DO THE BAR AND FOOD SIDE AS WELL.

>> SO WHAT IS UPCOMING AT WUNDERBAR RIGHT NOW?

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF STUFF UPCOMING.

WE HAVE OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING OF TRIVIA AND KARAOKE AND DRAG SHOWS.

WE HAVE A DRAG BRUNCH ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 18, WHICH IS GOING TO BE REALLY FUN.

WE ARE EVEN DOING A CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS EVE THING AT WUNDERBAR WHICH HAS BECOME A TRADITION.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO, YOU CAN COME HERE AND MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND AND SOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY COME AND WE ALL EAT COOKIES AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

IT'S A REALLY NICE SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY, I THINK.

>> WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

NEXT IS PAMELA MUCH MURCHISON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SYMPHORIA IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW HAS THE RETURN TO LIVE PERFORMANCES GONE?

ARE THINGS BACK TO NORMAL FOR YOUR GROUP IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF PATRONS COMING OUT?

>> THE ENERGY IN THE HALL IS AMAZING.

WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST IN-PERSON PERFORMANCES IN SEPTEMBER 2021, AFTER A LONG HIATUS, WE WERE IN A DIFFERENT VENUE, A SMALLER ONE THAT WAS EQUIPPED FOR LIVE STREAMING CAPABILITIES SO WE COULD OFFER A HYBRID OPTION FOR PEOPLE NOT READY TO COME BACK YET.

AND PEOPLE WERE JUST REALLY MOVED TO TEARS TO BE BACK TOGETHER SHARING MUSIC.

SO IT HAS BEEN A GREAT HONOR TO KEEP MUSIC GOING, TO KEEP PEOPLE CONNECTED THROUGH MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE HEIGHT OF THE PERSON.

WE WERE LIVE STREAMING PERFORMANCES.

WE ONLY STOPPED FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS IN THE SPRING OF 2020.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WOULD SAY I KNOW IT'S SATURDAY BECAUSE THERE IS A SYMPHORIA CONCERT ON TONIGHT OR I BETTER GET DRESSED BECAUSE THERE IS A SYMPHORIA CONCERT OR I'M WAITING ON DIFFICULT NEWS, I'M GLAD THERE IS A SYMPHORIA CONCERT SO THAT IS WONDERFUL.

AND WE DO ABOUT 40 SHOWS A YEAR.

WE KEEP REALLY BUSY.

THE START OF THE SEASON HAS BEEN, I THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING USED TO GETTING BACK IN THE HABIT OF PUTTING ON PANTS AND PARKING, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAYBE WE GOT OUT OF THE HABIT ON DURING 2020 AND 2021, BUT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE HAVE SEEN GREAT AUDIENCES AND WE HAVE YET TO HAVE A PERSON-- AND PEOPLE TELL US WHEN THEY'RE UNHAPPY.

THAT'S GREAT.

WE LOVE THAT PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY CAN TALK TO US AND GIVE US THEIR FEEDBACK, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

BUT WE HAVE YET TO HAVE A PERSON WHO HAS REGRETTED COMING OUT AND SHARING MUSIC WITH US.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE IMPACT GIVEBACK THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL OUR STORY AND KEEP CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE SO THAT WHATEVER MOMENTUM WE DID LOSE, IT WAS MINIMAL LOSS.

AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP MUSIC PLAY.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE ONLINE STREAMING SUBSCRIPTION.

DO YOU STILL OFFER THAT?

>> WE ARE NOT OFFERING THAT THIS YEAR.

WHAT WE REALLY DO IS LIVE EVENTS.

AND HAVE PEOPLE TOGETHER AND SHARING MUSIC AND BEING TOGETHER AROUND SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAPPENS IN THAT MOMENT.

WE FOUND OUT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE MUSICIANS PERFORMING AND STAY CONNECTED DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE ARE NOT A PRODUCTION COMPANY WE CANNOT PRODUCE OUTSTANDING THINGS LIKE WCNY OR CAN DO, SO WE HAVE JUST SORT OF DOUBLED DOWN ON OUR CORE MODEL, WHICH IS LIVE PERFORMANCE.

WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS COMING UP THAT PEOPLE WILL BE EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT.

>> BEFORE I ASK THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THOSE ARE, YOU HAD A LARGE OUTREACH PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO YOUR PERFORMANCES.

HAS THAT GOTTEN BACK ON SNRAK.

>> YEAH, IN FACT IT'S GROWN STARTING IN EARLY 2022, WE STARTED A STRING QUARTET RESIDENCY WITH THE THIRD GRADE CLASSROOMS IN THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WAS DONE VIA ZOOM BECAUSE OF VISITOR RESTRICTIONS BUT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE A HEALING HARMONIES PROGRAM THAT PLACES LIVE MUSIC IN CARE TREATMENT FACILITIES.

THAT HAS EXTENDED BEYOND ONONDAGA COUNTY INTO CORTLAND AND OSWEGO COUNTY.

WE ARE ALSO WORKING IN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES, NURSING CARE FACILITIES, SAMARITAN CENTER, RESCUE MISSION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO OUR OUTREACH HAS EXPANDED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> AND WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE COMING UP IN THE FUTURE LET ME MOVE ON TO NANCY KUPPERMANN, C.E.O.

AND PRESIDENT OF MAKE-A-WISH OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THANKS FOR COMING.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> NOW IN YOUR INTERVIEW LAST YEAR, YOU MENTIONED HOW YOU WORKED HARD TO MEET A GOAL OF I THINK GRANTING 50 WISHES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT YOUR GOAL WAS TO TRY TO EXPAND THAT.

HAVE YOU BEEN SUCCESSFUL?

>> WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE FINISHED OUR FISCAL 22 ON 8-3 IS HAVING EXCEEDED OUR GOAL AND WISHING 59 WISHES.

KIDS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR WISHES AND SOME KIDS CAN'T WAIT FOR WISHES SO WE REALLY WANTED TO POWER THROUGH.

AND THIS YEAR OUR GOALS ARE MASSIVE.

IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST YEAR MAKE-A-WISH CENTRAL NEW YORK HAS EVER SEEN WITH THE GOALS TO GRANT 92 WISHES.

AND WITH THOSE 92 WISHES, WE HAVE TO RAISE NEARLY $2 MILLION.

>> WOW.

I APOLOGIZE.

DIANE.

>> IT'S OKAY.

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT ONLY THE NUMBER OF WISHES, BUT THE TYPE OF WISHES YOU COULD FULFILL.

MANY OF THEM HAVING TO DO WITH TRAVEL AND OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

ARE YOU GETTING BACK TO NORMAL IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF WISHES YOU CAN GRANT AS WELL?

>> WE ARE.

WHEN TRAVEL EMERGED, IT WAS A GREAT RELIEF TO US BECAUSE SO MANY KIDS WANT TO TRAVEL.

WE ARE LIMITED TO DOMESTIC TRAVEL KIDS WHO HAVE INTERNATIONAL OR CRUISE WISHES HAD TO REIMAGINE THEIR WISHES BUT KIDS ALWAYS HAVE MORE THAN ONE PISH AND THE TIMING OF THE WISH IS ALMOST AS IMPORTANT AS THE WISH ITSELF AND THE HEALING PROCESS FOR THE KIDS SO ALL OF OUR KIDS WHO TRAVELED INTERNATIONAL AND CRUISE WISHES HAVE REIMAGINED TO WONDERFUL FABULOUS WISHES.

AND THAT MAGICAL PLACE, DISNEY WORLD, IS A BIG RELIEF THAT WE CAN SEND THE KIDS THERE.

WE HAVE SO MANY PLANNED.

WE WILL DO OVER 30 WALT DISNEY WORLD WISHES THIS YEAR.

SO THOSE KIDS WILL HAVE THOSE ISSUES COME TRUE.

>> OBVIOUSLY MEETING SO MANY GOALS, MEANS THAT YOU HAVE VERY AGGRESSIVE FUNDRAISING GOALS.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR ABILITY TO DO DRA DIGSAL-- TRADITIONAL FUNDRAISING.

WHERE ARE YOU NOW IN THE PROCESS?

>> ONE OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS THAT WE HAD WAS A GALA OF THE SUGARMAN LAW FIRM WISH FALL AND THAT STOPPED IMMEDIATELY.

WE ALL PIVOTED TO A VIRTUAL EVENT AND THE FIRST YEAR IT WAS IS SO SUCCESSFUL, WE MADE MORE MONEY BECAUSE WE HAD NO EXPENSES.

THE SECOND YEAR WE SAID WELL, WE'VE GOT TO STICK TO IT BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE TOGETHER AGAIN.

AND IT WAS A REAL TEST.

AND AGAIN, IT RAISED SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY.

SO, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE TOGETHER.

AS YOU HEARD AND AS EVERYBODY HAS SAID.

SO WE ARE AMERICANING BACK.

THE LUNCHEON WITH COACH BOEHEIM WAS LIVE AND WE THINK SO SMALLER EVENTS.

MORE INTIMATE EVENTS ARE THE WAY TO GO.

SO WE ARE MERGING INTO THAT SPACE NOW TO HAVE JUST FEWER PEOPLE BUT WITH THE SAME MISSION TO RAISE MONEY.

>> YOU WERE ONE OF, I BELIEVE, 59 CHAPTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, DID YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THESE OTHER CHAPTERS?

DO YOU KNOW WHETHER THE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HAD HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF OTHER CHAPTERS?

>> THEY WERE VERY SIMILAR.

WE ALL DO THE SAME THING.

WE CARRY ONE MISSION AND ONE GOAL TO CREATE LIFE CHANGING WISHES FOR KIDS WITH CRITICAL ILLNESSES.

WE WERE ALL UNDER THE SAME RESTRAINTS.

BUT WE ALSO ALL WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

WE DID THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

AND OUR KIDS HAVE TO BE RESILIENT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE LEARNED, WE, TOO, HAD TO FOLLOW THEIR RESILIENCY TO MAKE WISHES COME TRUE BECAUSE NO IS NOT AN OPTION WHEN YOU ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE.

WE WORK TOGETHER THERE.

WERE CELEBRITY VISITS.

AND IN OUR MINDS, CELEBRITY VISIT WAS GOING TO THE CELEBRITY'S CONCERT OR GOING TO SEE A MOVIE PRODUCTION, BUT THE CHANGE IN THAT GAVE KIDS SUCH A MORE INTIMATE EXPERIENCE WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE THEY WANTED TO MEET BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS SITTING HOME.

SO IT'S HARD TO SIT HOME AND WATCH FOOTBALL GAMES.

SO WE ARE GLAD THAT THAT IS ALL BACK NOW AND LIVE.

WE HAD KIDS MEET THE YANKEES AND GO TO THE STEELERS, BUT WE WERE IN IT TOGETHER, FOR SURE.

FINDING WAYS TO BE CREATIVE AND TO BE UNIQUE AND TO SAY YES TO THESE KIDS.

>> THAT'S GREAT NEWS.

THANK YOU.

JILL ANDERSON IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SYRACUSE STAGE.

IN YOUR INTERVIEW LAST YEAR, YOU WERE PREPARING TO OFFER YOUR FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCE.

AND YOU SAID IN THIS THAT YOU HAD CHILLS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.

SO I WAS WONDERING HOW DID THAT FIRST PERFORMANCE GO?

DID IT MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

>> THE GOOSE BUMPS JUST CAME BACK UPON REMEMBERING THAT NIGHT.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL.

WE HAD BEEN DARK FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS AT THAT TIME, WHICH 3, AS FAMILIAR SAID, AS A FIELD THAT DOES LIVE EVENTS, THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, TO BE BACK IN THAT ROOM WITH, AT THAT TIME, A SMALLER NUMBER OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, WAS MAGICAL.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL.

WE TRIED TO FILM AS MANY THINGS AS WE COULD LAST YEAR, TOO, BUT LIKE PAM, WE ARE FINDING THAT BEING IN THAT ROOM IS SOMETHING THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ALL IN THIS YEAR.

>> WELL, GREAT.

SO YOU ARE IN YOUR SECOND FULL POST PANDEMIC SEASON.

>> WE ARE.

>> BACK TO NORMAL.

ARE THERE STILL CHALLENGES?

>> INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES.

EVERY DAY IS ITS OWN CONTINGENCY MENU.

WE HAD SOME BOARD MEETINGS TODAY AND WE SHARED THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE THE ONLY FIELDS WE CAN IMAGINE IN WHICH THE JOB IS TO SPEND 30 HOURS A WEEK IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO YOUR COLLEAGUES PROJECTING YOUR VOICE, BREATH AND WHATEVER YOU MAY BE CARRYING WITH YOU, AND SO WE STILL FACE CHALLENGES THAT A LOT OF OTHER FIELDS DON'T; FOR EXAMPLE, WE TALK TO COLLEAGUES WHO WORK IN SPORTS.

IF THERE IS ONE POSITIVE ON A PORTS SPORTS TEAM, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY SEE SIX, 13, ET CETERA, FOR US.

THAT MATH IS STILL VERY DIFFERENT.

LAST YEAR WHEN WE NEEDED TO SUSPEND OUR HOLIDAY PRODUCTION ABOUT TWO WEEKS EARLY, IT LITERALLY WENT THAT WAY.

ONE POSITIVE.

THE NEXT DAY SIX, THE NEXT DAY 13 AND AT A CERTAIN POINT WE RAN OUT OF BODIES TO PERFORM THE SHOW.

WE ARE MAKING SOME CHANGES THIS YEAR.

IN THE PAST WE WOULD ASK PATRONS IF WE IT CANCEL THE PERFORMANCE TO CONSIDER WHETHER THEY WANTED CREDIT TO CONVERT THEIR TICKET VALUE TO A DONATION OR BE REFUNDED.

THIS YEAR WE ARE AUTOMATICALLY REFUNDING PURCHASES IF THERE WAS A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE NEEDED TO CANCEL.

HOPING THAT IS A WORRY FREE GUARANTEE WE CAN OFFER TO REINCENTIVIZE EARLY BUYING WHICH HELPS US PLAN AND PREDICT AND KNOW WHERE WE WILL BE A FEW MONTHS AHEAD.

>> SO ARE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE COMING BACK, APART FROM THE PERFORMANCES THAT YOU HAD TO MISS, ARE PEOPLE WANTING TO GET BACK IN AND SEE YOU PERFORM?

>> NOTES WHAT WE ARE USED TO.

I WILL SAY THAT.

WE ARE STILL CHALLENGED.

WE ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE HOLIDAY SHOW, WHICH IS NOW JUST UP AND RUNNING AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY.

THE LITTLE MERMAID, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL AND PURE SPECTACLE IN THE LITERAL SENSE.

IT NORMALLY, BY THIS TIME OF YEAR, WOULD BE SOLD OUT FOR THE RUN.

IT IS NOT.

SO TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE.

PLEASE COME SEE US.

BUT B, WE THINK FOR THE MOST PART, FOLKS ARE BUYING LATER RATHER THAN PLANNING NOT TO COME.

THAT IS WHAT THE WOOD WE ARE KNOCKING ON TODAY BUT IT'S GROWN CONSIDERABLY.

A WEEK AGO WE WERE 49% TO ITS INCOME GOAL.

TODAY WE ARE 67% TO ITS INCOME GOAL.

SO SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO KEEP IT RUNNING, WHICH IS WHAT WE HOLD OUR BREATH ABOUT CONSTANTLY.

AND MORE THAN HOLD OUR BREATH, DOUBLE, TRIPLE CAST, DESIGN MASKS TO INCORPORATE INTO COSTUMES SO WE CAN GET FOLKS BACK IN AFTER FIVE DAYS INSTEAD OF 10.

MAKE COSTUMES WORK FOR ALL BODY TYPES AND GENDERS SO THAT NO MATTER WHO IS IN OR OUT, WE CAN FIELD A TEAM, AS IT WERE.

>> OKAY.

YOU ALSO MENTIONED DURING YOUR INTERVIEW THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU HAD TO BE CREATIVE IN HOW YOU PRODUCED THEATER.

IN FACT ONE WAS YOU HAD AN ENTIRE PLAY FILMED IN THE R.V.

OF THE TWO STARS OF THE PLAY.

I WAS WONDERING, GOING FORWARD, ARE YOU STILL PLANNING ON USING INNOVATIVE WAYS OF DELIVERING THEATER?

>> I THINK IT'S CONSTANTLY ON THE TABLE.

THIS YEAR I WILL SAY IS A LITTLE MORE BACK TO OUR PRODUCING MODELS OF YORE BUT HAVING DEVELOPED THOSE SKILLS AND LEARNED THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HADN'T EMPLOYED BEFORE, YOU WILL SEE IT CREEPING IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THROUGH WHAT ROLLS ON FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.

ONE THING THAT IS A POINT OF PRIDE, WE ARE KNOWN IN THE SPRING OFFERING ONE ACTOR, ONE CHARACTER TOURING SHOWS WHICH HAVE GONE TO MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

THEY TEND TO BE ABOUT HISTORIC CHARACTERS.

THE JAMES BALDWIN PIECE, A PIECE ABOUT ONE OF THE HUMAN COMPUTERS FROM NASA'S OHIO FACILITY.

WE HAVE ARE THE STAKED LOOKING AT THOSE MORE ENTREPRENEURIALLY AND AFTER THEY TOUR LOCALLY HERE, WE ARE ABLE TO BOOK THEM OUT OF STATE, OUT OF MARKET AND DRAW REVENUE STREAMS INTO THE THEATER THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE.

SO WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED OUR FIRST NATIONAL TOUR OF THIS PIECE CALLED COMMANDING SPACE ABOUT ANNIE EASLY FROM NASA AND IT TOURED FOR THREE WEEKS FROM FLORIDA TO COLORADO TO MAINE WITH EVERY OBSTACLE YOU CAN IMAGINE, INCLUDING THE HURRICANE IN FLORIDA A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

SO TRYING TO FIND MODELS LIKE THAT MAY BE WHERE WE FIND OUR INNOVATION THAN IN TECHNOLOGY.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

DREAMER.

OWNER OF MISS PRISSY.

DREAMER GLEN.

YOU HAD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN CATERING.

AND THEN YOU WERE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR A POSITION AT SALT CITY MARKET WHICH YOU WERE AWARDED.

ALL THESE GREAT PLANS AND YOU DIDN'T GET TO START.

THE PANDEMIC HIT AND THE BUILDING WASN'T EVEN READY.

>> THE BUILDING WAS NOT READY.

THE BUILDING WAS DELAYED, YEAH.

>> NOW YOU DIDN'T GET DISCOURAGED.

YOU JOINED WITH COMMUNITY PLATE AND HELPED PRODUCE AND FEED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> SO, YES, WE WERE SET TO GO ON TO THE MARKET AND COVID HAPPENED AND EVEN THOUGH THE BUILDING WAS STILL BEING GOING ORGANIZATION THE CONSTRUCTION WAS STILL GOING ON, EVERYTHING WAS SLOW BECAUSE NOW THERE IS A SUPPLY PROBLEM AND THINGS CAN'T GET HERE IN A TIMELY FASHION.

SO WE WERE A BIT HUNG UP.

AND I WAS APPROACHED BY THE ALAN FOUNDATION AND SOME OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEY WANTED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.

SO THEY STARTED COMMUNITY PLATE.

SO THEY PARTNERED WITH US TO PRODUCE MEALS.

THE MEALS WERE GIVEN OUT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTERS LIKE THE SOUTHWEST CENTER, THE ELDERLY, THEY WOULD GO AROUND AND THEY WOULD GIVE IT TO THEM.

THEY COULD COME AND PICK IT UP.

JUST TO FEED THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW.

FOOD IS EVERYTHING.

FOOD IS LIKE THE NUCLEUS.

>> SO WAS THE SOUL FOOD THE SAME FOOD YOU HAD BEEN SERVING?

>> SOME OF THE SAME FOODS THAT WE SERVE IN THE RESTAURANT WERE GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS TWO FOLD.

NOT ONLY WERE WE GETTING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, WE WERE ALSO GETTING TO GET MISS PRISSY'S NAME OUT THERE BEFORE WE ACTUALLY OPENED.

SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF MARKETING GENIUS BEHIND THAT AS WELL.

AND OVERALL, WE PREPARED FROM MARCH, AND I THINK THE PROGRAM ENDED IN LATE MAY, 16,500 MEALS TO FEED THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

>> WHEN DID YOU FINALLY GET INTO SALT CITY MARKET?

>> JANUARY OF 2021.

>> OKAY.

SO YOU HAVE BEEN IN FOR A WHILE.

HOW ARE THINGS GOING?

>> THINGS ARE WONDERFUL.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE BACK IN THE SPACE.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE TABLES NOT SPACED APART.

IT'S GREAT NOT TO SEAT CIRCLES ON THE FLOOR THAT TELL YOU PLEASE STAND HERE.

YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND JUST SEE THE PEOPLE COME IN AND NOT JUST GRAB THEIR BAGS AND GO.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF BEING IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

YOU WANT TO INTERACT WITH THE PEOPLE.

>> SO YOU STILL DO YOUR CATERING AS WELL AS THE-- >> CATERING HAS PICKED UP.

WHEN COVID HIT, CATERING DIED.

WE HAD TO REFUND MONEY.

WE HAD TO GIVE PEOPLE BACK THEIR DEPOSITS BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND IT'S GREAT.

NOW WE ARE CATERING EVERYWHERE.

OFFICE PARTIES, CHRISTMAS PARTIES, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, SO THINGS ARE REALLY PICKING UP AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE?

SERVING CATERING OR HAVING A PHYSICAL LOCATION?

>> IF I HAD TO SAY, I DO HAVE A PREFERENCE, CATERING BECAUSE IT'S EXACT.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE PREPARING.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, AND I'M SURE YOU CAN GET THAT, YOU ARE JUST ON A WHIM.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO SHOW UP.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH FOOD YOU SHOULD FIX.

SO I'M PARTIAL TO CATERING.

CATERING IS WHERE MY HEART IS BUT I LOVE THE PEOPLE FROM THE DAY-TO-DAY.

>> I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL THANKSGIVING.

>> YES, WE DO OUR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING SPECIAL.

SO WE PREPARED OVER 40 TURKEYS ROASTED AND FRIED AND OVER 200 PANS OF SIDE DISHES.

WE HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS MOVING FORWARD?

>> WELL, WE HAVE A SAUCE, IF ANYBODY HAS EVER BEEN TO THE RESTAURANT AND HAD OUR SASSY SHRIMP, THE MISS PRISSY SASSY SAUCE IS GOING TO MARKET REALLY, REALLY SOON WITHIN THE NEXT 60 DAYS.

SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> WHERE WILL WE BE ABLE TO FIND THAT?

>> HOPEFULLY IN SOME LOCAL MARKETS AROUND HERE.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT.

AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR-- THE MARKET IS AN INCUBATOR SO WE ARE LOOKING TO BRANCH OUT FROM THERE AND FIND OUR SECOND LOCATION SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> WONDERFUL.

THAT'S GREAT NEWS.

ANY LASTING LESSONS FROM THE PANDEMIC?

>> LEARN TO BE FLEXIBLE.

LEARN TO PIVOT AND THAT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I'M SO SET IN MY WAYS.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE JUST SO.

AND JUST TO LEARN TO JUST FLOW WITH IT, YOU KNOW, TODAY IT MIGHT BE GOOD AND TOMORROW WE MIGHT HAVE TO SELL DRINKS WITH SEALS ON THEM.

WE DON'T KNOW.

SO JUST PIVOTING AND BEING FLEXIBLE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M SORRY, BUT THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR GUESTS FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES WITH US.

I WISH ALL OF YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS.

OUR THIRD AND LAST INSTALLMENT OF IMPACT GIVEBACK 2.0 WILL AIR ON DECEMBER 26TH.

I'M RICK FENNER AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT WCNY, I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR EVENING AND THAT YOU WILL JOIN US FOR OUR FINAL EPISODE.