>> WITH ME TODAY IS STACY WITH SHADOWBOX LIVE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO TELL ME THE HISTORY OF SHADOWBOX LIVE.

>> WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1988.

THERE WAS A GUY WRITING A ROCK OPERA.

I WAS AN OPERA STUDENT AT THE TIME.

I HEARD HE NEEDED BACKUP SINGERS.

IT WAS NOT GOOD BUT I LOVED THE IDEA OF STORY TELLING THROUGH POPULAR MUSIC VERSUS CLASSICAL MUSIC AND WE DECIDED TO PURSUE THIS DREAM ALTOGETHER.

ABOUT FIVE OF US.

IT HAS GROWN INTO THE NATION'S LARGEST RESIDENT THEATER ENSEMBLE.

IF YOU HAD TOLD ME THIS WAS THE JOURNEY, I WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IMAGINE.

IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.

I CAN TELL FROM THESE DELICIOUS INGREDIENTS, TELL ME WHAT WE ARE MAKING.

>> WE ARE MAKING THE ULTIMATE POTATO CHEESE SOUP.

>> I CAN'T WAIT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> IS THIS A SPECIAL RECIPE?

>> IT IS.

I HAVE PROBABLY BEEN MAKING THIS 20 YEARS.

IT IS A GREAT GO TO AND YOU CAN'T MESS IT UP.

AND YOU CAN DO A LOT OF VARIATIONS ON IT TOO.

>> TELL US WHAT WE NEED.

>> THE INGREDIENTS WE NEED TODAY ARE TOUR TABLESPOONS OF SWEET BUTTER.

TWO CUPS OF FINELY CHOPPED YELLOW ONIONS.

TWO CUPS OF PEELED AND CHOPPED CARROTS.

SIX PARSLEY SPRIGS.

FIVE CUPS OF CHICKEN STOCK, TWO LARGE POTATOES, DILL, GRATED CHEESE, SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE AND CROUTONS.

>> OKAY, I'M READY FOR SOME COMFORT FOOD.

WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP FOR THE SOUP?

>> WE HAVE TO MELT THE BUTTER OF COURSE.

>> I WILL PUT THAT IN HERE.

>> AND CALORIE DEFICIENT THIS SOUP IS NOT.

THAT'S WHY IT'S SO GOOD.

>> SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

>> WE WILL LET THAT MELT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

WILL PUT IN THE ONIONS.

>> OKAY, GREAT.

SO CAN YOU TALK AND MELT BUTTER?

>> I CAN DO THAT.

I CAN'T DO A LOT OF THINGS BUT I CAN DO THAT.

>> SO TELL ME ABOUT THE DIFFERENT GENRES OF PROGRAMMING THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE AT SHADOWBOX LIVE.

>> WE ARE VERY LUCKY IN THE RESPECT WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY.

LIKE PEOPLE, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SIDES TO US.

PROBABLY OUR PILLAR ART FORM IS THE SKETCH COMEDY AND MUSIC.

IT IS NICE TO HAVE COLLEAGUES THAT ARE PROFESSIONAL COMEDIANS AND COMICS.

IT MAKES THE DAY GO BE REALLY FAST.

THAT'S REALLY A STRONG GENRE FOR US.

WE ALSO HAVE AN AMAZING BAND, THE MUSICIANS AND SINGERS ARE FANTASTIC.

AND SO WE DO MUSIC TRIBUTE SHOWS AS WELL.

BUT IT IS NOT JUST LIKE A BAND PLAYING.

SO THERE'S LIGHTS, THERE'S DANCE, THERE'S NARRATION, YOU GET TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE ARTIST AND WHAT AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE ARTISTS.

THEATER WHERE WE TAKE CLASSICAL TALES AND SET THEM TO MUSIC.

AND WE HAVE META MEDIA SHOWS WHICH ARE KIND OF LIKE OUR CATCH ALL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF VIDEO SUPPORT AS WELL.

>> IT RUNS THE GAMUT.

>> SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THAT IS WHAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON.

>> AS YOU SHOULD.

>> YES.

EXACTLY.

THAT IS GETTING THERE.

TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO GET OUR BUTTER MELTED.

THEN WE WILL ADD IN OUR ONIONS AND CARROTS.

GET THOSE SAUTEED.

THAT LITTLE FOUNDATION OF SOUP GOODNESS.

>> SMELL THE BUTTER.

SO GOOD.

>> I KNOW.

>> SO GOOD.

>> LET'S DO THIS.

SO LET'S PUT IN OUR ONIONS FIRST.

AND WE WILL LET THESE GET SOFT.

AND, YOU CAN TELL BY THE SMELL RIGHT?

>> AND TRANSLUCENT.

>> YOU HAVE TO AS YOU GO.

>> IT IS SMART TO LAYER.

>> CLEAN HANDS.

>> THAT IS A QUOTE I CAN'T REMEMBER.

>> WE WILL KEEP IT.

>> WITH ALL THE GENRES AND THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMMINGS, ARE THESE ORIGINAL WORKS?

>> WE ARE INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE ALL THIS ORIGINAL WORK.

WE CREATE EIGHT DIFFERENT PRODUCTIONS A YEAR.

>> THAT SEEMS LIKE AN ASTRONOMICAL NUMBER.

>> IT IS.

BUT IT IS INTERESTING WHEN YOU HAVE A COLLECTIVE OF ARTISTS, I HAVE 25 ARTISTS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US TEN YEARS OR MORE.

>> REALLY?

WOW.

>> YEAH.

SO WE HAVE THIS DOWN TO A SCIENCE.

IT IS NOT FORMULAIC.

JUST SETTLE FOR THE NORM.

>> THAT SEEMS KEY AND YOU CAN SKIP THAT.

GET RIGHT INTO IT.

>> GET RIGHT INTO IT.

THERE IS ALSO NO TIME TO LIKE KIND OF, SOFT SHOE AROUND.

THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.

THEN THERE IS MOMENTS WHEN EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER AND YOU ARE LIKE WOW.

THIS IS AN AMAZING PRODUCTION AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SHARE IT WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> I LOVE THAT.

IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR ARTISTS AND THIS COMMUNITY.

>> AND YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

WHEN WE HAVE EIGHT TO TEN SHOWS A YEAR THAT WE ARE CREATING AND WE HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE FROM THE COLUMBUS COMMUNITY THAT TRUST US TO COME AND SPEND THEIR MONEY AND SPEND THEIR NIGHT WITH US TO SEE SOMETHING THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE, LIKE, HOW LUCKY ARE WE?

>> YEAH.

AND THEY SAY COLUMBUS IS THE TEST CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

SO HERE WE ARE.

>> IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH SHADOW BOX.

>> THEY KNOW IT WILL BE GREAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, I HOPE THAT WE HAVE EARNED THAT TRUST.

LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

YES.

>> I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PUT IN THE CARROTS NOW.

>> I WILL PUT IN THE CARROTS.

>> THIS IS A GOOD RECIPE, YOU CAN JUST EITHER WHIP IT UP QUICKLY OR LET IT SIMMER AND TAKE A LONG TIME MAKING SOUP WHICH CAN BE DEFINITELY THERAPEUTIC SOMETIMES.

IT KEEPS WELL, TOO.

IT KEEPS WELL.

AND IT MAKES THE WHOLE HOUSE SMELL SO GOOD.

>> SMELLS LIKE COMFORT.

>> THIS IS GREAT.

>> OKAY, SO THESE VEGGIES ARE LOOKING NICE AND TENDER.

WHAT'S NEXT?

>> THEY ARE.

SO NOW, WE ARE GOING TO PUT IN THE PARSLEY.

>> OKAY.

>> JUST STICK IT IN.

>> I STICK IT IN.

I LIKE TO PULL IT OUT.

I WANT IT THE FLAVORS TO KIND OF INFUSE.

EXACTLY.

THEN WE WILL PUT IN OUR POTATOES.

>> YOU WANT ME TO ADD THE STOCK?

>> YOU WANT TO DO THAT?

>> ALL OF IT GOES IN.

>> OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, I LOVE HOW OUR SOUP IS COMING ALONG.

>> YES.

YES.

>> STARTING TO SMELL REALLY GOOD.

>> WE SHOULD CALL THE SHOW SOUP TALK.

>> YES.

NEW IDEA.

>> WE NEED TO HAVE A SPIN OFF.

SOUP TALK.

>> OKAY, SO TALKING ABOUT SOUP, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SHADOWBOX.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRAMS, THE GENRES, BUT TELL ME OTHER WAYS FOLKS CAN EXPERIENCE SHADOWBOX.

>> WE HAVE AN AMAZING EDUCATIONAL TRACK.

SO IT IS CALLED THE SPX PERFORMANCE ACADEMY.

WE ACTUALLY CREATED THESE PROGRAMS ON WHAT WE WISH WE HAD WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER.

BECAUSE SO MANY KIDS, THEY ARE GUITAR PLAYERS AND DON'T FIT IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO BAND NECESSARILY.

AND SOMETIMES I THINK THAT ARTISTIC KIDS HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING THEIR PLACE.

SO THESE PROGRAMS, WE LITERALLY TEACH THEM WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST.

AND AS I ALWAYS SAY, IF YOU EXPECT THIS FROM A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, THEY WILL MEET IT.

THEY ARE HERE, THEY ARE GOING TO MEET IT.

SO I DON'T MESS AROUND.

I'M NOT AFRAID TO KICK OUT A KID.

I HAVE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS ON WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM.

BUT IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT LEARNING WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST BUT ALL THE SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY.

YOU KNOW.

INDIVIDUAL PREPARATION, TAKING CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, CALMING YOUR NERVES IN AN UNFAMILIAR SITUATION.

ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND IN THE END, THEY DO A PROFESSIONAL SKETCH COMEDY MUSIC SHOW WITH US.

IT IS NOT A KID PRODUCTION.

WE MAKE THE MATERIAL PG-13.

BUT, THE PARENTS LOVE OUR SHOWS.

THEY GET TO HAVE SOME FOOD AND DRINK WHILE THEY ARE WATCHING IT.

AND THE MATERIAL IS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE PUSHING THE EDGE A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THE KIDS FEEL LIKE ADULTS AND THEY REALLY, REALLY TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

AND IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE FOR US AS ARTISTS AND TEACHERS AND FOR THE KIDS.

25% OF OUR ENSEMBLES COME UP THROUGH OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM.

>> REALLY?

SO NOT ONLY IS IT GREAT FOR THE KIDS BUT A FEEDER FOR YOU FOR ARTISTS.

>> WHEN YOU DO GRANTS YOU ARE LIKE WE ARE CREATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PERFORMERS.

AND ONE TIME WE WERE DOING A SHOW AND I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH.

WE DID IT.

TALK ABOUT MANIFESTATION YOU KNOW?

YEAH.

SO IT IS REALLY BRILLIANT.

>> AND WHAT VALUABLE SKILLS TO IMPART ON KIDS WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO GO INTO THE ARTS OR NOT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND TAKING CRITICISM.

CALMING YOUR NERVES.

BEING ABLE TO SPEAK.

>> WITH A PRESENCE AND ALL OF THAT.

WE HAD A FORMER STUDENT THAT WAS APPLYING FOR AN APPLICATION FOR SCHOOL OR A GRANT AND SHE ATTRIBUTED OUR PROGRAMS TO HER IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST, TRY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE BUT THE WILLINGNESS TO TRY.

>> THAT IS SUCH A VALUABLE LESSON FOR GROWN UPS AS WELL.

>> IF YOU COULD GET THIS NOW VERSUS YOUR 40s.

>> YOU WILL BE SO AHEAD.

>> I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

>> THIS IS REALLY LOOKING GOOD.

>> THIS IS LOOKING GOOD.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NEXT?

>> OKAY, SO NOW, WHAT I TYPICALLY WOULD DO WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, POUR SOME OF THE BROTH OUT.

>> DUMP IT IN HERE?

>> YEAH.

JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> THEY TELL YOU TO STRAIN IT.

WHY BOTHER?

>> ARE YOU GOING TO NEED THAT LATER OR ARE WE DITCHING IT?

>> MAYBE.

>> SO LIKE A PASTA SITUATION?

>> YEAH.

>> DO WE NEED THIS?

IT SMELLS AMAZING.

>> WHAT'S ONE LAST THING YOU WOULD WANT FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT SHADOWBOX LIVE?

>> I THINK THAT PROBABLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT IS A FULL ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE.

SO, NOT ONLY IS IT ENTERTAINING, BUT WE ARE BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL, THE META PERFORMERS ARE ALSO THE SERVERS.

WE HAVE A FOOD AND DRINK PORTION OF THE EXPERIENCE WHERE MY BAND IS THE ONE HELPING TO MAKE PIZZAS.

THEY ARE IN THE BAR.

SO THERE IS ALL OF THAT AS WELL AS WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL GALLERY THAT WE ACTUALLY CURATE TO SUPPORT OUR LIVE PRODUCTIONS.

SO YOU HAVE A CULINARY EXPERIENCE, GALLERY EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE, AND A LIVE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE.

IT IS REALLY, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE NATION.

WE ARE ALMOST ON OUR 40th ANNIVERSARY.

IN A COUPLE OF YEARS WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING.

BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYBODY IN COLUMBUS TO COME CHECK IT OUT AND EXPERIENCE OUR POWER OF ART.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS SUCH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

I LOVE THAT.

>> IT IS.

OF ITS PEOPLE FOR SURE.

>> LET'S EAT SOME SOUP.

>> LET'S DO IT.

>> CROUTONS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CLEAN HANDS.

WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT.

OKAY.

>> IT LOOKS SO GOOD.

>> YEAH.

>> STACIE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

THIS HAS BEEN SO FUN.

>> I WANT TO EAT SOUP AND TALK WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.

>> NOW WE JUST NEED A GLASS OF WINE.

>> UH-HUH.