
On Broadway with Leslie Broecker
Season 2 Episode 23 | 25m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Find out what goes into bringing Broadway-caliber productions to Louisville.
Go behind the scenes of Broadway in Louisville to find out what goes into bringing Broadway-caliber productions to the city. Leslie Broecker, president of PNC Broadway in Louisville, discusses the history of the organization and the partnership between the Louisville Theatrical Association (LTA) and PNC Bank.
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Inside Louisville is a local public television program presented by KET

On Broadway with Leslie Broecker
Season 2 Episode 23 | 25m 29sVideo has Closed Captions
Go behind the scenes of Broadway in Louisville to find out what goes into bringing Broadway-caliber productions to the city. Leslie Broecker, president of PNC Broadway in Louisville, discusses the history of the organization and the partnership between the Louisville Theatrical Association (LTA) and PNC Bank.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.
THIS WEEK WROA TAKE TO YOU BROADWAY, NOT THAT BROADWAY BUT LOUISVILLE'S BROADWAY SCENE, PNC IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS BROADWAY SHOWS TO TOWN, PART OF THE BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA NETWORK THAT OPERATES IN 48 OTHER MARKETS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PNC AND BROADWAY IN LOUISVILLE HAS LASTED MORE THAN 30 YEARS ONE OF THE LANGEST OF IT'S KIND IN THE COUNTRY WHY THAT IS AND HOW IT ALL WORKS IN A MOMENT BUT FIRST HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT IT IS REALLY LIKE TO BE PART OF A TRAVELING BROADWAY SHOW?
WELL YOU ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT, FROM A KENTUCKY NATIVE WHO IS NOW IN A TRAVELING BROADWAY PRODUCTION.
>> THIS IS WHERE ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.
>> NATHAN FISTER'S DREAM WAS TO ONE DAY DANCE ON BROADWAY.
>> THE MOULAN ROUGE.
>> I WENT TO SCHOOL AT SCAPA SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
FOURTH THROUGH 12th GRADE.
I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE GOTTEN TO GO TO AN ARTS SCHOOL IN FOURTH GRADE.
>> HE WENT ON TO STUDY DANCE AT WERP KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY AND MOVED TO NEW YORK WITH A DREAM OF MAKING IT TO A BROADWAY STAGE.
BUT IT WAS HIS TIME AT KENTUCKY GOVERNOR SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS THAT TRULY MADE UP HIS MIND.
>> I THINK IT WAS THAT MOMENT WHERE YOU DO DANCE FOR LIKE A HOBBY AND THEN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, BUT GOING TO THIS PROGRAM, IT TRULY WAS LIKE PRECOLLEGE AND BEING LIKE, THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN ACTUALLY DO FOR A CAREER.
>> MAKING A CAREER OUT OF DANCE IS NOT EASY THOUGH.
AFTER YEARS OF DANCING IN VARIOUS PRODUCTIONS AND PICKING UP SIDE GIGS TO PAY THE BILLS INCLUDING A JOB SELLING MERCHANDISE IN THE LOBBY OF BROADWAY'S MU LAN ROUGE, LAST AUGUST, NATHAN GOT A CALL.
>> IT'S REALLY LIKE THEY SAY YOUR LIFE CHANGES AND YOUR DREAMS COME THROUGH AND MY DREAMS CAME TRUE IN ONE PHONE CALL.
>> THE CALL WAS TO BE PART OF PART OF THE TRAVELING ENSEMBLE WITH NATHAN ON STAGE.
>> IT IS A SPECTACLE ON STAGE BUT THERE IS A DANCE HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES AS WELL.
>> THIS IS THE OPENING COSTUME WHEN SHE COMES DOWN IN THE SWING AT THE BEGINNING.
>> MICHAEL HANNAH IS THE SHOWS' WARDROBE SURVIVOR.
>> MY JOB AS WARDROBE SUPERVISOR IS TO MAINTAIN THE COSTUMES AND MAKE SURE THEY LOOK BRAND NEW EVERY NIGHT AND WE ARE IN CHARGE OF TRAVELING THE SHOW WE WE PACK IT UP, MOVE IT TO A NEW CITY.
>> MICHAEL HAS HELPED PUT THIS SHOW ON STAGE IN 53 CITIES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
>> EVERY DAY WE COME IN WHEN BEFORE THE SHOW WE HAVE A CREW THAT WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING IRON, STEAM, PRESS MAND SURE-- AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS BRAND NEW.
>> IN EACH CITY THEY EMPLOY PEOPLE FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO HELP THE PRODUCTION COME TO LIFE.
WARDROBE ALONE HIRES 11 PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN COSTUMES AND PERFORM THAT BEHIND THE SCENES DANCE EVERY NIGHT.
ALL OF THOSE CHANGES ARE CHOREOGRAPHED AS ANY OF THE DANCE NUMBERS ON THE SHOW BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T DO IT THE WAY YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT ON STAGE AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO DO IT IN CERTAIN PLACES AT CERTAIN TIMES SO YOU DON'T GET IN THE WAY OF THE SCENERY SO IT'S ALL VERY CHOREOGRAPHED BACKSTAGE.
>> FOR A KENTUCKY KID LIKE NATHAN, EVERY DAY ON STAGE IS A DREAM COME TRUE BUT PERFORMING ON THIS KENTUCKY STAGE IS TRULY SPECIAL.
>> REALLY COOL TO COME BACK TO THE PLACE WHERE THE PEOPLE-- LIKE BELIEVED IN YOU AND WERE LIKE, YOU CAN DO THIS AND TO COME NOW TO SHARE THAT WITH OTHER PEOPLE, IT'S REALLY COOL BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WATCHING WHO WANTS TO BE ON A BROADWAY SHOW, WANTS TO DO TESTIFY, DANCE, ANYTHING AND WILL GET TO SEE ME AND BE LIKE, THAT CAN HAPPEN, CAN I DO THAT IT IS LIKE BOOMING AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T PUT KENTUCKY ON THE MAP BUT WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT ARTS AND CULTURE HERE SO IT'S REALLY COOL TO BE A PRODUCT OF THAT AND TO GET TO REPRESENT THE STATE.
>> WHEN HE IS NOT PERFORMING IN THE TRAVELING BROADWAY SHOW, NATHAN FINDS TIME TO MAKE HIS WAY BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN.
>> TO GET TO GO BACK, ESPECIALLY LIKE WITH SCAPA I TEACH THE FOURTH GRADERS AND I CAN SAY I WALKED THE SAME HALLS YOU WALK EVERY DAY.
WALKED THEM AND YOU CAN DO IT.
HARD WORK, DETERMINATION REALLY PAYS OFF.
LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE BELIEVED IN ME AND SO TO PAY THAT FORWARD, THAT IS THE BIGGEST GIFT I CAN GIVE.
>> LESLIE BROECKER IS HERE WITH US, PRESIDENT OF PNC BROADWAY IN LOUISVILLE.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU HAVE MAYBE THE BEST JOB IN TOWN.
>> I AM SO-- IT'S A SUPER COOL JOB.
DEFINITELY NOT ALL GLAMOROUS IN THEATER WHEN YOU'VE GOT CRAZY SHOW THINGS THAT HAPPEN, RIGHT?
>> I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT GO INTO THIS BUT I WANT TO START AT THE BEGINNING WHAT BROUGHT YOU-- WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO BROADWAY?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF KIDS GROW UP THINKING THEY'RE GOING TO BE A MUSICIAN OR ON A STAGE AND PEOPLE MAKE IT AND PEOPLE DON'T BUT I WENT TO COLLEGE AND SAID I'M GOING TO BE A DJ, THAT'S MY WAY TO LOVE MUSIC SO IN COLLEGE, I HOSTED A JAZZ SHOW, I TRAVELED WITH THE SCHOOL AND DID PLAY BY PLAY BASKETBALL.
AND THEN MOVED TO NEW YORK FOR A STINT TO WORK FOR JAZZ FESTIVALS.
CAME BACK, GOT A JOB AT A RADIO STATION AND BROADWAY HAD AN OPENING FOR A MARKETING DIRECTOR.
I SAID THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE AND I LOVE THEATER.
SO WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET INTO BECAUSE YOU KNOW NOBODY EVER WANTED TO SEE ME ON THE STAGE OR HEAR ME SING.
>> I DOUBT THAT.
AND YOU ARE AN OFFICIAL TONY VOTER.
>> I'M A LIFETIME TONY VOTER, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE BEST PERK OF THE JOB WHICH MEANS I AM A MEMBER OF THE BROADWAY LEAGUE WHICH IS OUR TRADE ASSOCIATION WHICH OVERSEES THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TONY AWARDZ.
EVERY SHOW THAT OPENS ON BROADWAY EXTENDS AN INVITATION TO ATTEND WHICH YOU MUST DO TO VOTE, YOU HAVE TO SEE EVERY SHOW NOMINATED IN EVERY CATEGORY SO GENERALLY BETWEEN 30 AND 40 SHOWS, NOT JUST THE MUSICALS, BUT THE PLAYS WE WILL ATTEND AND THEY'RE GREAT SEATS SO I'M VERY SPOILED AND I LOVE IT AND BEING ABLE TO SEE ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS AND AMAZING REVIVALS SO IT GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS STILL.
>> YEAH, SO, OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THOSE SHOWS MAKE IT FROM BROADWAY TO LOUISVILLE.
>> SURE.
IT'S AN INTERESTING PROCESS.
FIRST TO GET TO BROADWAY, IT TAKES MANY YEARS FOR A SHOW TO PERCOLATE.
AND FOR CREATIVE TEAMS TO COME TOGETHER AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, IT'S NOT AN INEXPENSIVE VENTURE.
CAPITALIZING A BROADWAY SHOW NOW IS UPWARDS OF SOMETIMES $20 MILLION DEPENDING ON HOW BIG THEY ARE AND HOW GRAND.
THEN THE SHOW RUNS IN NEW YORK AND YOU SEE HOW IT GOES.
THE TONY AWARDS COME AROUND IN JUNE.
YOU SEE WHO WINS WHAT AND WHAT REALLY PEAKS PEOPLE'S INTEREST.
THAT HAS AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE EFFECT IN THE BOX OFFICE IN NEW YORK AND THAT SHOW LIVES OR DIES PRETTY QUICK.
IF IT LIVES AND WITH A REALLY SMART PRODUCER, THEY'RE THINKING ALL ALONG THEIR SHOW WOULD HAVE A LIFE BEYOND BROADWAY AND TAKE IT ON THE ROAD AND CREATE A FIRST NATIONAL TOUR.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW IS THE SET GOING TO TRANSLATE.
>> I WANT THE SHOW TO BE DUPLICATE TO BROADWAY.
DON'T DESIGN ME INTO A HOLE WHERE I CAN'T REPLICATE THAT EXPERIENCE.
THAT IS ESSENTIAL LIVE-- AND ONCE THE SHOW MOUNTS A TOURING PRODUCTION, THEN IT JIGSAWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE GAB THEM AS EARLY AS WE CAN THESE SHOWS COMING HERE ARE BROADWAY CALIBER PRODUCTION, IDENTICAL EXCEPT FOR THE CAST.
>> CAST SWAPPING.
THE KENTUCKY CENTER DOESN'T LIKE IT WHEN WE CUT HOLES IN THE STAGE FLOOR BUT EVERY NOW AND AGAIN THERE IS A TRAP THAT WE CAN'T REPLICATE WHERE SOMEBODY DISAPPEARS BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, AND I MEAN THE HEART OF THE SHOW IS MUCH BIGGER THAN TRAPS AND FLOORS AND ALL OF THE SETS BUT TO GET THEM HERE IN SUCH FAST ORDER IS A COMPLIMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
I FEEL LIKE SINCE I HAVE LIVED HERE, THE CALIBUR OF SHOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET GETS BETTER AND BETTER.
>> IT'S SUCH A TYPICAL CHICKEN AND EGG.
IF THE PEOPLE WILL COME, YOU HAVE TO COME FOR ME TO BOOK THEM SO WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER THE YEARS IS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SO SUPPORTIVE THAT OUR HOUSES ARE FULL SO WHEN A PRODUCER SEES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PACKED, IF THEY BOOK LOUISVILLE, THEY KNOW PRETTY MUCH THE SHOW IS GOING TO SELL OUT NOW AND EVERYBODY LIKES A GUARANTEED BET, RIGHT?
AND SO WE CAN GET THE SHOWS VERY EARLY IN THEIR TOURS BECAUSE THAT LOOKS GOOD FOR THE FUTURE AND HEALTH OF THE REST OF THE TOUR.
AND WHERE ELSE IT MAY TRAVEL BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL SAY LOOK WHAT LOUISVILLE DID, 20,000 PEOPLE SAW THAT SHOW.
>> AND WE JUST GOT TO SEE BACKSTAGE AT MOULAN ROUGE, ONE OF THE THOSE THAT WAS HERE IN THIS CURRENT SEASON WE ARE IN.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT AN AMAZING PRODUCTION.
AND THESE TYPES OF PRODUCTIONS THAT ARE ABLE TO COME HERE, IT DOES, IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
>> WELL, AND TO BE HERE FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE TYPICALLY OUR TYPICAL RUN IS EIGHT PERFORMANCES IN A WEEK AND MOULAN, BECAUSE IT'S A BIG SHOW AND IT'S FANCY AND VERY POPULAR IS HERE FOR 16.
SO SOME OF THOSE,WE CALL THEM MEGA MUSICALS, THE HAMILTONS, THE PHANTOMS, WICKEDS, LION KINGS, MOULAN ROUGES.
>> SPEAKING OF SOME OF THOSE BIG SHOWS, YOU ANNOUNCED YOUR NEXT SEASON AND WOW, TALK ABOUT HIGH CALIBUR SHOWS.
OUTSIDERS, WHICH WHICH JUST WON THE TONE AGREE WON THE TONY AWARD LAST JUNE IS AN AMAZING PRODUCTION.
I THINK IT HAS A DANCE NUMBER IN THERE DURING THE RUMBLE SCENE THAT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY.
LIKE YOU THINK OF WEST SIDE STORY AND THE MOVES FROM SOME OF THOSE THAT BECAME THE BEDROCKS, I BELIEVE IT WILL FILL THAT BILL, BUT TO GET THE OUTSIDERS, THE 2024 TONY AWARD WINNING BEST MUSICAL.
>> HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN.
>> AND TO COUPLE THAT BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE KIMBERLY AKIMBO WHICH WON THE 23 BEST MUSICAL PRIZE SO WE HAVE BOTH SHOWS BOOKING IN OUR SEASON AND IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S JUST A TRIBUTE AND COMPLIMENT TO OUR BEAUTIFUL THEATER AS WELL AS THIS COMMUNITY WHO COMES AND SUPPORTS THINGS.
EVEN THINGS THEY DON'T KNOW, I THINK THEY TRUST US TO BRING THE BEST QUALITY AND TO ENTERTAIN THEM.
>> SOME OF THE OTHERS COMING UP FOR THIS SEASON, MJ, THE MICHAEL JACKSON-- >> MJ KICKS OFF THE SEASON.
IT'S THE MAKING OF THE DANGEROUS TOUR.
YOU SEE THE MOVES, HEAR THE MUSIC, GET THE BACK STORY VERY POPULAR.
STILL RUNNING ABROADWAY.
>> WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE BOOKS.
>> AND IT'S SO MAGICAL AND HEART BREAKING AND MAGICAL AND THE MUSIC IS BEAUTIFUL AND WHAT A GREAT STORY.
HIGH TELLS HIS STORY OF HIS YOUNGER YEARS AND RIDING THE RAIL AND JOINING THE CIRCUS.
>> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.
>> IT WILL WIN YOUR HEART FOR SURE.
>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT ONE.
THE GREAT GATSBY THAT HAS LOCAL CONNECTIONS.
>> I'M SO EXCITED.
>> THAT'S FUN.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE PARTIES FOR THE SHOW?
>> I HOPE SO.
>> THE PRODUCERS KNEW THAT AND I THINK IT HELPED ME IN LANDING IT BECAUSE IT, TOO, IS STILL RUNNING ON BROADWAY.
THESE ARE ALL VERY CURRENT TOURS.
AND SO WE WILL PLAY THERE.
>> AND WE'VE GOT DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
CLASSIC.
>> ITS AUTO THE HUGE NEW COMEBACK TOUR.
SO WE ARE VERY EXCITE AND KIDS WILL LOVE IT.
IT FILLS THE BILL OF THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, RIGHT?
>> ADULTS AND KIDS.
>> ROUNDING OUT BOOK OF MORMON IS BACK AND HAM IS BACK.
>> HAMILTON IS BACK HAM IS INTERESTING, AS MANY TIMES AS YOU GO, YOU PEEL AWAY A LAYER AND DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW.
I'M NOT CERTAIN WHEN YOU EXHAUST , HOW MANY TIMES YOU CAN GO TO HAMILTON AND NOT FIND SOMETHING TO ENJOY.
>> EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO THE MUSIC I HEAR SOMETHING-- >> YOU FIND SOMETHING.
RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> IT IS AMAZING THE TYPE OF SHOWS THAT WE GET BUT I AM-- IT IS SUCH AN INTERESTING PROCESS TO ME, DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA IN YOUR HEAD THIS IS THE ONE I WANT AND GO FOR IT?
>> MOSTLY CERTAINLY.
WE SURVEY OUR AUDIENCE AND PEOPLE ARE NOT SHY AROUND HERE.
HAVE YOU TO ALIGN THE SHOWS AVAILABLE WITH THE AVAILABLE DATES AT THE ARTS CENTER BECAUSE WE SHARE WITH THE OTHER ARTS GROUPS AND SO IT IS A HUGE JIGSAW PUZZLE TO PUT TOGETHER.
BUT IT SEEMS LATELY TO REALLY BE FALLING INTO PLACE.
BUT WOE MOST CERTAINLY CURATE THE SEASON BASED ON PRICING, BASED ON SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU THINK, SOMETHING TO SAY FORGET EVERYTHING, I'M NOT THINKING TONIGHT.
SO JUST GETTING THE RECIPE RIGHT.
>> INTERESTING.
YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THIS NOW FOR 38 YEARS THIS IS YOUR 38th SEASON.
>> IT IS.
IT IS CRAZE TOE THINK THAT MANY SEASONS AND IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.
THAT CAROL CHANNING OR SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS WERE TAPPING DOWN THE HALLWAY, HOW LUCKY AM I?
I LOVE THE THEATER.
I GET GOOSE BUMPS EVERY NIGHT I GO.
>> THAT'S AMAZING.
AS YOU LOOK BACK ON THE 38 YEARS, YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES.
>> I HAVE.
THE MARKETING TECHNOLOGY.
THEATER IS AN OLD FASHIONED BUSINESS.
BIG POSTER IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING, WE CALL THEM THREE SHEETS.
WE HAVE SEEN A MORPHING OF MARKETING BUT THE ABILITY FOR THE SHOWS TO DO TECHNOLOGY LOGICAL COOL STUFF ALSO HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
>> AND SOME OF THE BACKDROPS NOW ARE VIDEO SCREENS.
>> THE PROJECTIONS FROM LES MIS TO WHERE HE JUMPS OFF THE BRIDGE, NOW IT'S AN IMAGE AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS SWIRLING IN THE WATERS AND TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN OLD ISN'T BAD AND NEW ISN'T BETTER.
IT'S JUST DIFFERENT.
>> VERY DIFFERENT.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THE SHOWS AND PROBABLY RECOGNIZES A LOT OF THESE NAMES ON THE BROADWAY SHOWS THAT ARE COMING TO LOUISVILLE.
BUT THE ORGANIZATION DOES A LOT MORE BEHIND THE SCENES, I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE REALIZE AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE EDUCATION OUTREACH.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
LOUISVILLE THEATRICAL ASSOCIATION IS OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNER HERE FOUNDED IN 1938 AT THE AMPHITHEATER AT THE IROQUOIS AMPHITHEATER AND SUBSCRIBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEY RENEW THEIR SEASON TICKETS TO CONTRIBUTE $SO PER TICKET.
FROM THAT, OUR SUBSCRIBERS MAKE IT SO THAT OVER A THOUSAND KIDS EVERY SEASON GET TO SEE A SHOW AND WE STRETCH FROM BELL COUNTY TO HAZARD TO LEXINGTON, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BOWLING GREEN THAT WE ARE BRINGING IN KIDS TO SEE THE SHOWS.
WE BLIE THEM GOOD SEATS BECAUSE I THINK YOU NEED TO BE UP CLOSE TO GET BITTEN BY THE THEATER BUG.
WE LIKE THEM TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE BUT WE ARE ABLE TO DO WORKSHOPS AND TALK BACKS OR BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS AND WE ARE BUILDING FUTURE AUDIENCES, FUTURE PERFORM AREAS.
I MEAN I NEED EVERYBODY, I WOULD SAY THE LITTLE STARS OF WHICH I AM ONE MAKE THE BIG STARS SHINE SO I NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW OUT WHO MARKET A BROADWAY SHOW OR TICKET A BROADWAY SHOW.
SO IT HAS BEEN GREAT.
>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SPARK.
>> YOU NEVER NOY WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SPARK.
I ALWAYS CALL IT, WE COME IN SIDEWAYS INTO THE ARTS I HAVE WORKED IN THE ARTS MY WHOLE LIFE AND I'M NOT A PERFORMER BUT WE NEED ACCOUNTANTS.
YOU NEED PEOPLE AND IF I LOVE THE ARTS, THERE IS A WAY IN AND WE CAN OPEN THE DOOR FOR THEM IN ADDITION TO LETTING KIDS SEE THE SHOWS YOU MENTIONED THE PROGRAMS YOU DO IN THE SCHOOLS AND I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE PEOPLE PERFORMING IN THE SHOWS GO INTO THE SCHOOLS AND DO WORKSHOPS, THE BEAUTIFUL MURAL WE SAW OUTSIDE FOR MOULAN ROUGE.
>> THE CAST IS ON THE ROAD AND THEY PLOP DOWN IN A CITY AND BY THE TIME THEY ACCLIMATE GETTING HERE ON MONDAY, OPENING NIGHT TUESDAY, BY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THEY'RE EXPLORING AND THEY'RE HAPPY TO HELP WITH WE ASK FOR A MASTER CLASS.
DOWN THE STREET AT THE LINCOLN ELEMENTARY PERFORM PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL OR LET'S TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE OR WE WILL BRING THEM TO YOU AND MOST PERFORM AREAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL HEART FELT BUSINESS AND THEY LIKE TO SHARE IT.
WHEN YOU ARE LEARNING A DANCE MOVE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE, ALAD -- ALADDIN'S DANCE, THE DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.
I THINK IT'S THE PAY BACK FOR THE JOY WE GET BEING IN THIS BUSINESS.
>> AND YOU HEAR FROM THE PERFORMERS, TOO, AS WE DID, HOW THEY WERE ALL INSPIRED TO BE THERE FROM SOMEBODY IN THEIR LIFE SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO PAY IT BACK, I THINK FOR THEM.
>> I THINK IT'S-- EVERYBODY HAS THEIR MEMORY OF WHAT WAS THEIR THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE AND THEN I THINK YOU GET THE PAY BACK WHEN YOU TAKE SOMEONE AND CREATE THAT MEMORY FOR THEM.
>> YEAH.
>> SO I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S A MAGICAL BUSINESS.
>> IT IS.
AND SO HOW DOES LOUISVILLE COMPARE TO SOME OF THE OTHER COMPARABLE CITIES AS FAR AS THE CALIBUR OF SHOWS THAT WE GET BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE SOME PRETTY GREAT ONES.
>> THE ONLY WAY OUR SHOWS COULD BE BETTER WOULD BE IF THEY RAN LONGER BECAUSE FRANKLY WE ARE GETTING THEM AS EARLY-- WE ARE GETTING THE FIRST NATIONAL TOURS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THEIR TOUR.
SO THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT WE COULD DO TO GET THE SHOWS ANY FASTER AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE THEM HERE PARTICULARLY MOULAN ROUGE WHICH WAS HERE FOR TWO WEEKS, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BRINGING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND OUR DOWNTOWN NEEDS PEOPLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.
THEY NEED TO SEE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.
AND SO SOMEBODY COMES IN OUR RESTAURANTS GET BOOKED OUR PARKING LOTS ARE FULL, I'M SURE PEOPLE ARE TAKING BOURBON TOURS WHEN THEY COME IN.
THE MORE SHOWS THAT WE CAN GET IN THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY LOVELY CYCLICAL SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS.
I WANT MORE RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN SO PEOPLE HAVE MORE PLACES TO GO AND IT'S REALLY TERRIFIC.
WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
>> BEE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF VARIOUS THINGS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO DOWNTOWN BECAUSE WHEN LOUISVILLE'S DOWNTOWN DOES WELL, IT BOTH WELL FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
THIS IS NOT JUST A LOUISVILLE THING.
>> IT DEFINITELY IS NOT WE ARE PULLING PEOPLE AND OUR KIDS FOR OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM, EDUCATION FOR THE ARTS, IT IMPACTS OUR ENTIRE STATE AND SOUTHERN INDIANA AS WELL WE HOPE TO CONTINUE BOOKING MORE SHOWS WE HAVE EIGHT OR 10 WEEKS OF THEATER.
NEXT YEAR WE WILL HAVE 12 WEEKS.
THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO, THE MORE WE CAN DO SO WHAT IS THAT VISION?
WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION?
>> GOSH, WOULD I LOVE CINCINNATI IS WHAT WE CALL A TWO WEEK MARKET.
SO EVERY SINGLE SHOW COMES IN AND SITS AND PLAYS 16 PERFORMANCES.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE ARE IN THAT PLACE.
IT GIVES US MUCH MORE EDUCATION FOR EDUCATION BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT TRAVELING MONDAYS AND SUNDAYS, I CAN GET THEM TO SIT AND MONDAY IS A DAY OFF, I ALSO WOULD LOVE FOR THE SHOWS TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME IN, IN AND OUT SO FAST, FOUR SHOWS ON THE WEEKEND, THEY DON'T GET A TASTE OF LOUISVILLE OR A TASTE OF KENTUCKY AND IF THEY WERE LEER FOR TWO WEEKS, MONDAY IS AN OFF DAY, YOU ARE NOT PACKING OR MOVING SO I THINK WE ALL FEEL PROUD WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE AND SAY WHAT A GREAT TIME WE HAD PLAYING THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND WE GOT TO DO THESE THINGS AND IT WOULD ALLOW MORE TIME FOR THAT SO I THINK JUST MORE SHOWS.
THAT'S THE VISION.
MORE SHOWS AND LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AS YOU HAVE LOOKED TOWARDS THAT VISION, HOW LIKELY IS THAT TO HAPPEN?
I MEAN SELLING OUT SEASON ONE WEEK SHOWS ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO SOLD OUT BEFORE THEY EVER GET HERE.
I THINK WE NEED TO PROVE IT FOR A FEW YEARS.
WHEN YOU GO FROM ONE WEEK TO TWO WEEKS, YOU DOUBLE YOUR RISK 100% BECOMES 50% SO I THINK WE NEED TO SEE THE COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATE THAT INTEREST FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS THAT WE ARE CONSISTENTLY SOLD OUT AND YOU CAN'T GET TICKETS.
I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND CAN'T.
IT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD.
AND THEN I THINK WE CAN START TO SEE ALSO THE BROADWAY MODEL IS A BIT ANITQUATED.
WHY DO WE OPEN ON TUESDAYS AND CLOSE ON SUNDAYS IF BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE IT FOR 50 YEARS THAT IS A CHALLENGE I WOULD PUT OUT TORY THINK TUESDAY TO SUNDAY PLAYING WEEK.
WHY IS THAT THE MAGIC FORMULA AND IS THERE A MORE MAGICAL FORMULA?
WE FIT INTO SUCH A FUNKY NICHE WITH ECONOMICS, EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT AND BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF SHOWS WE DO, WE ARE ABLE TO REACH DIFFERENT AUDIENCES SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO SEE THE OUTSIDERS PERHAPS IS NOT PETER PAN, AND SO TO BE ABLE TO DRAW PEOPLE IN TO SEE AIN'T TOO PROUD OR I LOVE THAT WE HAVE A CORE BROADWAY AUDIENCE BUT THEN EACH SHOW HAS ITS LITTLE NICHE THAT BRINGS IN NEW PEOPLE TO THE THEATER AND MAKES IT FUN AND WE WILL KEEP DOING IT ANOTHER, NOT 38 YEARS BUT FOR A WHILE.
>> FOR A WHILE, YEAH.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ DON'T FORGET YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE ANY TIME IT'S STREAMING ONLINE AT KET.LORG/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."
PLUS FOR MORE BEHIND THE SCENES ON BROADWAY, YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM.
AT KET IN LOU.
THINGS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE.
I HOPE WE WILL SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME.
UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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