The Theatre Gap Initiative

All right. We have with us today the amazing Corey Mitchell, the founder of the Theater Gap Initiative, among many, many, many, many other things. , as I was reading through some of your information, you've won quite a few awards. And that's all right. You've done pretty good. Let's just go through some of those awards, Mr.

Modest. Oh, he's humble. I know. . I mean, we gotta talk about the Tony Award. You just won what? The first ever, let me get this name right. Excellence in Theater Education Award. Congratulations. That is, that's awesome. Yay. That is awesome. We feel quite honored that you would grace us with your presence as little.

Drama Mamas , thank you so much. In addition, top 50 finalists for the 2017 Global Teacher Prize, North Carolina outstanding theater, educ arts educator, the first recipient of the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theater Teacher of the Year Award, the Cato Lifetime Achievement and Teaching Award among I'm sure many, many other.

So thank you so much for coming on and agreeing to speak with us today. So you have received many, many awards and as I was going through some of your information, I have to tell you I got a little bit teary because what you are doing, you can't in helping. Young people achieve in theater is kind of why our whole thing started as a podcast.

We, we have seen how much theater has changed the lives of our children. It's drama that we want to help others, and we're just in our infancy and we're just nobody's . So to be able to hook up with someone like you who's really doing it for real, it's just very inspiring. So thank you so much. Well, thank you.

I'm very happy to be here and I did listen to a couple of episodes of your podcast just to kind of see what I was getting myself into , and so, and still it sounds really lovely and so I congratulate you all . Thank you. Thank you so much. We appreciate that. So tell us about your beginnings in theater. How did you all, you start with everything?

Oh my goodness. Um, when I was a little tadpole, um, actually, um, . I was really fortunate. I, I grew up in a rural area in North Carolina. It's called Harmony North Carolina. It sounds very zen . Um, it does, yeah. But, um, amazingly in the seventies and in the eighties I was in high school in the late eighties and everything.

Um, um, I was exposed to a lot. Like artistically. So even in like elementary and middle school, being able to be in choir and middle school, joining the band. Uh, high school actually, um, being in theater. Um, and then, um, I was in four H, like I said, grew up as a little rural kid and there was this thing called the North Carolina Performing Arts troupe where.

I performed with other kids from all across the state of North Carolina where we would come together, put a, put a show together, um, to perform at, um, our four H Congress, and then we would tour with the show across the state and in some cases, um, out of state with that. through the school year. And so I fell in love with theater at a very early age and fell in love with the community and the opportunity of what theater can do and of making friends and expanding your world.

Mm-hmm. , um, in ways that I never really expected while I was in high school, and then of course college and, um, moving on to try to work professionally, but I went to college. on a, on an education scholarship, and so I had reached this nexus. I was living in Minneapolis and working towards my equity card where time and opportunity was kind of running out, where either my scholarship was about to turn into a pumpkin and become alone because it was a North Carolina teaching.

Or, um, I was going to, um, be a struggling actor while also trying to play, uh, payback student loans. So I returned to North Carolina and uh, started teaching. And my first five years of teaching, I was performing a lot teaching and teaching English, but also directing the school musicals. Um, and then, Um, in 2001, I had the opportunity to, uh, change schools and I was started teaching theater full-time at the Performing Arts High school here in Charlotte, uh, called Northwest School of the Arts.

Mm-hmm. . Wow. Very nice. And I can go from there. So I built up the, um, really worked hard with a dear friend of mine named, uh, Linda Francises, uh, to start building. Upon a lot of my experience and her experience to, uh, shape a musical theater program that, um, really took off like a rocket and have had the good fortune of teaching a number of kids who, uh, work professionally doing national tours.

Um, one student who is like artistic. Of a theater company in, uh, in California. But beyond that, also a couple of, uh, students who are like nationally known and notable that people would, whose names you would know, so yeah. Does that make you feel like a proud papa? It does. It really, really does. And, you know, um, last.

uh, Renee Rapp was on Jimmy Kennel, Kimel Live and like seeing her do all of that and like, and it was her birthday and it was all of those things that were just really wonderful. So, yeah. Yeah. Knowing you had a piece of that we were talking about just a little bit that we do in our local theater, how it, how connected we feel to the children and how we proud we are of them kids that aren't our own kids.

And I can't imagine on the scale that you're doing it, what that must feel like to really see them succeeding. Yeah. We love to watch the kids succeed. Mm-hmm. . Yes. So from that, tell us how you got the idea and why you started the Theater Gap Initiative and it, tell us about that. Some. Okay. Yes. In 2020, um, there were a few things that were happening in 2020.

Uh, first of all, I was approaching 20 years of being, uh, teaching at, um, at my high school. And, um, I was really starting to feel like it was time for a change. And so the thing. I started looking at was like, is there another school I wanna go to? Or what kinda other opportunities am I, would I be good at or would I be, uh, horrible at?

Or what do I want to learn? And then George Floyd happened. So we had Covid and I'm stuck at home, and then George Floyd happened. And um, I don't want to brush over like what that was, but there. Began this whole national dialogue and in, uh, beginning that dialogue, I started having conversations with people about, um, with other friends and colleagues and people that I knew who were working professionally.

Um, all of those things about what's happening in the arts and how are we. Looking at diversity and of course inclusion and those kinds of opportunities. And I started looking back at my career over the years as I was teaching. And what I found is that I, what I was thinking about is that I ha taught a lot of truly talented kids and they were truly talented kids who.

Never worked in the industry or didn't, it didn't happen beyond high school for them. And I know that they had dreams to make it so. So then I started thinking, why are those dreams happening for those students? And quite often where it came from was the whole process. Of like applying to colleges and doing those things.

And I've listened to some of your podcasts in the past, um, some of your past podcasts about what that process looks like for students getting into, um, college programs. And now if you put another layer on top of that, of perhaps parents who've never been to college or you have. Economic distresses that go with that, or like students who just don't see themselves in the arts.

In that way, it became, um, really incumbent upon, I, I felt like it was incumbent upon me to start creating what these opportunities look like for students who have been kind of left. Um, you can see what, um, our, our logo, I'll stand up. This is our logo. It's actually a Sankofa bird that's been refashioned into the letter G, but, um, that African Sankofa bird is, uh, symbolic of reaching back for those that we've left behind, and I think about students who have the same dreams.

but don't have parents like the drama mamas who are really out there advocating for them. And so we are trying to fill that gap of opportunity for those kids, uh, for kids that, um, I think in some ways we're in danger of being left.

Oh, wow. That's, I know. I'm a very emotional today. I is such a, a very emotional thing. That is such an awesome thing. Okay, now the sound is completely gone. I can't hear y'all. Oh, he can't hear that. Oh, no. There, can you hear you hear us now? Yes. Yes. Here in our effort to fix the snow. He's muting and unmuting,

It's live theater, right? Anything can happen. Exactly. Live theater. Live theater. So, I mean, oh goodness. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. We're the play that goes wrong, the podcast that goes on today, um, pretty soon the couch is gonna fall over . Yeah. Um, we, you know, we see a lot of that. Our kids go to a school for the arts around here, and we see a lot of that lack of support from, from parents.

because we go to a choice school and mm-hmm. , there's a lot of diversity in this school and we actually have noticed that there's not as much parental support, um, for all of the kids that actually attend that school. And that was part of like what felt, at least for me, so important to start this podcast.

Kind of like you're doing what, you know, filling in the gap there for kids going into. , we are trying to help. Mm-hmm. , you know, parents be able to support their kids through this stuff that maybe they don't understand. Mm-hmm. . Mm-hmm. and that's so difficult, you know, to Yeah. To absolutely. To do mm-hmm. . So we're really admire what it is that you're doing and, and feel very inspired ourselves even mm-hmm.

to try and do a little bit more. I mean, right now it's just a podcast, but we're definitely talking about ways that we can do more like you. , um, through your nonprofit mm-hmm. for these kids to help support them and Yeah. And boost them, I think, and build them up and help parents help support their kids, you know?

Mm-hmm. . And, you know, it's, it's interesting because parents, I've never met a mom or dad who was just disinterested in their kid, you know, it's. A matter of like where the time happens with that. You know, when you've got three kids and both parents are working and the opposite, you know, like those things that happen with, uh, with scheduling and, um, sometimes really talented kids who I would love to have in the spring musical.

but they have to get a job because maybe it is a single parent household, or maybe it's not a single parent household, but they still need to get a job or else they've gotta go home and babysit because mom doesn't get off until seven o'clock. And so coming to those meetings and doing those things that, um, cause doing theater, Takes a level of commitment, especially, um, the way that we ran our program, it took a level of commitment and time that the kids knew about walking in.

You know, we would rehearse, uh, our school hours were nine 15 to four 15. and we would have rehearsal at seven in the morning before school and then do rehearsal until six after school. And then on Saturdays we would do like a nine to four rehearsal with an hour lunch break in between. And if you could not meet those timing commitments, it was hard to stay in And, um, uh, hang with us in those.

So I, I get that. So with Theater Gap Initiative, what we do is we work with students in their gap year. It's after they've graduated high school, and it is, it gives them war time to be able to devote to the process. Yes. And so our school hours, we meet Monday through Friday and our classes go from nine to three, like a regular school day in many ways.

Sometimes we're off on Fridays, um, and we're off on holidays, but we do all day. And um, our. goal is to do a couple of things. Uh, first of all, we work with student skill sets. We build skill sets, and so offer students lessons in acting and not just like, Acting here. Acting for the stage, acting for the camera.

Uh, voice and diction, public speaking, um, uh, movement for the actor. We also do like a yoga and relax, you know, that sort of thing. Uh, relaxation. I have a couple of dance teachers that work with, uh, that come in and teach advance. And intermediate classes for the students. I have voice teachers that give them at least an hour of private vocal lessons every week.

And then we have mental health professionals who come in and do like group sessions with them for building confidence, for like handling stress, for doing um, uh, um, conflict resolution. because we are partnered with a community college. They also take a college readiness class of like budgeting, and all of those things, and what to expect when you go to college.

So it is seven months of doing that, of like building the skills also of, um, of, of course like all of like so many other, uh, theater coaches. We film their pre-screens, we help them through, um, we have, uh, counselors that help them, uh, fill out their FAFSA forms. Um, getting parents to trust what the FAFSA form is, um, and actually put in like how much money they make and how does this work.

Um, doing their co working with them on their common. Working with them on when they ask a teacher to write a letter of recommendation, what that letter needs to contain, like what are the buzzwords and the things that the colleges are looking for. And sometimes it's not just like, this kid is great.

Putting in a narrative to help the the schools understand who the kids are. That's the key to a great letter of recommendation is the narrative. What is something that you remember about this young person, this young artist, that makes them stand out in your mind? There are lots and lots and lots of, they were in the show and they were.

But what is beyond the performer as the human when you're writing letters of recommendation, those are the keys. Um, so we also take them to the CAP auditions that are in Atlanta. And, um, we're preparing in a couple of weeks. Um, we'll be going to the unified auditions in New York. And so, okay. We help to navigate them through, uh, uh, applying to the schools.

Booking the auditions, understanding how to read. Cause a number of our kids have already started getting, um, um, Acceptances and how to read what those acceptances are. What is the financial package? Um, what is it that you are not factoring in to these things to, and then maybe being able to go back and negotiate for a slightly better package.

Bec, um, as when they come in. So those are the things that we do. And excuse me, I know this is a long thing. Keep going. We work with students from all over the country, so we've got kids who are, um, be, so we've working with a, uh, an apartment complex so that the students have a seven month, uh, can sign a seven month lease and come.

To Charlotte and study with us. Nice. So, um, I have a hired , um, resident assistant who's also our assistant program, um, our program assistant, uh, who helps, uh, get the students to the campus. From the apartment complex and like is there as a support with them. That's amazing. I know it sounds like you've thought of everything

I know like, like every, everything that it could be a barrier to, you know, for these kids, you're just removing that. You're like, okay, yeah, this hurdle, we've got it. This hurdle about that too. We figured that one out for you. Yeah. So I can tell your heart is gigantic . Mm-hmm. . And I think you probably wanna take in every single student who applies.

How, tell us about the application process and what you're looking for in a student. Mm-hmm. . Well, you know, it's so funny that today is, and I know that this will go out there into the universe in. All of the mistakes that I'm making. Um, and hopefully people will be listening to this in a couple of months, but today, today is January the 15th, and it is the day that we've actually opened up, um, registration for our new cycle of students to come in for next year.

That ? Yes, you can celebrate that. Leader Gap work, you can click the apply here button . But um, we also like, In discussing this and going through the steps, um, I've gotten to know a lot of people along the way who, um, are angels helping with a mission, and among those angels is accepted.com. And so the accepted platform is the platform that a lot of colleges and univers.

Use, um, for the students to upload their prescreens cuz you know, you've heard and, um, I don't wanna rehash material that you've already, um, covered on the podcast, but like the understanding never of what a prescreen is. Um, , a lot of the schools use accepted as their platform where the kids go in and they can just click, click, click, click, click, click, and upload those videos to be seen with the pre-screens.

So we use accepted and the kids would fill out their application and I asked them, I'm like, film yourself doing something. Sing the song. Um, do these monologue. , um, upload it and kids are very savvy about uploading. That was, yes, that was one of those things through Covid that working from home and uploading your homework and doing all of those things, I think is be, has become pretty commonplace, but like making those videos look good and understanding what goes into it when the schools are looking at it.

I'm not, I'm not putting the same. Standards as a college program. in looking at the videos, I'm just trying to look for their talent, look for their passion, see that there is something there with that. So they fill out their applications, upload a video, and um, I've got a small team of folks who, and by a small team, I mean like three, I don't mean like there are eight of us that were over these , but there's three of us who kinda look through.

and then we schedule a zoom with that, uh, with that young person and talk about, um, what it is that they are interested in and how it's that we can help them because, um, that sight unseen and just like, I have no idea what your talent is and have no idea of what you can do and what you wanna do, but come on in, that doesn't work.

So, um, having that opportunity and sometimes. What I do, um, and I know I'm talking to the drama mamas, is that I'll ask the mom to leave the room so that I can just talk to the student. The mama have to leave ERs we know. Cause we, we experience that, you know, our kids do a lot of, uh, participation in community theater right now.

Mm-hmm. and they a lot of the time, um, They kick us out, they don't let us in. Mm-hmm. . Mm-hmm. . So we just, we just wait and we try to be there and be supportive. You know, when they come out the room, that's actually how we got so close. What are you saying? What did they do? or texting? What's going on? What's happening?

Yeah. . But that's how we got so close, is we've spent a lot of hours kicked out of rooms waiting on our kids, commiserating together, you know? Yeah. Oh goodness. We know moms can get in the way sometimes. . Yeah, no, for sure. It's, it's not, it's a hard line to balance, like being supportive but not being like too overbearing.

Mm-hmm. . Yes. And you know, and that's the thing is that, um, sometimes being there for them to pick them up when they, um, when they're a rejection, to like help them move on and to process. Where that comes in is, um, is such an important role, you know? Um, and it's one that is in the partnership with teachers and parents that is really important.

And I know that, um, over the years, what, um, I, I let people know all the time. There are a lot of nos that will come your. , there are a lot of nos. And so what you do with that no becomes just as important as what you do with the yes. And with, um, being able to perform on stage, um, that no can be an opportunity to go back.

And to do something a little bit more, or maybe that, no. For you as much as you wanted, it was meant to be a yes for somebody else and their catalyst. Okay? And so we deal with multiple stories. Every child comes with, every young artist comes with a. and, um, you, my individual angel baby, you are the center of your story right now.

But I have to, um, make a lot more kids. I deal with a lot more protagonist in all of this, and so, You figure out what your hero's journey is through that no afterwards, and your parents are there to support you through that rather than to go back in and become Grindle's mother. To , uh, seek revenge on your No.

Okay. Now, I guess Grindle's mother is not a very good analogy. I apologize because, uh, be wolf killed Grn and his mother,

sorry, a bad analogy. I'm sorry. That's alright. We wanna wave that English teacher in there. We followed you. We had. You're trying to kill us off

Yes. My English teacher roots came out. Excuse me. is all good. No problem. Well, and in this business, this industry, no. Is heard so much more than the Yes and, mm-hmm. , you know, we have found his, We don't want our kids to get everything because this is our opportunity to mentor them and guide them through what rejection feels like and how to rebound from it.

Mm-hmm. and how to use. That rejection to get better or, or whatever it may take to just turn it around into something. Yeah. And at this stage they're, they might actually listen to us still maybe. Whereas when they get a little older, they little less of that listening thing. Yes. Mm-hmm. , it's true. You know, be an opportunity to create a new thing, you know?

Um, One of my pro, um, I, I guess I'm gonna brag on another, uh, former student, but I have a, a young man named McKay. McKay Lee and Mackay had like this super stardom kind of thing where. He went to North Carolina School, university of North Carolina School of the Arts, and his first job out of college was a national tour of the color, purple of that revival color purple.

And then he moved to New York when the tour was done because I think they did a sit down at Paper Mill. So he was able to get an apartment in New York and start looking for jobs while he was still, um, performing like on that. Um, stint of the Color Purple Tour. And so he got hired in and on that 10 year anniversary production of Rock of Ages, um, that, and so he was doing Rock of ages, um, and then Covid hit and he was like, Mitchell, what do I do?

What do I do? And I went, uh, create something new and him and a friend. created this web series called For the Boys that is now like Coleman Domingo is the executive dir, uh, executive producer on it, and they're like working through and doing network pitches that he expects within the next seven. They're going to be filming this as a network show with him as like the showrunner and it's amazing of like what a no opportunity and what a shutdown does of being able to create your own new thing, you know?

Um, it was the same thing, Renee, when Covid hit, I had seven kids working on Broadway that were my former students. Goodness. And one of them wow, of course, was Renee Rapp, who was the lead, who was playing Regina George and Mean Girls. And so Broadway shut down and I went, go do television. Girl. Like, what, what's stopping you now?

And now she's. Sex lives of college girls . And so , it's like, um, where your no opportunities happen can also be where your yes. Growth can follow. So, yeah. Well, and I love the phrase you said that your no might be a yes opportunity for someone else. And I love Yes. Teaching selflessness. Um, mm-hmm. , because theater is about working together, and if the right person is not in the right role, then you're all gonna fail.

So I love the thought of, okay, this may not be the role for me, but somebody else has gotten it. And so now I'm gonna do what I can to support them and make this the best I can. So a hard lesson for kids. Mm-hmm. . Absolutely. Yeah. And parents. Yeah. Oh, for sure. Yeah. And we'd rather them experience that, and I think we kind of touched on that earlier.

Let's do it now when they're younger. Let's mm-hmm. let get them experience to that. No. So that we are available to help them. Right. Kind of how we said, because if they got everything that they wanted, now, goodness gracious, they would end up, you know, going forward and the first know that they got as a young.

Oh my gosh. Mm-hmm. that, you know, their world would come apart and they wouldn't have those coping skills. Yeah. Mm-hmm. . Exactly. Mm-hmm. . So we want them precisely, yeah. We want them to have that while they have the support. Mm-hmm. and I want kids to have those things too. And I also try to help students understand that as you get to be, well, not to be careful of what it is that you wish for, but to underst.

All of the things that come with those wishes, um, that happen in the world. Like, um, you say, I wanna be a star. Well, being a star also means that there are a lot of people around you who are going to be dependent upon your work and your talent, and you are doing. To pay for their houses and their children.

Yes. That's responsable amount. A lot of pressure. Pressure. Yeah. Yeah. That's a lot of pressure. Mm-hmm. But they don't realize that all they want. Yeah. Oh, I just wanna be a star. Mm-hmm. But they don't realize all of the things that you lose, you know? Mm-hmm. , um, whether it be. , um, privacy, whether it be scheduling.

Mm-hmm. , whether it be not being able to, you know, I'm sure all of our kids at one point were like, oh, we wanna be child stars. Okay, great. But guess what you're putting us out on? Mm-hmm. , all of that social stuff. You get all of that high school experience. The pro mm-hmm. , I mean, all of that goes because you start a real adult, you know?

Job, career, you know? Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And where the pullback and the privacy that comes with that. And like that can be the backlash of like, this is too much. I want to pull back, but you belong to us. Mm-hmm. , you belong to us. And like you giving yourself to the world comes. Some other sacrifices that happened with it, and I don't know, I suddenly, I know that usually your conversations feel a lot more jovial than what I'm doing.

I don't.

It's good stuff, you know, so, you know, I hesitate to say this, but I think you need your own podcast cuz you're amazing. Like, let you have to share with the world . I don't want the competition, but Yeah. You know, just hang out with us. We can do this slightly more than we do. You know, little bit. We don't have any Broadway star Broadway stars in our pockets yet.

No, no, no. Definitely not. But maybe someday, maybe. Who knows? You know who? Yeah. So, quick question. So you mentioned the seven month is how long they have the apartment for. So is the program designed for the students to enter. Have their seven month and then hopefully at the end of that seven month, they'll be able, and they'll be prepared to go ahead and launch into the college setting.

Is that what we're looking for? Is that the goal? So yes, that's, yes it is. That's the intent. And so, There are, because we're a gap year and you know, so they finish high school, they finished in June, and then we start up, um, we have a partnership, um, with, uh, central Piedmont Community College here in Charlotte, which is a very large community college that has multiple, um, So we're not on the main campus that's like downtown Charlotte.

We're on one of the smaller campuses that's in the suburbs that still has a 125 seat theater in it, as well as two dance studios, . And so we, because like community use a lot of times, Um, theater companies or someone rent, or the Charlotte Film Society, they'll rent the theater in the evenings, but we use it during the day.

We use it during the school day and we try to stop 2 30, 3 o'clock so that our students can still get part-time jobs and still work. Okay. Um, in that way. So we start at the beginning of August and we go through the beginning of March, which is when acceptance. Really kick in. And so we walk them through what would be the audition process?

Were they a senior in high school, but it's happening without the pressures of like passing their midterms and their finals and all of those things that, um, are added into the stress of being a high school senior. Okay. Do it. That makes. So, um, is there a, like a scholarship opportunity for kids to attend your program or how does the tuition work?

Yes. So on the website it, it says that the tuition is $6,300 and, um, , I can say that that is still a bargain. Yes. Not because, um, I know what a lot of college audition coaches charge. Yes, yes. . Yes. So do we. Yes, I know what they charge. And then even with that, um, this, there is an opportunity for scholarships, um, off of that $6,300 and, um, That tuition covers are, um, the three courses that they take through Central Piedmont.

Uh, through the community college. We cover the cost of the travel for them to go to Atlanta, to go to Greensboro, to the North Carolina Theater Conference, college Day to go to New York for Unified. It covers, um, all of the teaching artists because we have 14 teaching artists that come in. And work with the, work with the students as the voice teachers, the dance teachers, the acting teachers, um, oh, I forgot to mention, we also do, um, music theory and, um, it's really kind of wild because last week one of our kids, Tommy auditioned for Boston Conservatory and um, he.

In the interview, the first thing they had to do was like, they had like this small music theory test and he was like, thank God for Quentin . Cause if I could walk in on my own, that would not have happened. But that comes from all those years of teaching high school, of like sending kids to college. And year over year I would do this kind of homecoming.

College panel at, um, students at, um, Christmas. It'd be like the last day before we broke for Christmas break. So most all the kids who were in college were home already. They had an opportunity to come back and reconnect with a lot of their classmates friends that they had done classes with, but they would come to my musical theater three and four.

That was the juniors and senior. Um, and talk about the college process and talk about what it's like for them. And it wouldn't just be freshmen. I would do, um, freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors. Every once in a while, if I had a kid who was in grad school, I would bring one of them in as well. because so many times, and what I find with what, uh, in the conversations that you've had, especially with college coaches and things like that, is that people feel like they are walking a path by themselves.

and if you were having to walk through the woods by yourself without seeing where you're going, you're stumbling over roots and running into tree branches and feeling like you're failing all along the way. But if you've seen someone who has gone before you, who can kind of light a path for you, and it may not be, you know, you may step off the path, but there's still shadows and things that.

Symbolically there. So I had a lot of kids who went to school to major in theater because they had examples in front of them, and I was very intentional to make sure it wasn't all white kids. It wasn't all musical theater kids, it wasn't all black kids, it wasn't all straight acting. I would try to do a variety of kids so that my student.

Could see themselves in somebody else and it was not singular. And I think that's what's important for parents is that your network and helping to support is like making it a way for parents and other moms to seed themselves in or see what could be a lighted path for them in some of the other guests that they.

Um, and the projects that they do and supporting their kids. Yeah. They can see themselves. One of the things too, I just kind of thought of this is, you know, when we've had our other guests on and we talked about college and the experience and how stressful it can be, and you know, you start your junior year prepping everything and then you, you know mm-hmm.

it goes by so quick. And you're right, they do have the distraction of, you know, everything that's going on. They have to keep their academics up. They have to, you know, , I'm sure shows going on that they're also involved in at the school. So they're trying to keep all the activities up and, you know, we've talked about how this can happen with kids is that they can initially just kind of get burnt out a little bit, right?

Mm-hmm. , so they're going through this process. They're, they're putting all of their time and energy in it. It's so stressful. Um, everyone around them knows that they're applying for these schools, so, you know, of course they're getting asked about it all the time, you know, I can just imagine. Mm-hmm. these kids and parents are going through mm-hmm.

Yeah. Plus you have the financial. . So then they go through all of this that, let's say they do get into a school and they go through musical theater and at the end of their freshman, you know, year, they're like, oh man, maybe this wasn't for me. Maybe I am a little bit mm-hmm. Black out. Mm-hmm. , you know, and I think maybe another thing that your program offers is just that little pause.

Just a little pause. Mm-hmm. to make sure that, hey, this is something that I really wanna invest my time, my money, my future. Into, let me get more of a, you know, you're just not, this is not a summer intensive that you're doing here, right? You're doing a whole year. Of where you're getting college credits cuz you're going to a community college.

So your, your education is not stopping on the other piece. So you're still getting things mm-hmm. you can put towards your college and you're getting exposed to some things that maybe you didn't get exposed to at your high school level mm-hmm. . And it's either going to reaffirm, um, what your dreams are and yes, this is really what I wanna do and you're gonna get them set off straight and get them mm-hmm.

on the right path with all of the support. Or, you know, I mean, I don't know if this ever happens, but if you have kids that do it and they're like, you know what, I, I kind of realized maybe I wanna be a teacher or maybe I wanna, you know, try something else. So it's just a really, I think it's a great platform for kids to just kind of breathe and say, mm-hmm , okay, yes, this is what I wanna do, and we're going steam, steam ahead and you're gonna get me there and it's gonna be great, and it's not gonna be filled with.

All of this stress of, of everything else I got going on. I don't know. That just kind of popped in my brain that another we're muted. Yep. Well, you know, you know, okay, there is a thing, um, when, um, Again, I, I refer to the high school where I taught, but it was, I taught there for 20 years. So it's a lot of my narrative.

But we had a sister school that was, that's in, um, that's in Denmark. . And so we've gone like year over year. Sometimes we'll take kids over and do like, um, a Danish experience for a week or so, and those kids would come to Charlotte and they would do that. You know, they would have an experience there. But like in Denmark, they have like high school and then they kind of, um, which was what our sister's school.

like this intermediate school that was for two years and then there was university. And so the kids that would go into that, that were like the 18, 19 year old, um, it was a part of the concept behind that was the maturation and the ability to grow up just a little bit before they entered university. And I think that there is something to be said.

taking a gap year and the level of maturity that happens in that time period. Um, this is only our second contrary with them. Conf means with my brother. That's very intentional of like, uh, having students that are working around each other that see themselves, uh, as siblings or as, um, as co artists and not as competi.

You know, and that's, I love that. Mm-hmm. . Yeah. That's another part of, that's another aspect of that, of like, um, trying to psych each other out. Because you feel like the pie just isn't big enough for all of us. It is. It is. You can work through all of this and you can be together and be. Convi and congenially in a way that you don't, you're not tearing each other apart or leaving each other behind, um, in the process.

So yes, maturing and we are not, um, we're not a performing arts. Um, Company. So we're not all, they're not all competing to try to be the lead in a musical because that's not the goal With this, the goal is to help get you to the next level, and as you said, um, changing your mind. I look at a BFA and acting as a gateway drug, if you will, because a lot of people work in the industry, have a degree.

In acting or in theater in some ways, and it became the catalyst for them to do something else. So that degree is your gateway to where your career path is. It doesn't mean that you go and you get your degree in acting, and that's what you're going to do for the rest of your life. And if you're not on Broadway or you're not in film and television, then you are a failure.

That is not what it. It is the first step in where you find your happy place in your life, working professionally and working with other people. You are speaking my love language, . Absolutely. You are just embracing, are you? We embrace everything you're saying that. We're a community and we're here for each other and we're working together, and we want every child to have the opportunities and I'm Thank you.

Thank you. The world needs more of you, . Totally, yes. How can we, and we do, there's just too much hate out there. And I, I'd love everything you're saying. Well, and that's like my favorite thing about theater in general. Mm-hmm. . Yes. And, and the arts is like, it's such a, and the culture, it's such a, A tight community.

Mm-hmm. . Mm-hmm. , you know? Mm-hmm. . I know there's a lot of people in the arts, but like, I feel like everybody's your family. Mm-hmm. and it's just so great. And I love that the most about theater in general, but Yeah. Yeah. You know? Yeah. So how can we, and how can the community support you because, , every child, what can do for you needs to have you in their life.

Yes, exactly. How can we help you? Well, you know, like for one thing, having the opportunity to be with you on the podcast and to be able to talk about what we do and what our intent is, that is, you know, the amplification is always, always, always needed. And, um, the second part of. Is for all of your listeners out there, you can go to theater gap.org and there is a big old donate button that has at the top of the page.

Cause again, like honestly, um, I don't charge enough money, so, um, and making this a nonprofit, Um, what my, um, my friend said that also was in the nonprofit world is he was like, every day you need to get used to asking people for money to help support your mission. I'm like, okay. Um, and that's a hard thing to do because like, I'm an artist and just because I do it, people will want to.

But no, you have to ask for the things that you want and that you need, and. , you know, of course, um, supporting through your dollars is very helpful. Um, but then the other thing is the mission doesn't work if we don't have students. So if you know a kid that you're like, Ooh, I think they have something, they might need a little extra.

Drop me an email. Mm-hmm. , absolutely. Um, there's a contact us button and I'll reach out to that kid and I'll schedule 'em. I'm like, Hey, what are you thinking about? Check us out. Um, you know, like, give me a call. Let's zoom, let's talk about this and let's talk about what your aspirations are and what it is that you see for yourself that maybe other people just don.

always identify about you, and it is anywhere in the country. As I said, we'll bring you to Charlotte. We'll, you know, you'll have a place to live and you'll be able to like make some of those things manifest. So there is that re uh, referrals, amplification donations. Those are the three biggest things that we always need.

Yeah, I think we can handle that. Yeah. Our, our small part we will do it. I do it. We were at the, um, Florida State Junior Thespian Festival this past weekend, so our kids Oh, in, in, in Georgia? Yes. But no, ours was, this was Orlando, so this is a Florida Oh, Orlando. Gotcha. But there was a different one in Georgia.

But, um, I went to the closing ceremony last night and I, there were so many talented kids and I, my mind kept going like, how do we help these. Yes, succeed. How do we help them keep going? Because I know not all of them have the benefit of having moms like this that are super involved. You know, maybe too involved sometimes

But, um, I love what you're saying that we can, I know these kids are too young for college at this point, but we do know some kids that could benefit, that we can contact you and just say, here, here, here we see something in this kid that I think you might connect with. Mm-hmm. . And we will absolutely do that.

Yes. And um, Encourage everyone out there listening to donate. Yeah, do the same. Put in your application and just support you. That's fantastic. And we've seen, um, you know, hands on with, with Tommy, right? Mm-hmm. , we can talk about him. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tommy. So we've seen how that has just affected his life, um mm-hmm.

and how, I mean, he's just getting ready to just catapult, you know? Oh yeah. And we're, we're gonna say we knew him when, right. Um, you know, he's just so talented and he is out there. He is busting his butt. doing everything he can. Mm-hmm. and making contacts and he's everywhere. You know, you turn and, and that boy is not idle.

Um, and so we've seen how your program firsthand is affecting somebody's life so positively. Mm-hmm. , it's, yeah. Yeah. That's a great thing. And it is, it is really quite incredible making. Okay. The other reason for having a conf. Is, it is amazing how the people that you meet in these early days, um, become your advocates and become your collaborators and become the people that you can meet way down the road.

You know, um, a lot of people go to my website and they look at, um, especially my board of director's, and they see who's on my advisory board. And it's like names that you've seen, like, um, last year, um, uh, well, Coleman Domingo was on there and Billy Porter is on there and, um, Lius White. And so some of these, but like, I met Billy Porter in 1997, and so like way years down the road, it's like, it's not like just the Oscars moment.

And then he didn't, he didn't. That's when he finally started to exist. He is an old friend and someone that like on a more personal level that we've had conversations about like coming out and relationships with family and relationships with a mother, especially in things like that, that now when the kids are like, how did you get him?

It's like, I got him 25 years ago. and it there are. Of like looking at your life and what you do and what you put out into the universe that can reap benefits down the road again and again and again. And so this kid who's out there hustling and doing and making positive impacts with people that will pay back in dividends when many years down the road, that will surprise him in so many different.

Hmm. That's amazing. Yes. Yes. Well, oh, it's so true. Right? What you give out in the world is definitely what you, you know, are targeted to get back. Mm-hmm. , that's mm-hmm. . Mm-hmm. . Yeah. We love that. Well, we wanna honor your time because I know you're an incredibly busy mam, . Yes you are. I cannot tell you how honored I am that you would take your time Yes.

To talk with. And you are a beautiful human , and I'm Thank you, thank you, thank you for what you're doing. And it's inspiring. Oh my gosh. I'm just like, yeah. So inspiring. Yeah. My heart is so happy right now. We wish we could talk like all day with you because Yes. We so don't wanna hear that all day off

And so, um, if there has been a real pleasure and I truly appreciate the invitation. I've loved this conversation. I know I talk a lot and I talk fast, but it feels like you, when you've got something to say and you've got a mission, you just wanna like spit it all out. That's what I wanted. Shout. We wanted to hear and we wanted, yeah.

People don't wanna hear us talk, we wanna hear. We have nothing to say. We know nothing about. About this situation, I guess we have on, teaches us a little bit more. Yes, absolutely. And we're so thankful for that. So thank you so, so, so much. Thank you. Thank Well y'all have a great afternoon. Thank your, thank,

I have no idea of how y'all found me, but , Tommy, Tommy. Huh? We, we found you here, Tommy. Oh, Tommy Wofford. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. We love him. He's awesome. And he A lot more tense. Yeah.

Yes. Oh, love that kid. Yeah, we do too. We really do too. Mm-hmm. . Yes. That makes sense. You said you found me through Tommy. I'll tell. Yes, please do. Yes. He's, he's probably tired of us by now. He's probably get, he's probably getting tired of us. We're all over him. , he's, we're our, we're his designated mamas.

Yeah. . He's got more mamas than he ever wanted. He's an incredible young man. And that was the thing is like, Lakeisha just like found us on the internet and so Wow. Um, yeah, the, the things that, that Tommy is, like Tommy has this opportunity with and that he is doing with it. Oh, the Malcolm X is really quite incredible and I think Tommy has like three or four acceptances Wow.

Already now to colleges too, so that's awesome. Ah, gosh. Um, you know, Followed a very non-traditional path and I think that that will continue. And I'm mm-hmm. really looking forward to his you arts audition. Cause I think that that's the school that, that was another thing I didn't mention is that to help demystify the process I do with colleges, all kinds of colleges and university programs, those schools can explain the.

So we're getting the snow again, so I guess I'm going to say goodbye.