Disability and Progress-September 24,2026-Interact Center For the Arts presents Box Inc.

[00:00:00] Speaker A: KPI. [00:00:57] Speaker B: And greetings. Thank you for joining Disability and Progress with where we bring you insights into ideas about and discussions on disability topics. I'm Sam Jasmin. [00:01:07] Speaker C: I'm Charlene Dahl. [00:01:09] Speaker B: Thank you, Charlene. And we are here with a whole bunch of people. I'm going to steal this mic here. So for tonight, just to remind everyone, it is the last week of our pledge, so please show you care and give us some love and go to kfai.org or 612-375-9030. And tonight we are speaking with Interact, Interact center for the Performing Arts. We have Sarah Nargang. Sarah, hi. And we have several performances. We have Michael. Michael. [00:01:52] Speaker D: Hello. [00:01:53] Speaker B: Get your head right into that microphone. And then we have Taylor. [00:01:58] Speaker D: Thank you very much, [00:02:00] Speaker B: Taylor. Hi, Taylor. And then we have Janae. Hi. Hi, Janae. Okay. Okay, guys, come on. You can't let Janae show you up. You got to get your mouth right in there. You're gonna have the girls win here. That's just, you know, you can't just have that. You're actors now. So. Thank you. Thank you, everyone, for coming in. We really appreciate that. I want to just kind of talk about, we're going to talk about your play that's coming up called Boxes Incorporated. And again, remember, it is our pledge drive. 612-375-9030 and kfai.org so let's start out by talking, Sarah, if you would, about who is Interact and what do they do? [00:02:52] Speaker E: Yeah. So Interact center for the Arts, we have two components. We have a performing arts department, and we also have a visual arts department. And this is our 30th year that we've been around. And [00:03:05] Speaker B: that's amazing. [00:03:06] Speaker E: We have artists that are. We have artists that are with and without disabilities. And our mission statement is to sort of question what disability is about. And they. I think we do a great job. [00:03:23] Speaker B: Great. I also want to kind of ask about Boxes Incorporated. If I didn't know about this show, without giving too much away, talk a little bit about what that's. What is that? [00:03:39] Speaker E: Yeah. So we started. This is an all original show. And I think that's really what Interact does best, is we create a lot of our own work. And so we started the process by having large discussions as a group about work that existed outside of Interact, that we were all used to. And there was some ongoing themes within that work. You know, there was themes of the mundane, themes of underappreciated work, underpaid work, a lot of piece rate work. If you're familiar with that within the disabilities community. And so with some of these themes that came out, we decided that we were going to kind of create a musical that tried to embody how you foster whimsy and creativity amongst maybe a boring job or a job that might not spark you creatively. And that's how we found ourselves in Boxes Incorporated. We've all [00:04:48] Speaker B: kind of been there too. [00:04:49] Speaker E: Yes, everyone can relate to that. Yeah. So the whole thing is set in the most boring of places, which is a cardboard box factory. Ah, [00:05:00] Speaker B: delightful. And about how many shows do you do a year? [00:05:04] Speaker E: Yeah, we always do one large fall main stage show. And then there are a number of different opportunities that we have outside of that to perform and create. This winter we're going to have sort of a French salon and we're going to be doing that in partnership with the Visual Arts department, which is going be exciting. So they have got a robust creative writing program as part of their department. And so we're going to pair up with them and create some songs and monologues and possibly some storytelling with the Visual Arts department. They have a great zine group that they have and some spoken word artists. So that's going to be going on ongoing. We'll probably do that four times a year. We also always have a great community program which is a summer fest. Each year we have a different theme for that. This year was our pearl anniversary, as our 30th anniversary. [00:06:05] Speaker B: Wow. Congratulations. [00:06:06] Speaker E: Yeah, thank you. So it was all underwater themed, so we created some original content for that in the performing arts department as well as sort of did a jukebox rendition of some more popular songs that had to do with an underwater theme. And then the Visual arts department always goes big and has a huge collection that is also riffs up that theme. So we had. Which actually still exists in the center, which we all really like. There are some paper mache tentacles coming out of the floor and the ceiling that went with the underwater theme. Yeah. So that's always a really fun event. We do some make and takes there. Yeah. And there's different opportunities that we have throughout the year, but we usually do one big main stage show every year. [00:06:56] Speaker B: You say Interact has people with and without disabilities. [00:07:00] Speaker E: Yeah. So all of our resident artists have mental disabilities. And then it's staffed. Unlike a lot of adult day programs, it's staffed by professional artists. [00:07:12] Speaker B: Okay. [00:07:13] Speaker E: So everyone in the performing Arts department as staff are professional artists that are working in the field as well as in the visual arts department. And so we all get to work together and collaborate, which is really amazing and fun. And we have guest artists that come in. We have an incredible guest artist right now, Josette, who is one of the founding members of Theatre de la June Lune, who's working with us, and she's been a longtime friend, supporter, and sometimes staff member at Interact. And so it's a really great way for artists with and without disabilities to be able to collaborate and come together to create something really special. [00:08:00] Speaker B: So in the description that the show is described as truish, can you talk a little bit about what that means? [00:08:08] Speaker E: Yeah. So, like I said, we had all come together in order to create this work by kind of interviewing ourselves and interviewing each other and talking about different experiences. And so many of the characters that you find in Boxes Incorporated are based on different artists that are in the Performing Arts department, but they're not necessarily played. Those actors aren't necessarily playing the people that are based on them. So Michael, for instance, who's sitting right next to me, he has some incredible stories. You know, one of the things that makes Michael amazing and unique and one of his many talents is he creates costumes, and he can really create the most ornate and incredible costumes out of nothing. Wow. And items that he finds. And so that's definitely a character in the show and not one that Michael is playing. Michael is playing a character based on one of our other artist stories. So while the show is a collection of characters that are based on artists that are in the program, we may take some artistic license here and there with some of our stories. The whole thing is sort of sticking set around the 1950s in this box factory. So before kind of the dawn of technology or computers in your pockets. [00:09:47] Speaker B: Gotcha. Gotcha. So I would be interested in talking. So we have three performers in the studio, and I want to kind of talk about when they first heard about the idea of Boxes Incorporated, what was their reaction? So who would like to touch on this and announce your name? So, people. [00:10:10] Speaker F: My name is Taylor. [00:10:11] Speaker B: Okay, Taylor. [00:10:12] Speaker F: And when I first heard about Boxes Incorporated, I. I was like, okay, this is a. Interesting choice of. Of all the things, Boxes. But there could be, like, a whole lot of other things. But I think our idea was Boxes, and I am. It's. I still think it's an interesting choice, a story about, like, a box factory and all that. [00:10:45] Speaker B: Michael and Janae, do you guys want to chime in on anything about it? [00:10:49] Speaker G: Yeah, if. Yeah, if I could, like, speak. Speak to that myself. I. One. One of the things I have found for myself, one of the things I have discovered for myself in the short year I've been at interact, actually. A lot of the times you, you, you, you, you, you, you don't really see where, where the, where, where, where, where, where the performance staff is, is going with, with, with a lot of these concepts. [00:11:46] Speaker B: Yeah, [00:11:47] Speaker G: but, but, but, but, but once you do know, it's very like, okay, wow. [00:11:58] Speaker B: Taylor, I'm wondering, can you talk a little bit about your, your, who you play in this and what, tell me what you find most interesting about that role. [00:12:13] Speaker F: So I play a assistant called Chad. [00:12:19] Speaker B: Okay. [00:12:20] Speaker F: He, he's one of the assistants to the boss and the boss is like a really mean character. But, but Chad, he's like kind of like this. Like he's, he likes his job, but he also, he doesn't. He, he's not as mean as the boss. He actually has a secret crush on the boss, which, which it's, it's really inappropriate for, for like a, like, for, for the company. Right, [00:13:12] Speaker B: right. Jenae or Michael, do either one of you wanna talk about your characters and what role they play? [00:13:21] Speaker D: Yes. So, okay, so my name is Michael Wolfe and I play the character of Daryl the dishwasher. Yes, yes, Daryl the dishwasher. Ah. So basically, so basically what I mean, what I took from this play, what I took from this play is so basically this, this box making company, this, this box making company called called box incorporated is trying, is trying to. Is trying to basically, basically repress is trying to basically repress their, their employees so that, so that, so that they can become more productive workers so that the people in charge of the company can so that the people in charge of the company can profit. Can profit more, basically. So it's like, yeah, so it was like, so it was like basically the people in charge of this box making company are trying to make sure that their employees have absolutely no creativity, have absolutely no. Imagine no imagination. [00:15:14] Speaker B: Okay. [00:15:15] Speaker D: Have absolutely no, I mean, no personality of any kind. Because the people in charge of boxing of boxes incorporated believe that if you're not creative, if you have no imagination and if you have, and if you have no personality, then you'll be able to make more boxes. [00:15:42] Speaker B: Ah, it's kind of like stay in your corner and just work and don't pay attention to anyone else. [00:15:49] Speaker D: Yes. And the people, the people in charge, the people in charge of boxers incorporated believe that. Yes. Believe that if you have no personality, you'll be able to get more dark, more work done. So I'm not gonna go into detail. [00:16:10] Speaker B: Don't give it away. [00:16:11] Speaker D: I'm not gonna go into detail, but they do come up with some pretty creative ways to oppress the. To oppress the employees of the employees of the Box Banking company. When I, When I first got the script for this play and when I first heard this concept, it was giving. It was giving me. It was giving me Stepford Wife vibes. It was definitely giving me Stepford Wife vibes. And. And, yeah, so. And yeah, so when I heard that is like, okay, I can work with this. So I took the script, I took the concept, and I ran with it. My character. My character finds his creative spark and finds his creative. Finds his creative spark. Finds his creative spark. And throughout the play, my character becomes more and more and more alive. And my character eventually realizes that there's more to life than being. Than being a. Than being a productive worker. So eventually there's. So eventually there's an uprising against the people in charge. And spoiler. Spoiler alert. The creative spark for my character is that my character falls in love. [00:18:05] Speaker B: Okay, all right. That better not say anything more. We don't want to give any more away. I'm wondering everyone, whoever wants to answer this. How much do you get? Do you get to pretty much ad lib there scripts that you have to follow? How do you learn your parts? [00:18:26] Speaker G: Yeah, I think I can speak to that. So ad libbing is where it starts. And, and then we slowly but surely form a script around that ad libbing. But even that, but even that, after the script is formed. Is formed, we're still allowed to add to some extent. [00:19:02] Speaker B: Okay. [00:19:03] Speaker G: Yeah. And [00:19:04] Speaker B: so do you ever find any of. So Taylor and Michael, you know, you guys are. Can answer this too. Do you ever find if someone's ad libbing, do you find it hard to know when you should jump in? [00:19:18] Speaker F: Absolutely. Like, sometimes I. Like sometimes I would hesitate to. Like when I first started Ed Interact. I kind of like when we, When I was. When we were doing ad libs, I was like, should I wait my turn or should I jump in or should I do something? [00:19:41] Speaker B: So, Sarah, how do you keep the lines. Because you get it drawn so they know what to do. [00:19:48] Speaker E: Yeah. So just like Janae said, we start off with having kind of seen concepts or different themes that we try and work from as a group. And we start off with improv, really. So we'll, you know, talk about, you know, we have an idea for a theme or an image or even a tableau, and then we all get to kind of break off into smaller groups and work on that and Then we'll come back and show as a group. And as a group we talk about what we liked, and as a group we talk about what we don't like. And so we kind of throw a lot of spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. And then after we. A pretty clear idea sometimes, you know, for, for Boxes Incorporated, it would get to a point where then I'd go lock myself in a dark room and kind of write out what I heard and maybe, you know, clean up a beat or try, try and weave in another part of the story and then bring it to the group. And, you know, we open in about a week and a half and we're, and we're still, you know, what would be funny? It's a comedy. You know, this show in particular, we're trying to bring as much whimsy as fun. And so even today, you know, we have a set script for sure, but there's a lot of, hey, I think we should try this. And then we kind of work on it until we crack each other up and then we solidify it. So when we go into show, we do have a set script. We're not going to ad lib during the show, but any, yeah, but anything up until we are performing, we're going to keep making it as, as funny and as, as polished as we can. [00:21:44] Speaker B: So do you guys memorize your scripts or do you bring them on stage with you? [00:21:49] Speaker G: No, we, we, no, no, we, we, we're, we're, we're allowed to keep. We're allowed to, we're, we're allowed to keep. We're allowed to keep our scraps. Up, up, up until, up, up, up, up until, up, up until, up until a few weeks till we, to the point where we have an audience. [00:22:12] Speaker B: Ah, gotcha. [00:22:14] Speaker E: Some of us, like Janae, will immediately get off book. I think she's usually like, off book. The second day we have a script where I bring in a script and I said, okay, here's a script, let's see if we like it. And then Janae will come the next day and be entirely memorized, no matter how long it is. [00:22:31] Speaker G: Is that my reputation now? Is that my [00:22:36] Speaker E: last year we did. Now I'm trying to remember exactly what the name of it. [00:22:40] Speaker G: Christmas Carol Farce. [00:22:41] Speaker E: Christmas Carol Farce. And so in the middle of that silly sort of quick Christmas show, I think there was a four page monologue that Janae had to do and she, I think, basically memorize it within 24 hours. [00:22:58] Speaker B: That's really quite amazing. And it [00:23:00] Speaker G: was a four minute monologue. [00:23:02] Speaker E: I thought it was longer than that. I bet that was like a 10 to 12 minute monologue. It was so long. Yeah, [00:23:09] Speaker F: it actually almost took almost like the whole chunk of the page. The first [00:23:17] Speaker B: chunk of the page. Does interact teach theater classes or were you guys natural born? How did you figure out who was good for this play? Do you have tryouts? How. How did this work? [00:23:31] Speaker G: Yeah, we have what, what we call experience days. And do. Do you want to speak to the. To. To. To that or [00:23:44] Speaker E: anybody is sort of welcome to be part of Interact. And then when it comes to different shows, typically, you know, we'll go through the process, you know, with the improving and working and kind of coming back and trying and all of this and we'll naturally folks will gravitate toward a certain part. We also have a in house composer named Dylan Payne who's incredibly talented and so he will. As soon as we kind of all start. It's almost like sand sifting through a colander. We'll kind of gravitate to different parts and as soon as Dylan knows kind of what those parts are as a staff, we'll kind of figure out a structure and what might make sense thematically for different songs and then Dylan will write those songs to those actors vocal ranges. [00:24:42] Speaker B: Is Interact wheelchair accessible? [00:24:47] Speaker G: Yeah, it. I actually, I'm not. I actually, I'm not even sure if there's another floor to the place. [00:25:01] Speaker E: Nope, it's all one level, [00:25:02] Speaker G: right? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah. And [00:25:06] Speaker E: there is a creepy basement, but even I haven't been down there, so. [00:25:11] Speaker B: But [00:25:11] Speaker F: there, you [00:25:12] Speaker B: know, that sounds like a play in the making [00:25:14] Speaker E: actually. That's a great idea. [00:25:16] Speaker B: Just saying. Just saying. [00:25:18] Speaker G: That's. That's where. That's where. That's where. That's where interacts building spirit lives. [00:25:24] Speaker E: That's right. [00:25:26] Speaker F: But yeah, it's all one. One floor. We have two like rooms though. So one side is where people can perform and then the other side is the visual arts. So that's where they like do like art. And [00:25:48] Speaker G: they have a loom in there which [00:25:52] Speaker B: this sounds like more interesting stories of interesting thrilling creepiness. Some scary person sits at the loom and [00:26:05] Speaker G: they have a loom. A kiln. Who do they burn alive in there? I do not know. [00:26:14] Speaker E: This shows writing itself? [00:26:16] Speaker B: Yeah, I think so. I think so. So talk a little bit about the dates and times and do you have audio description and ASL? [00:26:27] Speaker E: Yeah, so we have a preview on October 6th and 7th and we then run from October 8th to October 24th. We have audio description and ASL on October 16th. And our matinees are at 1:30 and then our evening shows are at 6. [00:26:50] Speaker B: And then. What about audio description? [00:26:53] Speaker E: Yep, that is on the 16th, I believe. [00:26:56] Speaker B: Okay. And how about ASL? [00:26:59] Speaker E: Yep, on the 16th, I think. [00:27:01] Speaker B: All of it on one, I [00:27:03] Speaker E: believe. So. Yeah. [00:27:04] Speaker B: Okay, so I would like to kind of talk to Taylor and Michael and. Sorry, Janae. Janae. And just kind of what do you guys see any of yourselves in the role that you're playing? [00:27:31] Speaker F: Oh, [00:27:33] Speaker B: go ahead. [00:27:37] Speaker F: Personality wise? I would say personally wise of Chad. Yes, for the like, for like the bad guy at the villain thing. No. [00:27:50] Speaker B: And Michael, how about you? Are you a villain? Michael? [00:27:56] Speaker D: It's like I, it's like I try. So it was like as a rule of thumb, I try to put. I try to put 20% of my real life personality into every single character that I play. Ah, well, that is a rule. [00:28:23] Speaker B: So a little piece of that I feel like is part of. You have a little personality in that. [00:28:28] Speaker D: Yes, [00:28:28] Speaker B: in that actor [00:28:29] Speaker D: is every single, like every single character I play. I try to put 20% of my real life personality into the character that I'm playing because that's what makes it easier for me to play the character. It's easy. I mean, it's easier for me to play a character when that character is 20% myself. [00:28:59] Speaker B: Gotcha. How about you, Jenae? [00:29:02] Speaker G: Yeah, with. My character, My character comes into the picture as a. [00:29:27] Speaker B: Do you feel like any of your personality is in that character? Yeah, [00:29:32] Speaker G: as, As a, As a woman, as, as, as. As just a woman trying to survive with the cards that she's dealt. Definitely. As a, as a invention consultant trying, Trying to wipe out people's minds with said inventions. No. Oh, [00:29:56] Speaker B: I think we just figured out who the villain might be. [00:30:00] Speaker E: Dun, dun, dun. [00:30:04] Speaker B: So can I ask each of you to tell me what your favorite part of this play is and why briefly? Taylor. [00:30:13] Speaker F: Yes, this is Taylor. I think the favorite thing about this show are probably some are like the songs and probably the, I would say characters because they bring some of them, like, bring a lot of like, humor into the show. [00:30:40] Speaker B: Michael, do you have a favorite part? [00:30:44] Speaker D: I mean. Okay, so there are like so many parts of parts of this play that I enjoy. I'll [00:30:55] Speaker B: pick a favorite. [00:30:56] Speaker D: It's kind of. It's kind of difficult. It's kind of. It's kind of difficult for me to [00:31:01] Speaker B: like them all. [00:31:02] Speaker D: It's kind of difficult for me to pick a part that stands out. Yeah, yeah, but if I. Yeah, but if I had to I would. I would choose all of the happy accidents that happen during the creation process of this play. [00:31:24] Speaker B: Okay. [00:31:25] Speaker D: I would choose that. [00:31:26] Speaker E: The blooper reel. Is that kind of what you're talking about? If we had a blooper reel for the theater, [00:31:32] Speaker F: kind of like how we did today with. [00:31:35] Speaker B: Danae, how about you? [00:31:37] Speaker G: I have to say, it's. It's really exciting, to say the least, to have an actual villain song in [00:31:47] Speaker B: my favorite. [00:31:49] Speaker G: Yeah, [00:31:50] Speaker B: excellent. What do you guys. If you could have the audience take anything from Boxes Incorporated, what would it be? [00:32:00] Speaker F: I would say when people see this show, I want them to leave with. It's okay to have imagination, but you can't, like, box it all inside. You have to let your imagination grow. [00:32:23] Speaker B: Danae, how about you? [00:32:25] Speaker G: Yeah, I'll say that I really want the audience to walk away with. With. With. With a. With the idea of. Keeping their, like, the. Whimsy, the joy, The creativity of the. The creativity of almost. Of almost a child. In their bodies and the minds and their souls and keep that inner child with them. No. No matter. No. No matter where. No, no, no. No matter what. Or where. What. Or where. Or who tries to suppress that. [00:33:48] Speaker B: How about you, Michael? Do you have. What do you want audiences to take away from this show? [00:33:55] Speaker D: Yeah, it's kind of like. I mean. I mean, it's. It's kind of like all of the. All of the Stepford Wife stuff that I've been. That. I was saying that in the beginning, so it was like, I mean, there are always going to be people in charge. There are always going to be people in charge in a multitude of different ways, and those people are going to try to. Are going to try to oppress us. So basically. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that there is a special light. There is a special light within each and every one of us. But then other people, especially the people who are in charge, they are going to be the ones who try to snuff out. Snuff out our inner light with their darkness. They're gonna. They're gonna try to control us. They're gonna try to repress us. They're gonna try to oppress us by any way that they see fit. But the trick for us is we cannot give up. We cannot give up. We cannot give up the goodness that is within us. Because if we give up the good, if we give up the good that is. With. That is within us, that is when those oppressors in charge truly win. [00:35:58] Speaker B: Sarah, what are some of the challenges putting this play together? And does that run with other challenges when you're doing a show? [00:36:10] Speaker E: Yeah, let's see. I always think time is such a challenge. Always. You know, theater is live, and so unlike film, there's a beginning and an end, and it lives in a breath that gets, you know, that ends. So I think time is the biggest challenge. We had an incredibly busy summer. I just want to give a shout out. Michael was part of it, and several of our other artists were part of the Special Olympics opening ceremonies that were hosted here. So that was. That was rigorous rehearsals for them, and I was grateful that I could be there with them. Michael was a spoken word artist for that with Nerdy, and then got to perform alongside Jon Batiste. So that was kind of in the very beginning stages of us trying to get this show created. We were doing that, and then we also had our summer festival for our 30th anniversary. And so in some ways, it was like a time was an enemy this year. But I'm really just so impressed with all the work that all of the artists have put into this. And you could hear Janae and Taylor and Michael talk about that spark that keeps us all alive that was definitely fueling all of our collaborations together. And while this, you know, is a comedy and I think really funny, there is a lot of heart and big issues that have come out of it and that have. That's come out of all of our real stories that the artists were brave enough to share. So I think being able to walk that fine line, I think humor is medicine. [00:38:23] Speaker B: Right. [00:38:24] Speaker E: And right now, I know I am thirsty for it, being able to laugh or giggle, but not being afraid to also address issues that we may all feel in. In our everyday. So I think that that also was a challenge of how we all walk, [00:38:47] Speaker B: especially in this culture and. And time right now. [00:38:50] Speaker E: Exactly. Yes. I. I think for me, it's hard to go into art right now in a. In a super serious way, even though that's how I'm feeling. And so collectively, I think we kind of all agreed that we wanted a comedy as medicine for ourselves and medicine for our audience. But through that, we were able to kind of talk about challenges that we face now and challenges that we have faced in the past and definitely weave those true stories within the context of the show. But it actually is really funny and there are fart jokes, so being able to balance all of it at once is definitely a challenge. But. Yeah, [00:39:37] Speaker B: can you talk about the Otto Bremer grant? [00:39:41] Speaker E: Yeah. So we have. We were lucky enough to have Otto Bremer come and award us a grant. And so they awarded us $100,000. Nice. Which is just really incredible, especially at this time where disability funding, as well as gross funding, we kind of got hit from both sides very [00:40:05] Speaker B: hard. Yes. [00:40:07] Speaker E: In a way that has been earth shaking for the organization. [00:40:11] Speaker B: Right. [00:40:13] Speaker E: And so what a lifeline, incredible generosity that Audubmer has shown us. So, yeah, that is amazing. And that will ensure that we continue to create this important work with voices that are definitely underrepresented. So we're really deeply grateful for Otto Bremer, and we have a lot of incredible donors. You know, this production in particular was funded. We have a producer, Mary Medvin, who has been a longtime volunteer and advocate and supporter of ours, and we're grateful for her generosity. Yeah, I know we all say it, but it is truly unprecedented times that we're facing. Right. So we're really, really grateful, [00:41:06] Speaker B: I guess. I want to know, you know, Janae and Michael and Taylor, if you guys, like, did you ever picture yourself doing this, acting like this, or did you. Did you know, you always wanted to do this, and if somebody asked you if they were nervous about doing it, what advice would you give them? [00:41:34] Speaker F: I. Taylor, I. When I was little, I always, like, I always wanted to be in the acting business. You [00:41:51] Speaker B: had the bug, huh? [00:41:52] Speaker F: And ever. And then when I went through high school, I always got the main role because. I don't know, because in Blaine High School, I went to Blaine High School, I had the idea of. Because I had the idea of doing a show with the people who had disabilities there, and because they weren't, they didn't know what to do. I mean, so I asked my speech teacher, hey, you know what? We should do our. Our very own show. And so we started with Charlotte's Web. [00:42:42] Speaker B: Oh, cool. [00:42:43] Speaker F: And. And then throughout the years, it was like Beauty and the Beast, wizard of Oz. [00:42:54] Speaker B: So you really enjoyed acting? I. [00:42:56] Speaker F: I did. [00:42:57] Speaker B: Didn't have any fear. [00:43:00] Speaker F: No. I, I. And then when I. After I. Before I left high school, I did this talent show. I performed Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. [00:43:16] Speaker B: Oh, cool. [00:43:17] Speaker F: And ever since that, I was like, yes, this is my destiny. I am confident that this is my destiny. [00:43:30] Speaker B: Janae, how about you? What advice would you give somebody if they wanted to act? [00:43:35] Speaker G: Yeah, I would. The advice that I would give is just. It's like, what, what, Whatever path. What, what, what, what, what other path. Whatever paths you've, You've. You've chosen in the past, you, you and what, what, what, what, what, what, whatever. How, what what. Whatever you find has. Has been a part of you there. There. There will be. There will be a place for that in the acting world and especially here at Interact. And you. And, and, and. And you will find a place, no matter what road you take. And, and as. And, and. And as far as I'm concerned, I. I am definitely beginning, at least beginning to find it, to find my place here. [00:44:48] Speaker B: Michael, how about you? Any advice for somebody who wants to act with a disability? [00:44:55] Speaker D: Yeah, Ever since. It's like, ever since I was old enough to. Yes. Ever since I was old enough to learn what a movie is or old enough to learn what a TV show is, I've always wanted to be. I've always wanted to be an actor. So it was like the first movie that I ever saw, the first movie that. The first movie that I remember, I was like. I was like, within myself saying, I want to do that. But of course, but of course, I did not have the means to pursue a career like that until I was, well. Until I was well outside of school. [00:45:57] Speaker B: So once you act. [00:46:00] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:46:01] Speaker B: Cool. [00:46:02] Speaker D: Yeah. So until I was. While I was out of school, so I was doing some independent. I was doing some independent stuff until my mom looked up acting for people with disabilities. She was the one who looked up acting for people with disabilities, and she was the one who found the Interact Center. She was the one who got in contact with them. They reached out to me. I was 50, 50 about joining at first. So then I decided, well, there aren't any other organizations like this. So I decided to just bite the bullet and join. Just [00:46:48] Speaker B: jump in feet first. [00:46:50] Speaker D: Yeah. And to be honest, joining the Interact center was one of the best things I ever did because. Because look at all of the amazing opportunities. Look at all of the things that I've gotten to do ever since then. And look at the person that I've become. And look at the person that I've become now because of everything I get to do at the ANORAC Center. So my. My advice. My. My advice for people who are interested in getting into the business is, is start from the bottom. Start from the bottom. And the bottom is different for every person. Right. So whatever your bottom is, start from your bottom. And slowly, very slowly, work your. Work your way. Work your way up to the top. [00:48:03] Speaker B: Excellent. Sarah, I'm wondering what has working at Interact given to you that you think you wouldn't have gotten? [00:48:13] Speaker E: Ooh. I mean, how much time do we have left? So I saw the first show that I ever saw of interact was in 2010 or 2011. And it was Hot Jazz at the Funky Butt, which is about sort of the beginning of jazz in New Orleans. And it was at. I don't even know what it's called now. Not the Lab, or is it so the Lab. The Luminary. Now it's called the Luminary, but it used to be the Lab Theater. And I had gone because somebody had told me about the show and I'd never, you know, I had. I hadn't heard of the theater before. That's my background. And I went and I think I went by myself. And if I did go with someone, I don't remember them at all because I just remember I sat there with my jaw on the floor and I was truly blown away by the show. And it really made me deal with my own prejudices or preconceptions of what disability is. And I called literally the next day and I said, how can I help? How can I get involved? And so I started volunteering in 2011. And then over the years, I became a guest artist and a sub artist for a long time. And then just recently, I took the position of Director of Performing Arts and Operations, which I kind of pinch myself every day because I get. It feels like I get to make exciting work with just a talent, incredibly talented cohort of artists every day. We get to laugh and sometimes cry and I just am forever grateful to be part of it. And it's like I'll just never, never quit interact in any way. I'm just bubbling over with gratitude that I get to show up and work with the group that we have. [00:50:29] Speaker B: Can you give the information once more of the play when it starts and the audited descriptions and the ASL dates and how people can get tickets? [00:50:41] Speaker E: Yeah. So you can find all the information on our website, which [email protected] we open October 8th. We do have disability tickets pricing available on the website. We run for three weekends, closing October 24th. We have matinee performances and evening performances. And our ASL and audio description is on the 16th. And the show is Boxes Incorporated. It's a truish comedy about poking holes in the tight spaces we find ourselves in. And we hope to see you there. There's eight new original songs and we were just at dinner and we were each trying to figure out which song is the best earworm because they are catchy. We've all been singing them nonstop, so. [00:51:41] Speaker B: And real quick, Sarah, what do you want? What do you want the audience to take away from this? Boxes Incorporated. [00:51:48] Speaker E: Yeah, I think the biggest thing that I would hope people would take is for that 90 minutes that they're in their seat, they're able to unclench just a little bit from the day. Hardship, that they can laugh, that they can see themselves also represented on stage. Yeah. And laughter, I do think, is medicine right now. I think we all need it. I'm, I'm thirsty for it. I feel like it's a, it's a drought of humor sometimes. And so I, I really hope that we get to give the gift of, of, of laughter. [00:52:30] Speaker B: Sarah, Michael, Janae Taylor, thank you, guys. [00:52:35] Speaker E: Thank you. [00:52:36] Speaker B: Thank you. It's been really fun, and I've really enjoyed having you guys on. So thank you and good luck with this show. [00:52:44] Speaker D: Yeah, well, thank [00:52:46] Speaker E: you. [00:52:47] Speaker D: Yeah, well, thank you very much. It's been a pleasure to be here today. [00:52:51] Speaker B: Thank you. [00:52:53] Speaker F: All [00:52:53] Speaker B: right, well, take care and go to Interact. What is it, Sarah? [00:53:00] Speaker E: Interactcenter.org [00:53:02] Speaker B: interactcenter.org thank you. This has been Disability and Progress of. The views expressed on this show are not necessarily those of KFEI or its board of directors. My name is Sam. I'm the host of this show. Charlene Dahl is my research PR person. We've been speaking with Sarah, Michael Taylor and Janae. They are from Interact center for the Performing Arts, talking about their play Boxes incorporated. This is KFAI 90.3 FM, Minneapolis, and kfai.org 612-375-9030 is the pledge or kfai.org thanks so much for joining us, and thank you to my podcaster, Erin. Take care, everyone. [00:53:59] Speaker A: KPI dot dot org.