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(slow music)

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(siren wails)

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♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

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♪ Murder some beats, if you think I'm playing ♪

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♪ Better listen to what I'm saying, okay ♪

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We were so ambitious,

7
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and a part of the whole adventure

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of this was not exactly knowing what the outcome would be.

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♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, bring the beat back ♪

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And it turned out to be wonderful.

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♪ Hey, hey, oh ♪

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♪ Hey, hey, hey, oh, hey ♪

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♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

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♪ Oh ♪

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(bell rings)

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Northwest, unlike a lot of the other schools,

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we're a magnet program.

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We've got gay, straight, Black, white, Hispanic.

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The kids at other schools are

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always striving for assimilation,

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and our kids really do celebrate being different.

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The things that come out of this place are mind-boggling.

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I think that this school should be

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on this huge pedestal across the country.

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Anybody that really understands this thing

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called public education is gonna understand

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that engaged students are better performing students,

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and one of the best ways

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to engage students is through the arts.

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Well, that's the power of children being able

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to go to a school to do what they really love.

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They want to be here,

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and so our graduation rate is above 97%.

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And I think people get how different the teachers

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who work here really are.

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We do it because we love the kids.

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One of the reasons that I came to Northwest is

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because they told me, "They need a mother," and it's true.

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Some of them have overcome tremendous obstacles

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just to be here, but you'd never know it

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because they have that hunger and that drive.

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They love art, they go with their passion,

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but they also experiment and they aren't afraid

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to try something different

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and they're not afraid to work hard.

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Sometimes at other high schools,

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there is football, then there's basketball,

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then there's theater.

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One, two, three, four,

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five, six, seven eight.

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This is what "Glee" looks like in real life.

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(upbeat music)

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(singers scat singing)

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(singers continue scat singing)

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(singers continue scat singing)

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What theater means to me?

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It means escape from the harsh reality of life sometimes.

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It means that I can become somebody else,

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become, like, a different person, a different character.

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It just means endless possibilities.

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A lot of people, they've been doing musicals

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since they were, like, little,

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and I've just done, like, a few church plays here and there,

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and I'm just absorbing everything,

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taking everything I can

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and trying to be more confident about myself.

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I'm going to have my time, even if it's not now,

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I'm going to have it.

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When I was in middle school, I started doing plays,

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and I just, I started to fall in love with it.

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Ever since then, it's something that I love now

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and that I can't not do.

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I know I can sing, but I feel like God placed a spirit

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in my voice, I don't just sing just because it's a song,

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but I sing because it's what I was made to do.

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I came to Northwest with an opportunity

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to be able to have a new start,

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and after being baptized and just kind of starting over,

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I needed that real bad. (laughs)

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When I was 12, my sister had a baby,

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so 12, 13, I really had to start learning how

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to be a second mother, so I think some of the things

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that other 13-year-olds worried about,

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I didn't really have the time to worry about.

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Dance has created such a beautiful world

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for me to express myself,

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and when I'm upset, I just go and dance,

88
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and it just, all the stress and the anger

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and the emotion that I hide inside just flies out,

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and I don't even open up my mouth.

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It's my life and I want to live it,

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and this is how I'm gonna live it, through dance.

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(slow piano music)

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We're going to do auditions Monday, Tuesdays,

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callbacks on Wednesday.

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So it's blank today, but hopefully by Monday,

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both of these will be full.

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Doing "The Color Purple,"

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to be the first high school to do it,

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it means a lot, 'cause it's like, why choose us?

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We're in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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It's really an honor for someone

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to even think about us doing it.

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I am so excited, we are really doing "The Color Purple."

105
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"The Color Purple" ran into a lot of conflicts,

106
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specifically because of the race involved.

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Why do we have to do a Black show?

108
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Why couldn't it be "Hello, Dolly"?

109
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"Why are you guys doing an all Black show?

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Like, we don't do all white shows."

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And I'm just like, "What is wrong with you?"

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This is so relevant,

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it is so relevant.

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This is carefully crafting a lesson about life

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that simply has to be put out there.

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These kids have to do this.

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Just because we're Black doesn't mean

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we can't bring the same kind of artistic talents

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to the table, we all have something to offer.

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We all have a voice.

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People, when they see me,

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they don't know I do musicals.

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They just see a Black male in a hoodie

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and they're like, "Oh, I don't want

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to walk on the same side of the street as him."

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If you have darker skin,

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you automatically get judged for this.

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What I think is so special

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about "The Color Purple," this is an example

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of being Black and making an impact.

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It means something positive.

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It was a huge opportunity for us to be like,

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"Yeah, we'll show you what we can do.

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We're gonna show you what we got, too."

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I know these kids' backstories.

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I know how many of these kids really come

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from single parent homes

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and come from really, really tough situations.

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♪ Ah ♪

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My dad, (sighs)

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(slow piano music)

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my dad, he wasn't around when I was younger.

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When I was 10 years old,

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the way he passed away, he was shot.

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It's basically me and my mom and my sister,

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and my mom has another one coming on the way.

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I just start thinking about just the things

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that I never got to say to him,

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or the things he never go to say to me,

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'cause, I mean, we never really had

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that father son bonding time.

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My father is in prison.

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He went away when I was two.

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It's become a lot harder to talk to him,

155
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to reach out to him, you know,

156
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to almost forgive him for what he's done,

157
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'cause I just, I mean, one of the things

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that gets to me most is

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that he's never seen a show that I've done.

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Not having my father is what pushed me to work harder.

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I could either cry about it or I could accept

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that that's what my life is,

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those are the cards that I've been dealt.

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There's an inner strength that,

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I can do this without my dad, you know?

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Some of them lived in cars.

167
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Some of them lived in hotel rooms.

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There are some who, they're still homeless.

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Fortunately, we have children of great spirit.

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I'm actually in a hotel right now

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and I hate it so much.

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Well, there's two beds.

173
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Me and my two brothers, we sleep in one bed,

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and then my mom and her boyfriend,

175
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they sleep in another bed.

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I don't, like, have the advantages

177
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that some other kids have.

178
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Like, a lot of kids have parents who have, you know,

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jobs, they live in a house, they have cars.

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I don't know when it's gonna end,

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but I'm not gonna let it stop me

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because people go through worse stuff than I do.

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(slow piano music)

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At first, I thought I was supposed

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to beat myself up about it.

186
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My family's looking at me like, "That's not manly,"

187
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or doing ballet was gonna make me gay,

188
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because everyone else did something practical,

189
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whether that meant working at McDonald's

190
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for the rest of your life, that was practical for them.

191
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And I knew that life was so much larger than practical.

192
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Although I'm different, I'm going to go above

193
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and beyond of what you guys feel like I was destined to be.

194
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Struggling, it hurts, but struggling can get you

195
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through so much, and it's what makes you want to keep going,

196
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'cause it's like, I gotta,

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I can't be going through this for nothing.

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I have to be going through this to get somewhere.

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So line up.

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"Color Purple" is going to be my 44th musical

201
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that I've worked on since I've been at Northwest,

202
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and after awhile, it becomes just an ocean of other shows,

203
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but this one is one that's got to stand out.

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♪ Like a blade of corn ♪

205
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♪ Like a honeybee ♪

206
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♪ Like a waterfall ♪

207
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♪ All a part of me ♪

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(slow music)

209
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All right, number seven through 12.

210
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This is the most exciting day

211
00:09:13.410 --> 00:09:17.310
because this is the one that's really open to possibility.

212
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I think there's gonna be a lot of competition.

213
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If I see the cast list

214
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and it you says Harpo and Phillip Johnson,

215
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I would, I would probably scream like a girl.

216
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I'm gonna audition for Mister.

217
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I always like a challenge,

218
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I never back away from a challenge.

219
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I really want to be Shug Avery.

220
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I want to be Shug Avery so badly,

221
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like, burns inside of my soul.

222
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I would love to try out for Celie.

223
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I will be a floor piece in the show,

224
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like, I just want to be in it.

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♪ To part with you ♪

226
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♪ More than I can bear ♪

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Okay, guys in the hallway, keep it down.

228
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Of course there are anxieties.

229
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I had one or two that walked out

230
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because it was gonna be too tough.

231
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My nerves will get to me

232
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and it will ruin everything.

233
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I think that the "The Color Purple"

234
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is gonna be a great opportunity for me.

235
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I think it's gonna just push me forward so much.

236
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I'm gonna audition my butt off.

237
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I have to be in the show. (laughs)

238
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I can't see myself doing anything else.

239
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All right, you guys, here you go.

240
00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:19.410
You will do this twice, so you'll do it in this formation.

241
00:10:19.410 --> 00:10:21.930
Please make sure you're holding formation.

242
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You can make some noise if you want to, okay?

243
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You can smile, but in smiling, get it right.

244
00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:31.777
(slow jazzy music)

245
00:10:37.466 --> 00:10:39.540
(slow jazzy music continues)

246
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Let me see what you got, now.

247
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I feel really confident.

248
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Tired, (laughs) but I feel kind of good about it.

249
00:10:50.525 --> 00:10:54.275
(slow jazzy music continues)

250
00:10:57.918 --> 00:11:00.303
It was kind of hard, nerve wracking.

251
00:11:00.303 --> 00:11:04.053
(slow jazzy music continues)

252
00:11:06.030 --> 00:11:06.863
If y'all will come back

253
00:11:06.863 --> 00:11:08.493
to one line for me real fast.

254
00:11:09.627 --> 00:11:13.377
(slow jazzy music continues)

255
00:11:18.630 --> 00:11:20.430
Thank you all.

256
00:11:20.430 --> 00:11:23.250 line:15%
I'm excited about doing my song and my monologue,

257
00:11:23.250 --> 00:11:25.230
but my dance is a little bit more of a stretch for me,

258
00:11:25.230 --> 00:11:26.460
so now that that's out of the way,

259
00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:28.809
I can sort of relax a little bit more.

260
00:11:28.809 --> 00:11:31.330
(group chattering)

261
00:11:31.330 --> 00:11:33.802 line:15%
In my song, I'm just not confident yet,

262
00:11:33.802 --> 00:11:36.349 line:15%
but I'm gonna get there, I'm gonna get there.

263
00:11:36.349 --> 00:11:39.178 line:15%
Everything that I have to pull from in my life,

264
00:11:39.178 --> 00:11:40.830 line:15%
that's what I'm gonna put into it.

265
00:11:40.830 --> 00:11:42.450 line:15%
I'm singing "The Color Purple,"

266
00:11:42.450 --> 00:11:44.190 line:15%
and I'm doing the two Shug monologues,

267
00:11:44.190 --> 00:11:46.939 line:15%
so I'm going for it, so we'll see what happens.

268
00:11:46.939 --> 00:11:49.546
You can't be going and visit your sister all the time,

269
00:11:49.546 --> 00:11:52.416
and, (stammers) and you can't be going to all these places.

270
00:11:52.416 --> 00:11:53.249
(slow piano music)

271
00:11:53.249 --> 00:11:56.156
♪ Big eyed, brown legged ♪

272
00:11:56.156 --> 00:12:01.156
♪ Whatever she is, that girl sure is fine ♪

273
00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:06.291
♪ So tell me how ♪

274
00:12:06.291 --> 00:12:09.762
♪ A man do good ♪

275
00:12:09.762 --> 00:12:13.345
♪ When all he knows is bad ♪

276
00:12:15.030 --> 00:12:17.790
God taking his time getting around to you, I'll admit,

277
00:12:17.790 --> 00:12:19.860
but look what he give us,

278
00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:23.250
laughing, and singing, and sex, (laughs)

279
00:12:23.250 --> 00:12:26.370
sky over our heads, birds singing to us.

280
00:12:26.370 --> 00:12:27.630
My name is Keston Steele,

281
00:12:27.630 --> 00:12:31.650
and I'll be singing "Somebody's Gonna Love"

282
00:12:31.650 --> 00:12:33.117
after my monologue.

283
00:12:37.523 --> 00:12:38.523
Dear Nettie.

284
00:12:42.273 --> 00:12:44.866
(Keston sighs)

285
00:12:44.866 --> 00:12:45.866
Dear Nettie.

286
00:12:47.874 --> 00:12:49.041
Oh, excuse me.

287
00:12:54.931 --> 00:12:57.555
Take a deep breath.

288
00:12:57.555 --> 00:12:59.842 line:15%
Breathe in through you nose,

289
00:12:59.842 --> 00:13:02.342 line:15%
let it out through your mouth.

290
00:13:03.826 --> 00:13:05.076
Okay, go ahead.

291
00:13:06.943 --> 00:13:11.943 line:15%
♪ To part with you, more than I can bear ♪

292
00:13:14.716 --> 00:13:17.853
♪ 'Cause somebody ♪

293
00:13:17.853 --> 00:13:22.853
♪ Gonna love you ♪

294
00:13:23.054 --> 00:13:26.860
♪ Sweet ♪

295
00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:30.828
♪ Baby, sweet ♪

296
00:13:30.828 --> 00:13:33.756
♪ Sweet ♪

297
00:13:33.756 --> 00:13:38.756
♪ Baby, sweet ♪

298
00:13:39.294 --> 00:13:43.496
♪ Yes, I'm always ♪

299
00:13:43.496 --> 00:13:46.246
♪ Gonna love you ♪

300
00:13:48.450 --> 00:13:49.283
Thank you.

301
00:13:51.253 --> 00:13:53.010
I didn't realize she could sing that well.

302
00:13:53.010 --> 00:13:55.303
Oh, honey, (cheers) she could sing, now.

303
00:13:56.730 --> 00:13:58.530
She could sing, now, if Celie just

304
00:13:58.530 --> 00:13:59.450
sang the whole show-
I only see her dancing.

305
00:13:59.450 --> 00:14:01.470
If this was "The Color Purple" the opera.

306
00:14:01.470 --> 00:14:02.303
This is a huge-

307
00:14:02.303 --> 00:14:03.270
(group laughs)

308
00:14:03.270 --> 00:14:04.596
Do we want to give her a chance?

309
00:14:04.596 --> 00:14:05.520
I'd love to.
She's a maybe yes

310
00:14:05.520 --> 00:14:07.290
and a maybe no.

311
00:14:07.290 --> 00:14:09.120
Those three girls gotta sing.

312
00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.950
She can't, no, no, no.

313
00:14:10.950 --> 00:14:11.783
So ensemble, then?

314
00:14:11.783 --> 00:14:13.140
Yeah, ensemble.

315
00:14:13.140 --> 00:14:14.550
Hi, my name is Britany Bowens,

316
00:14:14.550 --> 00:14:17.100
and I will be singing "Hell No" after my monologue.

317
00:14:18.030 --> 00:14:19.957 line:15%
Everybody that I've heard from said,

318
00:14:19.957 --> 00:14:23.067 line:15%
"Britany wants this more than anybody."

319
00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:26.790
You told Harpo to beat me?

320
00:14:26.790 --> 00:14:30.990
I love Harpo, God knows I do, but I'll kill him dead

321
00:14:30.990 --> 00:14:34.151
before I let him or anybody beat me.

322
00:14:34.151 --> 00:14:36.720
All my life I had to fight.

323
00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:40.620
I had to fight my daddy, I had to fight my brothers,

324
00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:43.020
my uncles, and my cousins, too,

325
00:14:43.020 --> 00:14:46.440
but I never, never, never, never thought

326
00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:48.997
I would have to fight in my own house.

327
00:14:48.997 --> 00:14:53.997
♪ If a man raise his hand ♪

328
00:14:54.134 --> 00:14:55.665
♪ Hell, no ♪

329
00:14:55.665 --> 00:14:57.139
(slow piano music)

330
00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:57.972
Hell, no.

331
00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:01.293
Okey-doke, thank you.

332
00:15:05.370 --> 00:15:08.490
She really seems to be determined,

333
00:15:08.490 --> 00:15:12.240
and this is Britany's first year at Northwest.

334
00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.040
She's coming in as a 10th grader.

335
00:15:14.040 --> 00:15:18.930
She's 18 years old and is still in the 10th grade,

336
00:15:18.930 --> 00:15:22.080
and she's worried about being able to finish

337
00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:25.503
before they actually tell her she has to leave.

338
00:15:26.370 --> 00:15:28.747
But one of the things that she said is,

339
00:15:28.747 --> 00:15:33.357
"Before I go, I really want to do a show."

340
00:15:34.260 --> 00:15:35.443
That was great, Britany.
Both of you guys, oh,

341
00:15:35.443 --> 00:15:37.138
my gosh, I wanted to-
Thank you.

342
00:15:37.138 --> 00:15:37.971
Clap for both of you-
Like, you really just,

343
00:15:37.971 --> 00:15:39.000
like, stood-

344
00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.833
You stood out.
Put it all together

345
00:15:39.833 --> 00:15:41.190
in a cute little package.

346
00:15:41.190 --> 00:15:43.590
I really want to get, I feel like I'm ready,

347
00:15:43.590 --> 00:15:45.403
and I just, I want it so bad.

348
00:15:45.403 --> 00:15:46.890
I just want to go for it.

349
00:15:46.890 --> 00:15:48.210
I mean, it took a lot for me,

350
00:15:48.210 --> 00:15:50.250
but I was the best me that I could be,

351
00:15:50.250 --> 00:15:52.170
so I'm happy about that.

352
00:15:52.170 --> 00:15:54.210
We're gonna do callbacks Wednesday,

353
00:15:54.210 --> 00:15:56.580
so you can either check Facebook

354
00:15:56.580 --> 00:16:00.093
or check before school Wednesday morning, okay?

355
00:16:01.281 --> 00:16:04.170
I checked Facebook last night and I saw the callback list

356
00:16:04.170 --> 00:16:07.920
at about 10:30, and I was kind of disappointed.

357
00:16:07.920 --> 00:16:09.570
I didn't see my name on it.

358
00:16:09.570 --> 00:16:14.040
I inadvertently left Mekhai's name off the list.

359
00:16:14.040 --> 00:16:17.460
So this morning when I posted the list,

360
00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:19.500
he seemed very crestfallen.

361
00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:21.202
Where's Mekhai?

362
00:16:21.202 --> 00:16:22.035
Come here.

363
00:16:22.035 --> 00:16:24.180
So I had to tell him personally.

364
00:16:24.180 --> 00:16:28.756
Yes, I do need you, actually I definitely need you at that.

365
00:16:28.756 --> 00:16:31.986
I messed up, okay? (cries out)

366
00:16:31.986 --> 00:16:35.250
All right, don't hug me, you stupid boy, (laughs) okay.

367
00:16:35.250 --> 00:16:36.083
Yeah!

368
00:16:36.083 --> 00:16:37.856
Okay, yes, I do need you on call.

369
00:16:37.856 --> 00:16:39.090
Okay?
Okay, okay.

370
00:16:39.090 --> 00:16:39.923
You okay?

371
00:16:39.923 --> 00:16:40.756
Yeah.
All right-

372
00:16:40.756 --> 00:16:42.022
That's great, yeah, I'll be there, I'll be right there.

373
00:16:42.022 --> 00:16:44.000
All right, go ahead. (laughs)

374
00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.042
Okay, kid.

375
00:16:45.042 --> 00:16:50.042
(upbeat music)
(group chattering)

376
00:16:50.849 --> 00:16:52.548
(Phillip squeals)

377
00:16:52.548 --> 00:16:55.465
(group chattering)

378
00:16:59.617 --> 00:17:03.700 line:15%
Well, Celie, like, her character is just, like,

379
00:17:05.340 --> 00:17:06.900
I don't know, it kind of reminds me of me,

380
00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:10.950
not so much the husband thing and, you know,

381
00:17:10.950 --> 00:17:13.230
but the fact that, you know, you have people

382
00:17:13.230 --> 00:17:16.387
around you that are good people that are trying to be like,

383
00:17:16.387 --> 00:17:19.500
"You're beautiful, be confident about yourself,

384
00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:22.680
you're awesome," and you not being able to see that,

385
00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.850
and they're trying to pull you,

386
00:17:23.850 --> 00:17:25.740
but you don't want to take anybody's hand

387
00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:27.240
because you're afraid to step out

388
00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:29.250
because you don't know, you know,

389
00:17:29.250 --> 00:17:31.140
what to expect when you do get out there,

390
00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:33.060
and I'm still learning who I am,

391
00:17:33.060 --> 00:17:36.030
and I'm kind of scared still.

392
00:17:36.030 --> 00:17:38.220
A kid who really surprised me,

393
00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:41.550
who was really fantastic, was Britany Bowens.

394
00:17:41.550 --> 00:17:45.480
She really brought her A game to the auditions.

395
00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:48.540
As a matter of fact, a few days ago,

396
00:17:48.540 --> 00:17:51.240
Brianna Cleggett, who I've also called back

397
00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:55.350
to read for Sofia, said, "Mr. Mitchell, I'm worried."

398
00:17:55.350 --> 00:17:57.240
And I said, "Why, what are you worried about?"

399
00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:01.530
She said, "Britany is hungry."

400
00:18:01.530 --> 00:18:06.360
And I said, "Well, then, you need to skip some meals, too."

401
00:18:06.360 --> 00:18:09.600
So I think it's going to be a real battle

402
00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:14.403
between Britany and Brianna this afternoon in callbacks.

403
00:18:16.350 --> 00:18:20.947 line:15%
Reading for Sofia, I would like to hear

404
00:18:22.290 --> 00:18:23.403
Britany,

405
00:18:24.780 --> 00:18:29.780
yes, Britany, and I would also like to hear from Nyla.

406
00:18:31.764 --> 00:18:34.614
♪ Your britches 'til they look brand new ♪

407
00:18:34.614 --> 00:18:38.468
♪ Now is there anything ♪

408
00:18:38.468 --> 00:18:40.406
♪ I can do for you ♪

409
00:18:40.406 --> 00:18:42.776
(audience cheers)

410
00:18:42.776 --> 00:18:44.915
(group chattering)

411
00:18:44.915 --> 00:18:47.512
♪ Any little thing ♪

412
00:18:47.512 --> 00:18:51.466
♪ You might want me to ♪

413
00:18:51.466 --> 00:18:52.324
(background noise drowns out speaker)

414
00:18:52.324 --> 00:18:55.638
Stop there, let's do you two.

415
00:18:55.638 --> 00:19:00.638
♪ Is there anything I can do for you ♪

416
00:19:02.421 --> 00:19:07.421
♪ For you ♪

417
00:19:07.814 --> 00:19:09.990
♪ By early morn then I shucked ♪

418
00:19:09.990 --> 00:19:11.044
Let's try that again.

419
00:19:11.044 --> 00:19:12.038
Let's try that again.
I'm so sorry.

420
00:19:12.038 --> 00:19:13.976
♪ Now is there any little thing ♪

421
00:19:13.976 --> 00:19:14.998
I thought he had another.

422
00:19:14.998 --> 00:19:16.650
Okay, and so then, Britany,

423
00:19:16.650 --> 00:19:17.846
be ready to come in.

424
00:19:17.846 --> 00:19:18.679
I will.

425
00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:19.512
All right.

426
00:19:19.512 --> 00:19:21.351
♪ Now is there anything ♪

427
00:19:21.351 --> 00:19:22.261
That's you.

428
00:19:22.261 --> 00:19:23.160
All right, I was not-

429
00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:28.160
♪ I can do for you ♪

430
00:19:29.270 --> 00:19:33.447
♪ I milked 12 heifers by the early morn ♪

431
00:19:33.447 --> 00:19:35.542
♪ And then I shucked about 100 ♪

432
00:19:35.542 --> 00:19:37.510
Focus, breath, I can't hear you.

433
00:19:37.510 --> 00:19:38.756
♪ Of corn ♪

434
00:19:38.756 --> 00:19:42.902
♪ I scrubbed all your britches 'til they look brand new ♪

435
00:19:42.902 --> 00:19:47.652
♪ Now is there anything I can do for you ♪

436
00:19:49.150 --> 00:19:52.150
(slow piano music)

437
00:19:53.255 --> 00:19:56.225
♪ Any little thing ♪

438
00:19:56.225 --> 00:20:00.004
♪ You might want me to ♪

439
00:20:00.004 --> 00:20:01.004
Okey-doke.

440
00:20:03.238 --> 00:20:05.340
Let me get my Celies and Suges.

441
00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:07.023
You ain't never enjoy it ever?

442
00:20:08.730 --> 00:20:11.310
No, he think I'm ugly.

443
00:20:11.310 --> 00:20:12.483
He make me laugh.

444
00:20:13.590 --> 00:20:15.510
And you like to sleep with him?

445
00:20:15.510 --> 00:20:18.409
Oh, I love it, don't you?

446
00:20:18.409 --> 00:20:19.242
(slow piano music)

447
00:20:19.242 --> 00:20:20.978
♪ Got my house ♪

448
00:20:20.978 --> 00:20:24.833
♪ It still keep the cold out ♪

449
00:20:24.833 --> 00:20:26.676
♪ Got my chair ♪

450
00:20:26.676 --> 00:20:29.923
♪ When my body can't hold out ♪

451
00:20:29.923 --> 00:20:31.175
No, this is not what we practiced.

452
00:20:31.175 --> 00:20:32.008
Okay.

453
00:20:32.008 --> 00:20:32.841
All right?

454
00:20:32.841 --> 00:20:35.280
Come on, girl, you'd better sing, sing, sing, sing.

455
00:20:35.280 --> 00:20:37.710
Just go ahead and belt, listen.

456
00:20:37.710 --> 00:20:41.910
Don't worry about anything else, just sing for me, okay?

457
00:20:41.910 --> 00:20:42.887
Are you good?

458
00:20:42.887 --> 00:20:43.720
Mm-hmm.

459
00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:45.458
All right, come on.

460
00:20:45.458 --> 00:20:50.458
♪ Got my hands doing good like they supposed to ♪

461
00:20:50.885 --> 00:20:55.885
♪ Showing my heart to the folks that I'm close to ♪

462
00:20:56.547 --> 00:21:01.547
♪ I've got my eyes, though they can't see as far now ♪

463
00:21:01.974 --> 00:21:06.974
♪ They see more about how things really are now ♪

464
00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:12.914
I want to do that build again, okay?

465
00:21:12.914 --> 00:21:13.862
Again, like we practiced.

466
00:21:13.862 --> 00:21:14.724
Yes.

467
00:21:14.724 --> 00:21:19.724
♪ Got my eyes, though they can't see as far now ♪

468
00:21:20.006 --> 00:21:25.006
♪ Shut out the things, how things really are now ♪

469
00:21:29.027 --> 00:21:32.777
(slow piano music continues)

470
00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:38.037
You two, come here real fast, both of you.

471
00:21:38.037 --> 00:21:41.010
Come here, you are both wonderful,

472
00:21:41.010 --> 00:21:42.900
and it's gonna be really,

473
00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:46.620
really difficult picking a Celie out of this.

474
00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:50.550
What is the most important to me is

475
00:21:50.550 --> 00:21:53.460
that the two of you remain close,

476
00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:57.060
and that the two of you know that I just love you both,

477
00:21:57.060 --> 00:21:59.340
and that I think you're both really,

478
00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:02.674
really phenomenal, okay, thank you,

479
00:22:02.674 --> 00:22:04.405
you're both really great.
Thank you.

480
00:22:04.405 --> 00:22:07.738
(slow orchestral music)

481
00:22:13.525 --> 00:22:17.692
(slow orchestral music continues)

482
00:22:20.693 --> 00:22:23.782
Talk to you later.

483
00:22:23.782 --> 00:22:28.365
(background noise drowns out speakers)

484
00:22:31.687 --> 00:22:32.696
(group chattering)

485
00:22:32.696 --> 00:22:35.779 line:15%
Okay, get ready, thank you.

486
00:22:37.484 --> 00:22:39.313
Here we go, guys. (background noise drowns out speaker)

487
00:22:39.313 --> 00:22:41.400
Oh, my!
(group chattering)

488
00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:44.283
So, guys, before I post this,

489
00:22:45.210 --> 00:22:48.163
I want to tell you a little bit about my childhood.

490
00:22:48.163 --> 00:22:50.245
(group chattering)

491
00:22:50.245 --> 00:22:51.760
No, back up.
(group chattering)

492
00:22:51.760 --> 00:22:53.004
Just let me see it.

493
00:22:53.004 --> 00:22:54.973
(group chattering)

494
00:22:54.973 --> 00:22:57.556
(group cheers)

495
00:23:01.929 --> 00:23:02.850
Oh, my God!

496
00:23:02.850 --> 00:23:04.703
Me, I did it, you know, I got it,

497
00:23:04.703 --> 00:23:06.270
and I'm just so happy, like,

498
00:23:06.270 --> 00:23:08.175
I've never been this happy in my life.

499
00:23:08.175 --> 00:23:10.156
(group chattering)

500
00:23:10.156 --> 00:23:13.260
Oh, my goodness, oh, my God!

501
00:23:13.260 --> 00:23:15.309
I'm really happy now, oh, my gosh.

502
00:23:15.309 --> 00:23:16.142
(group chattering)

503
00:23:16.142 --> 00:23:18.140
Yes, yes, oh, my God, you guys.

504
00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:19.915
(group chattering)

505
00:23:19.915 --> 00:23:21.084
Keston is Celie!

506
00:23:21.084 --> 00:23:26.084
(group chattering)
(Keston cries)

507
00:23:29.724 --> 00:23:30.974
I'm so happy.

508
00:23:33.053 --> 00:23:34.061
Oh, my God.

509
00:23:34.061 --> 00:23:37.140
(group chattering)
(Keston cries)

510
00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:42.140
If I died right now, I would be the happiest dead person.

511
00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:44.703
Oh, my God, Danielle, we got it.

512
00:23:44.703 --> 00:23:45.536
Yes.

513
00:23:45.536 --> 00:23:46.410
We got it.
(group chattering)

514
00:23:46.410 --> 00:23:48.874
I'm Shug Avery, oh, my God.

515
00:23:48.874 --> 00:23:49.807
(group chattering)

516
00:23:49.807 --> 00:23:54.807
Oh, no.
(group chattering)

517
00:23:58.268 --> 00:24:01.003
Danielle, Danielle!

518
00:24:01.003 --> 00:24:04.020
But what, I'm just, I didn't get the part I wanted,

519
00:24:04.020 --> 00:24:07.290
but I got the part that I needed to have.

520
00:24:07.290 --> 00:24:09.780
I'm right where I need to be, and I can't wait.

521
00:24:09.780 --> 00:24:12.063
I'm gonna work my butt off.

522
00:24:15.210 --> 00:24:17.793
If you will notice, by the first day of school,

523
00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.811
we will have learned this whole show.

524
00:24:20.811 --> 00:24:21.690
(group chattering)

525
00:24:21.690 --> 00:24:25.290
Okay, by tomorrow, we will have the first 26 pages

526
00:24:25.290 --> 00:24:26.940
of this show locked.

527
00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:29.040
This is not a small undertaking,

528
00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:31.020
which means we've gotta come in

529
00:24:31.020 --> 00:24:36.020
with an attitude to work and to push and to just focus.

530
00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:40.590 line:15%
Folks, the music is difficult.

531
00:24:40.590 --> 00:24:43.470 line:15%
It's going to be difficult to put it together,

532
00:24:43.470 --> 00:24:45.300
what I consider probably one of the hardest scores

533
00:24:45.300 --> 00:24:46.920
I've ever worked on, okay?

534
00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:49.140
So coming to rehearsal's not enough.

535
00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:52.170
If you have not started using the Show Ready Kit,

536
00:24:52.170 --> 00:24:55.980
you're behind already, learn your parts.

537
00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:59.640
The hardest parts in this show are the ensemble parts.

538
00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:01.860
Those vocal lines are hard, hard, hard,

539
00:25:01.860 --> 00:25:03.840
and finding your note and following your note is difficult.

540
00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:06.750
So you don't have two months to do that,

541
00:25:06.750 --> 00:25:08.714
you have two and a half weeks to that.

542
00:25:08.714 --> 00:25:09.611
(upbeat rhythmic music)

543
00:25:09.611 --> 00:25:11.575
Tomcats, (claps) let's go.

544
00:25:11.575 --> 00:25:12.690
(upbeat rhythmic music continues)

545
00:25:12.690 --> 00:25:14.940
The kids are so dedicated.

546
00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:16.410
They're here on Saturdays,

547
00:25:16.410 --> 00:25:18.900
they're here 'til six or seven o'clock at night,

548
00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.910
and sometimes I'm just, like, ready to collapse,

549
00:25:20.910 --> 00:25:22.260
and they're ready to keep going,

550
00:25:22.260 --> 00:25:23.940
and they take stuff home at night.

551
00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:25.860
They take stuff home on weekends.

552
00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:29.111
Yeah, we're always here, always, (laughs)

553
00:25:29.111 --> 00:25:29.950
in the morning and night.

554
00:25:29.950 --> 00:25:34.200
We're here all the time, it's a never ending job.

555
00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:36.240
Mr. Mitchell told us, the ensemble,

556
00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:38.160
that's the foundation of the story.

557
00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:39.783
I mean, we're working from the time we get there

558
00:25:39.783 --> 00:25:41.370
'til the time we leave.

559
00:25:41.370 --> 00:25:42.960
We never do a show this fast.

560
00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:44.970
You don't have time to be lazy.

561
00:25:44.970 --> 00:25:46.080
You're just learning, learning, learning,

562
00:25:46.080 --> 00:25:48.480
and every day, all day, just "The Color Purple."

563
00:25:50.167 --> 00:25:52.170
One of my biggest wishes has been

564
00:25:52.170 --> 00:25:55.350
to be able to take a show and showcase

565
00:25:55.350 --> 00:25:57.930
what we do at Thespian Festival.

566
00:25:57.930 --> 00:26:00.960
In order to get invited to the festival,

567
00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:02.220
'cause if you see there,

568
00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:04.440
it's superior, excellent good, fair,

569
00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:08.310
we've got to score superiors in at least 80%

570
00:26:08.310 --> 00:26:10.380
of this entire adjudication sheet.

571
00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:11.242
Boom.

572
00:26:11.242 --> 00:26:13.500
(upbeat music)

573
00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:16.458
You're rushing the hell out of that, slow down.

574
00:26:16.458 --> 00:26:17.730
(upbeat music continues)

575
00:26:17.730 --> 00:26:20.250
They look at every aspect, technical,

576
00:26:20.250 --> 00:26:22.770
costumes, sound design, lighting design,

577
00:26:22.770 --> 00:26:25.290
orchestra, ensemble, leads.

578
00:26:25.290 --> 00:26:28.170
Everything has to set a standard

579
00:26:28.170 --> 00:26:30.960
that is far above what people think

580
00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:33.990
of as being the average high school show.

581
00:26:33.990 --> 00:26:38.490
They invite the best of the best to perform on that stage,

582
00:26:38.490 --> 00:26:41.790
so you'll hear more about it, don't worry about it.

583
00:26:41.790 --> 00:26:44.370
If we get invited, that's a whole bunch of money

584
00:26:44.370 --> 00:26:45.750
we gotta raise 'cause it'll cost

585
00:26:45.750 --> 00:26:50.042
about $120,000 to get there, okay?

586
00:26:50.042 --> 00:26:51.980
(upbeat music continues)

587
00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:55.020
(Matt scat sings)

588
00:26:55.020 --> 00:26:56.910
When you get-

589
00:26:56.910 --> 00:26:57.743
You know, when you're acting,

590
00:26:57.743 --> 00:26:59.400 line:15%
eventually the character becomes you,

591
00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:01.050 line:15%
and I'm trying to not to let that happen.

592
00:27:01.050 --> 00:27:04.490 line:15%
And back, and one, two, three,

593
00:27:04.490 --> 00:27:07.230
four, five, six, boom.

594
00:27:07.230 --> 00:27:09.780
So, guys, listen, shh.

595
00:27:09.780 --> 00:27:12.780
It needs to be, I don't want to say nasty,

596
00:27:12.780 --> 00:27:15.156
it needs to be tastefully dirty.

597
00:27:15.156 --> 00:27:16.710
(group laughs)

598
00:27:16.710 --> 00:27:19.710
When I casted for Shug, Danielle came to me

599
00:27:19.710 --> 00:27:21.990
and said she didn't think she could do the show.

600
00:27:21.990 --> 00:27:24.300
She couldn't play Shug, she couldn't do the kiss.

601
00:27:24.300 --> 00:27:26.340
She couldn't do any of those things.

602
00:27:26.340 --> 00:27:28.530
I was nervous that I didn't know how to be sexy. (laughs)

603
00:27:28.530 --> 00:27:30.870
I was nervous that I was gonna upset God.

604
00:27:30.870 --> 00:27:33.090
I thought, you know, what does that say about me,

605
00:27:33.090 --> 00:27:35.610
if I'm willing to put myself onstage in that way?

606
00:27:35.610 --> 00:27:37.050
I don't know, it's been definitely something

607
00:27:37.050 --> 00:27:39.769
that's on my mind constantly, and just, like, this morning,

608
00:27:39.769 --> 00:27:41.760
(indistinct) asking us to just get out of our comfort zone,

609
00:27:41.760 --> 00:27:43.890
like, right away, like, I literally just,

610
00:27:43.890 --> 00:27:45.270
honestly, I sat back and prayed for a minute.

611
00:27:45.270 --> 00:27:46.170
I was like, "God, just help me

612
00:27:46.170 --> 00:27:48.870
to just humble myself right now and not, you know,

613
00:27:48.870 --> 00:27:50.393
to get out of my head for a little bit."

614
00:27:50.393 --> 00:27:52.260
(slow piano music)

615
00:27:52.260 --> 00:27:53.093
It's really hard, though,

616
00:27:53.093 --> 00:27:55.684
because I'm not around that all the time,

617
00:27:55.684 --> 00:27:57.992
and I choose to be that way, I set myself apart.

618
00:27:57.992 --> 00:28:00.168
(group chattering)

619
00:28:00.168 --> 00:28:01.800
(group cheers)

620
00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:04.020
Now, you can't look down and smile.

621
00:28:04.020 --> 00:28:06.000
You gotta look at us and smile.

622
00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.310
I gotta see that smile (laughs)

623
00:28:08.310 --> 00:28:12.480
that it's like, ooh, I like this, yes?

624
00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:16.650
There's also the conflict of kissing a girl

625
00:28:16.650 --> 00:28:18.750
and being intimate with another girl,

626
00:28:18.750 --> 00:28:21.930
and that's a little weighing on my convictions.

627
00:28:21.930 --> 00:28:23.250
Are you good for that?

628
00:28:23.250 --> 00:28:24.083
Yes.

629
00:28:24.083 --> 00:28:25.560
Okay, that's good.

630
00:28:25.560 --> 00:28:30.300
I push a lot, and I mean, I push a lot,

631
00:28:30.300 --> 00:28:32.433
and I'll push their buttons.

632
00:28:33.630 --> 00:28:36.960
I will push their limits and their talent,

633
00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:40.650
and I will push their thresholds

634
00:28:40.650 --> 00:28:44.910
as far as what they think they can do physically.

635
00:28:44.910 --> 00:28:45.930
Come on, guys. (claps)

636
00:28:45.930 --> 00:28:47.470
Wake up, let's go, hey, Lynn.

637
00:28:47.470 --> 00:28:48.332
Energy.

638
00:28:48.332 --> 00:28:49.838
Feet apart, feet apart.

639
00:28:49.838 --> 00:28:51.480
There are people that are much better dancers than me

640
00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:53.130
that didn't get into the show,

641
00:28:53.130 --> 00:28:54.990
so I just feel like I have to do good

642
00:28:54.990 --> 00:28:56.370
because I don't want Mr. Mitchell

643
00:28:56.370 --> 00:28:59.118
to regret putting me in the cast.

644
00:28:59.118 --> 00:29:00.360
Britany, give me some energy.

645
00:29:00.360 --> 00:29:01.230
You're fading big time,

646
00:29:01.230 --> 00:29:03.420
I gotta have some more energy from you.

647
00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:05.181
Here we go, right on this, gonna be the last-

648
00:29:05.181 --> 00:29:06.014
It's just something I'm passionate about

649
00:29:06.014 --> 00:29:07.440
and I want to do it so well

650
00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:12.440 line:15%
because, I mean, I love doing this, and (sighs)

651
00:29:16.095 --> 00:29:18.210
I just, I don't want to be that person

652
00:29:18.210 --> 00:29:21.120
who brings or slows things down.

653
00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:24.360
I just know I can do better and I have to do better.

654
00:29:24.360 --> 00:29:28.080
Sometimes I see a lot of myself in Britany.

655
00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:30.600
There is such a drive,

656
00:29:30.600 --> 00:29:34.470
and she's gotta fight for it more than anyone,

657
00:29:34.470 --> 00:29:38.160
and she's gotta fight for something that is really

658
00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:41.880
and truly foreign to the rest of her family.

659
00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:46.410
Britany is my underdog, Britany is the one

660
00:29:46.410 --> 00:29:50.190
who is going to have to do it against all odds,

661
00:29:50.190 --> 00:29:53.100
but I think that if she can keep the fire,

662
00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:55.173
I think that she can succeed,

663
00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:58.650
but there's a lot to overcome.

664
00:29:58.650 --> 00:30:00.861
There's a lot to overcome with her.

665
00:30:00.861 --> 00:30:03.778
(slow piano music)

666
00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:06.150
It's been me and my mom and my sister,

667
00:30:06.150 --> 00:30:08.370
really, against the world for a very long time,

668
00:30:08.370 --> 00:30:13.110 line:15%
so my dad wasn't around.

669
00:30:13.110 --> 00:30:16.110 line:15%
I feel like if I didn't have the arts,

670
00:30:16.110 --> 00:30:18.630
I probably would be off doing something,

671
00:30:18.630 --> 00:30:19.890
God knows what, you know?

672
00:30:19.890 --> 00:30:23.610
So I feel like the arts keeps me grounded

673
00:30:23.610 --> 00:30:25.680
and gives me motivation to stay out of trouble,

674
00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:28.110
gives me motivation to do the right thing

675
00:30:28.110 --> 00:30:32.356
and to make sure that college and academics is a priority.

676
00:30:32.356 --> 00:30:36.106
(slow piano music continues)

677
00:30:37.065 --> 00:30:38.482
Hey, Mr. Miles.

678
00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:40.290
I don't even know what I would do

679
00:30:40.290 --> 00:30:41.520
if I didn't have Northwest.

680
00:30:41.520 --> 00:30:42.930
Me and Phillip talk about it sometimes

681
00:30:42.930 --> 00:30:44.050
because I don't even know,

682
00:30:44.050 --> 00:30:46.710
would I be going just straight into the workforce?

683
00:30:46.710 --> 00:30:49.710
You know, I mean, like, surviving, but not completely happy.

684
00:30:50.610 --> 00:30:51.600
I know I wouldn't have,

685
00:30:51.600 --> 00:30:53.820
I wouldn't feel like I had a purpose.

686
00:30:53.820 --> 00:30:55.650
It would just be a completely different life

687
00:30:55.650 --> 00:30:56.553
for me right now.

688
00:30:57.906 --> 00:31:01.519
♪ So tell me how ♪

689
00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:05.313
♪ A man do good ♪

690
00:31:05.313 --> 00:31:08.813
♪ When all he know is bad ♪

691
00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:12.750
It was important to show as Mister

692
00:31:12.750 --> 00:31:15.390
that he's not evil, he's been hurt,

693
00:31:15.390 --> 00:31:17.550
and I think that's what I see in my family,

694
00:31:17.550 --> 00:31:21.030
hurt people who have to try harder to give love.

695
00:31:21.030 --> 00:31:23.460
People only lash out or show hatred

696
00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:25.105
when they've been hurt, you know?

697
00:31:25.105 --> 00:31:25.938
♪ Kill that rat ♪

698
00:31:25.938 --> 00:31:27.510
There are some serious issues

699
00:31:27.510 --> 00:31:30.870
that our students face, and when we go into theater

700
00:31:30.870 --> 00:31:32.460
and when you talk about emotional memory

701
00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.870
and you talk about sense memory,

702
00:31:33.870 --> 00:31:36.450
you talk about all of those elements

703
00:31:36.450 --> 00:31:40.920
of acting that, where you're trying to tap into yourself

704
00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:45.920
and become more of yourself through this other character,

705
00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:48.933
as a director, I walk a tightrope.

706
00:31:49.830 --> 00:31:51.730
I'm trying to get their best

707
00:31:52.650 --> 00:31:54.930
without it tearing them to pieces.

708
00:31:54.930 --> 00:31:57.210
I have to hit Keston in the face,

709
00:31:57.210 --> 00:31:59.610
and I really don't like that part.

710
00:31:59.610 --> 00:32:02.354
I don't, when I go offstage, I'm conflicted with myself.

711
00:32:02.354 --> 00:32:03.900
I'm like, you know, Mekhai, you gotta understand,

712
00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:05.400
it's just acting, but I get mad at myself

713
00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:06.990
'cause I hate it when I see, like,

714
00:32:06.990 --> 00:32:08.610
stuff like domestic violence, I don't like that.

715
00:32:08.610 --> 00:32:10.740
So having to do it myself

716
00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:14.752
as a character is definitely a trial and a process.

717
00:32:14.752 --> 00:32:16.413
Don't forget me, Celie!

718
00:32:16.413 --> 00:32:17.759
Nettie, write to me!

719
00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:19.681
I'll write you every day!

720
00:32:19.681 --> 00:32:21.630
Mister didn't have the father that he needed,

721
00:32:21.630 --> 00:32:24.900
and it really shows in how he treated the women around him.

722
00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:28.110
So I felt like that's what I drew on it for Mister,

723
00:32:28.110 --> 00:32:29.463
the missing father figure.

724
00:32:30.540 --> 00:32:32.390
Mister and I had something in common.

725
00:32:36.100 --> 00:32:40.200
Why (cries) you do this?

726
00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.700
Theater is not instant.

727
00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:45.150
You do have to dig deeper, you have to find that,

728
00:32:45.150 --> 00:32:47.190
and there is a lot of pressure,

729
00:32:47.190 --> 00:32:51.900
and I do apply a lot of pressure to say, "Dig deeper."

730
00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:55.260
Mr. Mitchell gives us a thick soul and thin skin

731
00:32:55.260 --> 00:32:57.270
so that we can be affected by what we're doing,

732
00:32:57.270 --> 00:32:59.121
but still be able to withstand it.

733
00:32:59.121 --> 00:33:02.038
(slow piano music)

734
00:33:04.770 --> 00:33:08.940
Yesterday in rehearsal, well, like, I broke down.

735
00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:10.090
Like, I started crying.

736
00:33:11.250 --> 00:33:12.930
We don't really have a home right now

737
00:33:12.930 --> 00:33:15.240
because we lived with my auntie for a little bit,

738
00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:17.430
and there was, like, 13 people in that house,

739
00:33:17.430 --> 00:33:20.130
and we would, like, stay in the garage,

740
00:33:20.130 --> 00:33:23.430
and it's me, my stepdad, my mom, and my two sisters,

741
00:33:23.430 --> 00:33:24.870
and it's really hard because, like,

742
00:33:24.870 --> 00:33:29.490 line:15%
I try to, it's hard to sleep on, like, a floor, you know?

743
00:33:29.490 --> 00:33:31.230 line:15%
And, like, that may not be, like, too,

744
00:33:31.230 --> 00:33:32.490
I'm not trying to seem, like, you know,

745
00:33:32.490 --> 00:33:33.960
I'm whining or complaining, but, like,

746
00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:36.240
it's kind of hard to do that and then come to rehearsal,

747
00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.890
and then, like, try to have a good attitude,

748
00:33:37.890 --> 00:33:39.210
and then, you know, a whole bunch,

749
00:33:39.210 --> 00:33:41.370
it's a lot going on at home, and, like,

750
00:33:41.370 --> 00:33:43.020
just yesterday, I couldn't handle it anymore.

751
00:33:43.020 --> 00:33:46.413
I couldn't, I broke down, and, yeah.

752
00:33:47.370 --> 00:33:49.140
Even though it may be hard sometimes,

753
00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:51.270
I still believe that with faith in God,

754
00:33:51.270 --> 00:33:53.920
it'll all come through and everything will be better.

755
00:33:56.520 --> 00:33:57.616
Go.

756
00:33:57.616 --> 00:33:58.705
♪ It's Sunday ♪

757
00:33:58.705 --> 00:33:59.538
Ha, ha.

758
00:33:59.538 --> 00:34:00.371
♪ It's ♪

759
00:34:00.371 --> 00:34:02.970
No, (claps) no, energy, energy.

760
00:34:02.970 --> 00:34:05.610
This whole thing's gotta just blow up with energy,

761
00:34:05.610 --> 00:34:07.170
otherwise those people have no reason

762
00:34:07.170 --> 00:34:08.643
to come out onstage and dance.

763
00:34:08.643 --> 00:34:10.517
(upbeat music)
(dancers clapping)

764
00:34:10.517 --> 00:34:12.437
♪ Don't waste your time trying to wrassle ♪

765
00:34:12.437 --> 00:34:14.502
♪ With your worldly woe ♪

766
00:34:14.502 --> 00:34:17.173
♪ The good Lord works in mysterious ways ♪

767
00:34:17.173 --> 00:34:18.006
♪ 'Cause God's watching ♪

768
00:34:18.006 --> 00:34:20.643
10 days, 10 days before the show.

769
00:34:21.630 --> 00:34:22.860
Wow.

770
00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:25.710
With the truncated amount of time that we have

771
00:34:25.710 --> 00:34:30.210
to put something together, there's no such thing as resting.

772
00:34:30.210 --> 00:34:33.840
You have to work, you have to work, you cannot stop.

773
00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:36.060
You have to keep it up.

774
00:34:36.060 --> 00:34:39.930
One job is over, the next one picks up again.

775
00:34:39.930 --> 00:34:41.850
You can't curse nobody.

776
00:34:41.850 --> 00:34:44.700
You're poor, you're Black, you're ugly.

777
00:34:44.700 --> 00:34:47.220
Don't you back down from him.

778
00:34:47.220 --> 00:34:50.779
Girl, you move, I will break your legs, you hear me?

779
00:34:50.779 --> 00:34:51.612
(upbeat music)

780
00:34:51.612 --> 00:34:53.220
Now, none of us know

781
00:34:53.220 --> 00:34:55.301
what the Lord's got planned for us.

782
00:34:55.301 --> 00:34:56.281
Hallelujah.

783
00:34:56.281 --> 00:34:57.130
No, sir.

784
00:34:57.130 --> 00:34:57.963
That's right.

785
00:34:57.963 --> 00:35:00.795
So I want you to stop your moaning,

786
00:35:00.795 --> 00:35:05.732
quit your groaning, throw away your handkerchiefs.

787
00:35:05.732 --> 00:35:07.497
Put your hand in his.

788
00:35:07.497 --> 00:35:08.868
That (indistinct), this-

789
00:35:08.868 --> 00:35:10.331
I can wash it and not do nothing to-

790
00:35:10.331 --> 00:35:11.164
Oh.
Yeah, so,

791
00:35:11.164 --> 00:35:13.380
that way, honey, it's a wig, anyway.

792
00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:14.855
They got a nappy wig?

793
00:35:14.855 --> 00:35:16.199
That's what I'm talking about.

794
00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:19.616
(upbeat music continues)

795
00:35:22.252 --> 00:35:23.823
♪ The good Lord is walking with you, walking ♪

796
00:35:23.823 --> 00:35:28.823
Hey, guys, I have had enough of all the talking.

797
00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:32.400
Jordan will say, "Be quiet," and I want you,

798
00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:34.350
it's not even like it's registering

799
00:35:34.350 --> 00:35:36.273
in your eyes to be quiet.

800
00:35:37.470 --> 00:35:39.480
How can you retain anything

801
00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:42.120
when you're so caught up in yourselves?

802
00:35:42.120 --> 00:35:45.030
The Saturdays, the nine to six rehearsals,

803
00:35:45.030 --> 00:35:48.390
the constant after school, the do it again,

804
00:35:48.390 --> 00:35:49.770
even though you're exhausted

805
00:35:49.770 --> 00:35:51.390
and you feel like you're gonna drop,

806
00:35:51.390 --> 00:35:54.000
that is what the business is all about,

807
00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:57.990
especially stage, and the second you say, "I can't,"

808
00:35:57.990 --> 00:36:02.130
there will be someone else behind them saying, "I can."

809
00:36:02.130 --> 00:36:02.963
That's the kind of teaching

810
00:36:02.963 --> 00:36:03.796
you'll get from him, you know?

811
00:36:03.796 --> 00:36:06.573
He'll push you to your limits to make you better.

812
00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:11.784
Reach, reach, gesture!

813
00:36:11.784 --> 00:36:12.617
Me and Mekhai, we were always like,

814
00:36:12.617 --> 00:36:14.010
"I can't wait to go to rehearsal."

815
00:36:14.010 --> 00:36:16.350
If I had a bad day, I know I could come to this rehearsal

816
00:36:16.350 --> 00:36:17.300
and I can be happy.

817
00:36:18.215 --> 00:36:20.132
♪ Yeah ♪

818
00:36:22.759 --> 00:36:27.259
(background noise drowns out singers)

819
00:36:28.681 --> 00:36:31.911
♪ Unto ♪

820
00:36:31.911 --> 00:36:33.976
♪ The ♪

821
00:36:33.976 --> 00:36:35.893
♪ Lord ♪

822
00:36:42.856 --> 00:36:45.660 line:15%
(slow music)

823
00:36:45.660 --> 00:36:48.993 line:15%
(slow orchestral music)

824
00:36:54.570 --> 00:36:56.550 line:15%
(slow orchestral music continues)

825
00:36:56.550 --> 00:37:00.420
When I was upset and nobody else was there to hold me,

826
00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:02.130
my brother was the only person there

827
00:37:02.130 --> 00:37:03.960
to make me laugh and to make me forget

828
00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:05.580
about it until today. (cries)

829
00:37:05.580 --> 00:37:06.870
I want to thank my brother

830
00:37:06.870 --> 00:37:09.593
for everything he could ever do for me

831
00:37:09.593 --> 00:37:11.210
because he was the best. (Cries)

832
00:37:11.210 --> 00:37:14.746
I swear, my brother was the best. (cries)

833
00:37:14.746 --> 00:37:16.470
I think Javontre's brother got caught up

834
00:37:16.470 --> 00:37:18.120
with the wrong people and they convinced him

835
00:37:18.120 --> 00:37:19.590
to do something crazy,

836
00:37:19.590 --> 00:37:23.250
but instead of coming home that night, he lost his life.

837
00:37:23.250 --> 00:37:24.480
That could have been Tre.

838
00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:26.550
It could have so easily have been him had

839
00:37:26.550 --> 00:37:28.110
he not started dancing,

840
00:37:28.110 --> 00:37:30.090
had he not found something that he loved to do.

841
00:37:30.090 --> 00:37:32.580
He could have been the one who got shot.

842
00:37:32.580 --> 00:37:33.720
And I think from that,

843
00:37:33.720 --> 00:37:37.170
we pull some kind of strength and drive to keep performing

844
00:37:37.170 --> 00:37:40.050
because we see that it keeps us out of the craziness.

845
00:37:40.050 --> 00:37:42.330
I can't imagine my life without Northwest

846
00:37:42.330 --> 00:37:45.150
'cause when you have great friends with great decisions

847
00:37:45.150 --> 00:37:47.580
and they're in the same art form as you are,

848
00:37:47.580 --> 00:37:49.200
you guys just share a special bond

849
00:37:49.200 --> 00:37:50.523
that no one can take away.

850
00:37:51.483 --> 00:37:53.910
(slow orchestral music continues)

851
00:37:53.910 --> 00:37:55.020
I'm performing for my brother

852
00:37:55.020 --> 00:37:57.030
because this is what he wants me to do,

853
00:37:57.030 --> 00:37:59.070
and now that I know that it's within me,

854
00:37:59.070 --> 00:38:00.693
I have no choice but to succeed.

855
00:38:04.745 --> 00:38:06.420
(slow piano music)

856
00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:09.330
I think when you find something that you truly love

857
00:38:09.330 --> 00:38:12.060
and that you love to do and that makes you incredibly happy,

858
00:38:12.060 --> 00:38:14.700
and when you find people that make it worthwhile,

859
00:38:14.700 --> 00:38:17.580
you'd do anything to keep it in your life,

860
00:38:17.580 --> 00:38:18.930
and I think that's what we all,

861
00:38:18.930 --> 00:38:20.070
including Phillip and Britany,

862
00:38:20.070 --> 00:38:22.050
I think that that's what keeps them fighting,

863
00:38:22.050 --> 00:38:23.160
it keeps them part of it.

864
00:38:23.160 --> 00:38:26.550
Like, they really, really enjoy what they're doing,

865
00:38:26.550 --> 00:38:29.790
and their testament is what they go,

866
00:38:29.790 --> 00:38:31.290
what they fight and what they struggle with

867
00:38:31.290 --> 00:38:32.610
to continue to be at rehearsals,

868
00:38:32.610 --> 00:38:34.610
or continue to make it to a dance class.

869
00:38:35.700 --> 00:38:36.660
I love that about them,

870
00:38:36.660 --> 00:38:39.663
and I love that they inspire me to do that.

871
00:38:41.970 --> 00:38:43.950
There's a light in Britany,

872
00:38:43.950 --> 00:38:46.140
everybody sees that in Britany,

873
00:38:46.140 --> 00:38:50.880
and I think now Britany's starting to see it for herself.

874
00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:53.250
She was so busy trying to catch up with everybody else,

875
00:38:53.250 --> 00:38:56.637
instead of, you know, just being herself.

876
00:38:56.637 --> 00:38:57.900
(group chattering)

877
00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:59.573 line:15%
It's bringing us close together.

878
00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:02.604 line:15%
And Mitchell said

879
00:39:02.604 --> 00:39:06.330 line:15%
that this would be our biggest audience yet, so, oh, God.

880
00:39:06.330 --> 00:39:08.940
But the load in and loud out, it's gonna be tough.

881
00:39:08.940 --> 00:39:09.867
(group chattering)

882
00:39:09.867 --> 00:39:11.019
We'll see how it goes.

883
00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:13.788
I'm just trying to be calm and not worry about anything

884
00:39:13.788 --> 00:39:15.627
'cause it's all gonna work out, you know?

885
00:39:15.627 --> 00:39:17.207
Oh, sweet Jesus.

886
00:39:17.207 --> 00:39:20.457
(singers scat singing)

887
00:39:26.542 --> 00:39:30.542
(singers continue scat singing)

888
00:39:35.610 --> 00:39:38.446
(singers continue scat singing)

889
00:39:38.446 --> 00:39:43.446
Take it out, take it out, there, stop, stop, stop, stop!

890
00:39:43.609 --> 00:39:47.609
(singers continue scat singing)

891
00:39:48.729 --> 00:39:50.764 line:15%
(group chattering)

892
00:39:50.764 --> 00:39:52.039 line:15%
All right, folks, listen.

893
00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:55.080 line:15%
Shh, listen.
(group chattering)

894
00:39:55.080 --> 00:39:57.873
Guys, take a moment and look around.

895
00:39:59.550 --> 00:40:01.200
Today is the day.

896
00:40:01.200 --> 00:40:03.633
All of you, I am grateful to,

897
00:40:04.680 --> 00:40:07.863
and I want you to be grateful towards each other.

898
00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:12.057
Tonight's word is "shine."

899
00:40:15.630 --> 00:40:20.630
I want you guys to go out and give them a big gift, okay?

900
00:40:23.760 --> 00:40:24.663
Shine.

901
00:40:25.530 --> 00:40:29.133
Be your full wonderful selves.

902
00:40:30.540 --> 00:40:31.747
Okay, break a leg.

903
00:40:31.747 --> 00:40:32.788
(group laughs)

904
00:40:32.788 --> 00:40:37.788
(group cheers)
(group chattering)

905
00:40:41.262 --> 00:40:45.669
(group continues chattering)

906
00:40:45.669 --> 00:40:48.243
♪ Ah ♪

907
00:40:48.243 --> 00:40:52.028
♪ Ooh ♪

908
00:40:52.028 --> 00:40:54.320
♪ Ah ♪

909
00:40:54.320 --> 00:40:55.746
♪ Ah ♪

910
00:40:55.746 --> 00:40:57.184
(group chattering)

911
00:40:57.184 --> 00:41:01.378
♪ Ooh, ah ♪

912
00:41:01.378 --> 00:41:03.695
♪ Ah ♪

913
00:41:03.695 --> 00:41:04.620
♪ Ah ♪

914
00:41:04.620 --> 00:41:08.465
Guys, curtain in 10 minutes, places in 10.

915
00:41:08.465 --> 00:41:10.965
♪ Ooh, ah, ah ♪

916
00:41:12.750 --> 00:41:14.050
Quiet backstage!

917
00:41:15.441 --> 00:41:17.327
We have plenty of people rolling in.

918
00:41:17.327 --> 00:41:18.160
In Jesus's name.

919
00:41:18.160 --> 00:41:19.770
Amen.
Amen.

920
00:41:19.770 --> 00:41:21.990
I am very, very, very nervous.

921
00:41:21.990 --> 00:41:24.660
This is my first full musical ever,

922
00:41:24.660 --> 00:41:27.420
and this is one of the biggest stages I've ever been on,

923
00:41:27.420 --> 00:41:28.962
but I'm gonna do good.

924
00:41:28.962 --> 00:41:31.260
Run it around there, run it, run it, run it

925
00:41:31.260 --> 00:41:34.125
as far as you can.
(group chattering)

926
00:41:34.125 --> 00:41:37.458
(slow orchestral music)

927
00:41:42.675 --> 00:41:44.932
(slow music)

928
00:41:44.932 --> 00:41:46.963
My name's Squeak!

929
00:41:46.963 --> 00:41:47.963
Whoo, ooh!

930
00:41:49.249 --> 00:41:51.809
♪ Gonna make you holler like a wildcat do ♪

931
00:41:51.809 --> 00:41:54.082
♪ Oh, brown Betty ♪

932
00:41:54.082 --> 00:41:58.280
♪ When I throw my mojo down on you ♪

933
00:41:58.280 --> 00:42:01.197
(group chattering)

934
00:42:03.217 --> 00:42:05.034
♪ Brown Betty, brown Betty ♪

935
00:42:05.034 --> 00:42:10.009
♪ Whatever she is, that girl sure is fine ♪

936
00:42:10.009 --> 00:42:14.842
♪ Whatever she is, that girl sure is fine ♪

937
00:42:16.554 --> 00:42:18.555
(audience laughs)

938
00:42:18.555 --> 00:42:21.752
(group chattering)

939
00:42:21.752 --> 00:42:23.340
Oh, oh!

940
00:42:23.340 --> 00:42:24.173
What?

941
00:42:24.173 --> 00:42:25.080
Tell her, yeah,

942
00:42:25.080 --> 00:42:26.610
she accidentally punched her for real.

943
00:42:26.610 --> 00:42:28.633
Is she bleeding badly?

944
00:42:28.633 --> 00:42:31.321
I don't think so, I don't think it's bad.

945
00:42:31.321 --> 00:42:33.977
Is it? (background noise drowns out speaker)

946
00:42:33.977 --> 00:42:36.120
It was a thing, (laughs) I was just thinking,

947
00:42:36.120 --> 00:42:39.760
that fight, that punch doesn't look real. (laughs)

948
00:42:41.190 --> 00:42:44.860
(slow orchestral music)

949
00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:47.127
Okay, there was the lesbian kiss.

950
00:42:47.127 --> 00:42:50.133
We shall see what the principal has to say about that.

951
00:42:52.023 --> 00:42:53.270
Or I'll (indistinct).

952
00:42:53.270 --> 00:42:55.560
Oh, my God, this needs to be faster

953
00:42:55.560 --> 00:42:57.753
or the audience is gonna walk out.

954
00:42:58.777 --> 00:43:00.761
Wait, what's going on?

955
00:43:00.761 --> 00:43:02.024
I don't know.

956
00:43:02.024 --> 00:43:03.490
Oh, wait, just let it out, just-

957
00:43:03.490 --> 00:43:04.931
Uh, uh, uh, he's gonna kill me.

958
00:43:04.931 --> 00:43:07.395
(slow music)

959
00:43:07.395 --> 00:43:09.010
(audience cheers)

960
00:43:09.010 --> 00:43:11.220
Oh, God, slow down.

961
00:43:11.220 --> 00:43:13.891
(slow music continues)
(group chattering)

962
00:43:13.891 --> 00:43:16.485
Okay, I need to fix this.

963
00:43:16.485 --> 00:43:18.373
(slow music continues)

964
00:43:18.373 --> 00:43:19.909
(group chattering)

965
00:43:19.909 --> 00:43:21.062
This needs.

966
00:43:21.062 --> 00:43:23.054
(slow music)

967
00:43:23.054 --> 00:43:26.422
Oh, this is a mess, this is a mess.

968
00:43:26.422 --> 00:43:29.527
(slow jazzy music)

969
00:43:29.527 --> 00:43:34.277
Oh, my God, (laughs) this is killing me.

970
00:43:35.160 --> 00:43:36.903
It's just messy, it's messy.

971
00:43:38.023 --> 00:43:40.583
I don't know, I just feel like the energy's kind of down.

972
00:43:40.583 --> 00:43:44.376
I don't know, I don't know how to feel about it yet.

973
00:43:44.376 --> 00:43:46.453
It's frustrating.

974
00:43:46.453 --> 00:43:49.140
But it's okay, it's just not our best.

975
00:43:50.149 --> 00:43:52.278
I'll get it, I gotta get my energy back up,

976
00:43:52.278 --> 00:43:55.926
put myself in the right mood, I guess.

977
00:43:55.926 --> 00:43:58.564
I'm gonna go get my mic set up.

978
00:43:58.564 --> 00:44:02.148
(distant chattering)

979
00:44:02.148 --> 00:44:04.580
♪ I'm gonna hold my head up ♪

980
00:44:04.580 --> 00:44:07.908
♪ I'm gonna put my shoulders back ♪

981
00:44:07.908 --> 00:44:11.351
♪ And look you straight in the eye ♪

982
00:44:11.351 --> 00:44:15.173
♪ I'm gonna flirt with somebody ♪

983
00:44:15.173 --> 00:44:17.175
♪ When they walk by ♪

984
00:44:17.175 --> 00:44:21.282
♪ I'm gonna sing out ♪

985
00:44:21.282 --> 00:44:23.532
♪ Sing out ♪

986
00:44:27.542 --> 00:44:29.510
(audience cheers)

987
00:44:29.510 --> 00:44:31.683
♪ I believe that ♪

988
00:44:31.683 --> 00:44:34.520
♪ I have inside of me ♪
(Corey groans)

989
00:44:34.520 --> 00:44:37.520
♪ What God has done ♪

990
00:44:39.512 --> 00:44:42.179
Oh, my God, they need to move.

991
00:44:43.092 --> 00:44:43.925
♪ Amen ♪

992
00:44:43.925 --> 00:44:47.256
They need to move because the lights are,

993
00:44:47.256 --> 00:44:48.463
they need to move.

994
00:44:48.463 --> 00:44:50.380
♪ Amen ♪

995
00:44:53.120 --> 00:44:56.754
Oh, my God, heads up, heads up!

996
00:44:56.754 --> 00:44:59.539
(students exclaiming)

997
00:44:59.539 --> 00:45:02.117
Okay, I need to fix this.

998
00:45:02.117 --> 00:45:03.060 line:15%
(group chattering)

999
00:45:03.060 --> 00:45:03.893 line:15%
Let's talk.

1000
00:45:06.360 --> 00:45:11.360
It was really tough going in and literally working

1001
00:45:11.940 --> 00:45:16.740
until the very last second in which we had the opportunity

1002
00:45:16.740 --> 00:45:21.120
to stop and appreciate the space that we were in

1003
00:45:21.120 --> 00:45:23.760
and the accomplishments that we've made.

1004
00:45:23.760 --> 00:45:26.790
I took that upon myself, and there are things

1005
00:45:26.790 --> 00:45:31.140
that we will do to make that better, okay?

1006
00:45:31.140 --> 00:45:31.977
Kes and I just sat for a second

1007
00:45:31.977 --> 00:45:33.300
and we were just so frazzled

1008
00:45:33.300 --> 00:45:35.370
'cause everything was just all over the place,

1009
00:45:35.370 --> 00:45:36.720
but it wasn't its best.

1010
00:45:36.720 --> 00:45:38.160
And so how can we hold each other accountable

1011
00:45:38.160 --> 00:45:39.090
and hold ourselves accountable

1012
00:45:39.090 --> 00:45:41.070
to make sure we're constantly putting our hearts

1013
00:45:41.070 --> 00:45:42.570
in this show 100%.

1014
00:45:42.570 --> 00:45:45.630
Because we can't continue through the rest

1015
00:45:45.630 --> 00:45:49.410
of this week feeling like we are less than,

1016
00:45:49.410 --> 00:45:52.410
like we are not quite a family.

1017
00:45:52.410 --> 00:45:57.410
We are, but as with all families, there is dysfunction.

1018
00:45:58.410 --> 00:46:01.620
But everything that we're doing is in preparation

1019
00:46:01.620 --> 00:46:04.413
for us to be the best, okay?

1020
00:46:05.820 --> 00:46:08.070 line:15%
We need absolute focus.

1021
00:46:08.070 --> 00:46:11.748 line:15%
The legacy of this show happens in tonight's performance.

1022
00:46:11.748 --> 00:46:12.870 line:15%
(slow piano music)

1023
00:46:12.870 --> 00:46:16.443
The adjudicators who are coming are here tonight.

1024
00:46:17.640 --> 00:46:20.613
The theater critics who are coming are here tonight.

1025
00:46:21.569 --> 00:46:25.170
(slow orchestral music)

1026
00:46:25.170 --> 00:46:26.003
This is it.

1027
00:46:28.440 --> 00:46:32.430
Okay, everything, but it doesn't happen

1028
00:46:32.430 --> 00:46:34.233
if you're not focused,

1029
00:46:35.580 --> 00:46:39.393
if you're not alive and you're not absolutely energized.

1030
00:46:40.920 --> 00:46:43.893
You guys have the ability to move people.

1031
00:46:47.220 --> 00:46:51.023
Don't take it lightly, guys, please don't.

1032
00:46:52.692 --> 00:46:53.525
(group chattering)

1033
00:46:53.525 --> 00:46:55.907
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪

1034
00:46:55.907 --> 00:46:56.740
♪ Yeah ♪

1035
00:46:56.740 --> 00:46:58.260
There's very strong criteria,

1036
00:46:58.260 --> 00:47:00.900 line:15%
and if we say yes to a show

1037
00:47:00.900 --> 00:47:03.960 line:15%
and it ends up on that main stage at International,

1038
00:47:03.960 --> 00:47:05.040 line:15%
it better be good.

1039
00:47:05.040 --> 00:47:06.508
If it bombs,

1040
00:47:06.508 --> 00:47:08.360
the harshest bomb-
Everybody looks at us.

1041
00:47:08.360 --> 00:47:11.280 line:15%
In the world, but when it sails,

1042
00:47:11.280 --> 00:47:13.860 line:15%
you cannot believe the energy in that theater.

1043
00:47:13.860 --> 00:47:15.510 line:15%
It's a high like you've never seen.

1044
00:47:15.510 --> 00:47:18.121 line:15%
Yeah.
(slow piano music)

1045
00:47:18.121 --> 00:47:21.454
(slow orchestral music)

1046
00:47:27.529 --> 00:47:31.696
(slow orchestral music continues)

1047
00:47:36.583 --> 00:47:40.750
(slow orchestral music continues)

1048
00:47:44.438 --> 00:47:46.770
I think these kids are lucky

1049
00:47:46.770 --> 00:47:50.550
because they are just as much as at risk,

1050
00:47:50.550 --> 00:47:52.590
but they figured something out

1051
00:47:52.590 --> 00:47:56.103
and they've tuned into something that they really love.

1052
00:47:57.317 --> 00:48:01.484
(slow orchestral music continues)

1053
00:48:06.076 --> 00:48:08.520
(slow orchestral music continues)

1054
00:48:08.520 --> 00:48:10.198
I, like, went for it in "Push the Button."

1055
00:48:10.198 --> 00:48:12.391
He was like, "Give me something hot."

1056
00:48:12.391 --> 00:48:14.130
Ooh, yeah, I was like-
(Danielle laughs)

1057
00:48:14.130 --> 00:48:16.890
Danielle was always afraid,

1058
00:48:16.890 --> 00:48:19.020
and for the first time,

1059
00:48:19.020 --> 00:48:20.520
I think that she was really beginning

1060
00:48:20.520 --> 00:48:24.824
to feel triumphant in what it is that she could do.

1061
00:48:24.824 --> 00:48:25.657
I love you.

1062
00:48:25.657 --> 00:48:26.520
My stomach hurts from when-

1063
00:48:26.520 --> 00:48:27.412
I love you, too.

1064
00:48:27.412 --> 00:48:28.566
You ready to do this thingy?

1065
00:48:28.566 --> 00:48:29.399
I'm ready to do this.

1066
00:48:29.399 --> 00:48:32.970
We get to kiss one last time, make it good.

1067
00:48:32.970 --> 00:48:36.600
For some reason, it clicked with her.

1068
00:48:36.600 --> 00:48:40.860
She looked Keston in the eyes and started to feel that love,

1069
00:48:40.860 --> 00:48:43.920
and I really think that Danielle,

1070
00:48:43.920 --> 00:48:46.380
who talks so much about her faith,

1071
00:48:46.380 --> 00:48:49.863
was finally beginning to embrace the love.

1072
00:48:50.910 --> 00:48:51.840
I was really focused

1073
00:48:51.840 --> 00:48:53.220
on the physical aspects of it,

1074
00:48:53.220 --> 00:48:54.810
and Mitchell helped me to focus

1075
00:48:54.810 --> 00:48:57.210
on the aspects of it that are more inward,

1076
00:48:57.210 --> 00:48:59.730
about the fact that this is a musical about love,

1077
00:48:59.730 --> 00:49:02.520
and he's like, "What is God, God is love."

1078
00:49:02.520 --> 00:49:04.077
And that really sat with me,

1079
00:49:04.077 --> 00:49:06.597
and I was like, "That's what I want to give."

1080
00:49:06.597 --> 00:49:11.597
(audience cheers)
(audience applauds)

1081
00:49:15.541 --> 00:49:16.437
(audience continues applauding)

1082
00:49:16.437 --> 00:49:20.021
I don't want to say, but we're going to Nebraska. (laughs)

1083
00:49:20.021 --> 00:49:20.854
We're going to Nebraska,

1084
00:49:20.854 --> 00:49:22.440
there's no doubt about it in my mind,

1085
00:49:22.440 --> 00:49:23.730
we're going to Nebraska.

1086
00:49:23.730 --> 00:49:26.580
I'm so excited, like, I can't stop talking right now,

1087
00:49:26.580 --> 00:49:28.020
so somebody needs to shut me up

1088
00:49:28.020 --> 00:49:30.180
'cause I'm gonna keep talking. (laughs)

1089
00:49:30.180 --> 00:49:32.774
I'm so excited, y'all, this show is so good.

1090
00:49:32.774 --> 00:49:35.864
I'm so excited. (shrieks)

1091
00:49:35.864 --> 00:49:37.650
(group chattering)

1092
00:49:37.650 --> 00:49:39.720 line:15%
I would love to take this to nationals.

1093
00:49:39.720 --> 00:49:44.100 line:15%
I would love to show the country what we can do.

1094
00:49:44.100 --> 00:49:45.900
We've got such a stellar program here

1095
00:49:45.900 --> 00:49:48.420
with some fantastic kids.

1096
00:49:48.420 --> 00:49:50.160
We all knew that we had a great product,

1097
00:49:50.160 --> 00:49:52.023
but now we can say, "Look at what we're doing here,"

1098
00:49:52.023 --> 00:49:54.030
that we have something really, really special

1099
00:49:54.030 --> 00:49:56.460
that we hope will inspire other places

1100
00:49:56.460 --> 00:49:58.023
to start putting together schools like Northwest,

1101
00:49:58.023 --> 00:50:01.380
that you bring in great educators like Corey, Bonnie, Matt.

1102
00:50:01.380 --> 00:50:03.960
If you make that investment in your school,

1103
00:50:03.960 --> 00:50:07.110 line:15%
the talent from the students will come and it will grow,

1104
00:50:07.110 --> 00:50:08.442 line:15%
and it's something that,

1105
00:50:08.442 --> 00:50:09.900 line:15%
I've never seen anything like it before.

1106
00:50:09.900 --> 00:50:11.220 line:15%
It's pretty amazing.

1107
00:50:11.220 --> 00:50:12.840 line:15%
When a student is involved in the arts,

1108
00:50:12.840 --> 00:50:15.210 line:15%
they're more motivated, so their attendance is higher,

1109
00:50:15.210 --> 00:50:17.430
their graduation rates are higher,

1110
00:50:17.430 --> 00:50:19.050
and then we also see correlations

1111
00:50:19.050 --> 00:50:21.690
with English and math and SAT scores.

1112
00:50:21.690 --> 00:50:25.050 line:15%
What does training in the theater give you as a student?

1113
00:50:25.050 --> 00:50:29.070 line:15%
On time, organized, focused, it gives you work ethic.

1114
00:50:29.070 --> 00:50:31.710
All this stuff can lead to so many things in life.

1115
00:50:31.710 --> 00:50:34.860
The research proves it over and over again,

1116
00:50:34.860 --> 00:50:36.450
if you want good results,

1117
00:50:36.450 --> 00:50:39.360
then you need a strong arts program in your school.

1118
00:50:39.360 --> 00:50:41.850 line:15%
You want strong academic children?

1119
00:50:41.850 --> 00:50:44.580 line:15%
Then you need an arts program for them to enter.

1120
00:50:44.580 --> 00:50:46.857
People fail to realize how important the arts is

1121
00:50:46.857 --> 00:50:48.780
and how creativity is the best thing

1122
00:50:48.780 --> 00:50:52.200
that anybody who's trying to learn can have.

1123
00:50:52.200 --> 00:50:54.450
At our school, we really do have great teachers

1124
00:50:54.450 --> 00:50:56.190
that nourish our creativity,

1125
00:50:56.190 --> 00:50:59.373
and it allows us all to be really good kids, you know?

1126
00:51:00.330 --> 00:51:02.880
With "The Color Purple," a part of what we did was

1127
00:51:02.880 --> 00:51:05.280
we had the show adjudicated

1128
00:51:05.280 --> 00:51:07.950
for the International Thespian Festival.

1129
00:51:07.950 --> 00:51:11.820
The last time there was a show from North Carolina

1130
00:51:11.820 --> 00:51:14.460
to perform on the main stage was-

1131
00:51:14.460 --> 00:51:15.540
32 years.

1132
00:51:15.540 --> 00:51:18.660
32 years since there's been a show from North Carolina.

1133
00:51:18.660 --> 00:51:21.450
So the other part of it is

1134
00:51:21.450 --> 00:51:25.350
that only 11 shows get invited to go.

1135
00:51:25.350 --> 00:51:29.107
Well, they called me from the office and they said,

1136
00:51:29.107 --> 00:51:31.650
"There's really no need to wait to tell you,"

1137
00:51:31.650 --> 00:51:33.854
that we got straight superiors.

1138
00:51:33.854 --> 00:51:36.437
(group cheers)

1139
00:51:42.558 --> 00:51:45.180
(group continues cheering)

1140
00:51:45.180 --> 00:51:47.640
All right, everybody take a collective deep breath.

1141
00:51:47.640 --> 00:51:50.970
Breathe in through your nose, let it out, okay.

1142
00:51:50.970 --> 00:51:54.540
Listen up, there is, so there is a lot

1143
00:51:54.540 --> 00:51:57.929
of work to be done, okay?

1144
00:51:57.929 --> 00:51:59.130
We're going to Nebraska!

1145
00:51:59.130 --> 00:52:00.384
We are going to Nebraska.

1146
00:52:00.384 --> 00:52:02.967
(group cheers)

1147
00:52:06.970 --> 00:52:08.760
To go and then do a show there

1148
00:52:08.760 --> 00:52:10.740
and then have all these theater workshops all

1149
00:52:10.740 --> 00:52:12.060
around the campus and college,

1150
00:52:12.060 --> 00:52:14.010
and it would just be a great opportunity,

1151
00:52:14.010 --> 00:52:16.830 line:15%
and I'd love to take my family with me.

1152
00:52:16.830 --> 00:52:20.340 line:15%
I hate talking money, but it is necessary

1153
00:52:20.340 --> 00:52:24.990 line:15%
that you know it is just under $5,000 just

1154
00:52:24.990 --> 00:52:26.703
for the rights to do the show,

1155
00:52:27.660 --> 00:52:31.680 line:15%
and we are renting some of the Broadway costumes

1156
00:52:31.680 --> 00:52:33.450 line:15%
and some of the sets.

1157
00:52:33.450 --> 00:52:36.060 line:15%
The costumes for "Africa Homeland" are coming

1158
00:52:36.060 --> 00:52:38.189
directly from the Broadway show.

1159
00:52:38.189 --> 00:52:39.106
Wow. (claps)

1160
00:52:39.106 --> 00:52:43.470
And that is another $5,000 right there.

1161
00:52:43.470 --> 00:52:45.840 line:15%
First, when Mr. Mitchell said $400,

1162
00:52:45.840 --> 00:52:47.610 line:15%
I thought my mom was gonna get mad at me,

1163
00:52:47.610 --> 00:52:49.950 line:15%
she's like, "I'm not gonna pay $400."

1164
00:52:49.950 --> 00:52:51.630
But I think she just, she felt

1165
00:52:51.630 --> 00:52:53.610
that this was something that she wanted to do for me,

1166
00:52:53.610 --> 00:52:55.380
so she just said, "You know, I'll do it.

1167
00:52:55.380 --> 00:52:56.850
I'll just take it on," and she did.

1168
00:52:56.850 --> 00:52:59.566 line:15%
Worked hours, long hours, work for,

1169
00:52:59.566 --> 00:53:02.160 line:15%
I work for Interstate Contract Cleaning Service.

1170
00:53:02.160 --> 00:53:04.830
I worked seven days straight.

1171
00:53:04.830 --> 00:53:07.200
I kept working and counting my hours, counting them up

1172
00:53:07.200 --> 00:53:10.470
to make sure I came up with $400. (laughs)

1173
00:53:10.470 --> 00:53:13.620
Our school has financial problems as it is,

1174
00:53:13.620 --> 00:53:15.840
and having to raise that must money,

1175
00:53:15.840 --> 00:53:19.440 line:15%
Mr. Mitchell is going up to almost every door asking.

1176
00:53:19.440 --> 00:53:22.500 line:15%
Ticket sales, (laughs) sponsor sales,

1177
00:53:22.500 --> 00:53:23.760 line:15%
it's all of those things,

1178
00:53:23.760 --> 00:53:26.670 line:15%
but the word is getting out slowly but surely.

1179
00:53:26.670 --> 00:53:29.340 line:15%
Sell, sell, sell, sell, sell, sell everywhere

1180
00:53:29.340 --> 00:53:30.783 line:15%
and talk to everyone.

1181
00:53:32.250 --> 00:53:34.890
You often hear the term "it takes a village

1182
00:53:34.890 --> 00:53:35.970
to educate a child."

1183
00:53:35.970 --> 00:53:38.790 line:15%
It does take partnerships, and we have one

1184
00:53:38.790 --> 00:53:41.777 line:15%
of the best educational partners here today with us.

1185
00:53:41.777 --> 00:53:45.822
'Cause we'd like to present you with a check for $50,000.

1186
00:53:45.822 --> 00:53:48.655
(audience cheers)

1187
00:53:51.450 --> 00:53:53.250
The whole community came together just to give,

1188
00:53:53.250 --> 00:53:54.750
just to let us go to Nebraska.

1189
00:53:56.263 --> 00:53:58.680
(slow music)

1190
00:54:05.030 --> 00:54:05.863
Keston?

1191
00:54:05.863 --> 00:54:06.696
Here!

1192
00:54:06.696 --> 00:54:08.297
Colbert.

1193
00:54:08.297 --> 00:54:13.297
(group chattering)
(slow music continues)

1194
00:54:17.466 --> 00:54:20.716
(slow music continues)

1195
00:54:24.990 --> 00:54:26.550
This is their journey,

1196
00:54:26.550 --> 00:54:28.260
and here they've had an opportunity

1197
00:54:28.260 --> 00:54:30.480
to travel halfway across the country

1198
00:54:30.480 --> 00:54:31.770
to be part of an institution

1199
00:54:31.770 --> 00:54:33.810
that is international in scope,

1200
00:54:33.810 --> 00:54:36.450
and they never would have made it if they'd had small ideas.

1201
00:54:36.450 --> 00:54:37.830
Now, that's a tribute to Corey

1202
00:54:37.830 --> 00:54:40.968
because Corey had this plan, like the invasion of Normandy.

1203
00:54:40.968 --> 00:54:42.690
(group chattering)
(slow music continues)

1204
00:54:42.690 --> 00:54:43.710
When we got to Nebraska,

1205
00:54:43.710 --> 00:54:45.420
everybody's head was turning.

1206
00:54:45.420 --> 00:54:47.310
When we first arrived in Nebraska,

1207
00:54:47.310 --> 00:54:50.610
the population of Black people doubled.

1208
00:54:50.610 --> 00:54:52.410
We proved all the stereotypes

1209
00:54:52.410 --> 00:54:55.323
about Black teens wrong, like, we shut that down.

1210
00:54:56.519 --> 00:55:01.519
♪ And make a joyful noise ♪

1211
00:55:01.817 --> 00:55:05.081
♪ Unto ♪

1212
00:55:05.081 --> 00:55:07.160
♪ The ♪

1213
00:55:07.160 --> 00:55:09.077
♪ Lord ♪

1214
00:55:12.010 --> 00:55:13.078
(Mekhai claps)

1215
00:55:13.078 --> 00:55:15.689
College auditions, we signed up for college auditions.

1216
00:55:15.689 --> 00:55:16.763
Ariel.
(group chattering)

1217
00:55:16.763 --> 00:55:18.450
They're gonna get the opportunity

1218
00:55:18.450 --> 00:55:21.030
to audition for some of the great performing arts schools

1219
00:55:21.030 --> 00:55:24.480
in this country, like, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music is

1220
00:55:24.480 --> 00:55:27.660 line:15%
probably the best musical theater program in the country,

1221
00:55:27.660 --> 00:55:29.100 line:15%
and they're here.

1222
00:55:29.100 --> 00:55:30.510
This could mean the world to them.

1223
00:55:30.510 --> 00:55:31.920
I mean, they have a great audition,

1224
00:55:31.920 --> 00:55:34.920
and it could mean scholarship money or financial aid,

1225
00:55:34.920 --> 00:55:37.260
and for some of them, this may be the only chance

1226
00:55:37.260 --> 00:55:39.330
they have to go to college.

1227
00:55:39.330 --> 00:55:40.950
College auditions, that's a scary thought,

1228
00:55:40.950 --> 00:55:43.140
as far as knowing what your future's gonna be.

1229
00:55:43.140 --> 00:55:45.090
The college that I go to might be a college

1230
00:55:45.090 --> 00:55:46.320
I audition for in Nebraska,

1231
00:55:46.320 --> 00:55:49.020
so that's a really turning point in my life right now.

1232
00:55:51.504 --> 00:55:53.970
(Mekhai sighs)

1233
00:55:53.970 --> 00:55:54.990
Good afternoon, everyone,

1234
00:55:54.990 --> 00:55:59.990
my name is Mekhai Lee, M-E-K-H-A-I L-E-E.

1235
00:56:00.240 --> 00:56:02.790
Isn't there any kind of discussion?

1236
00:56:02.790 --> 00:56:03.870
I'd just like to say a few words

1237
00:56:03.870 --> 00:56:06.180
because I think this idea scares a lot of people.

1238
00:56:06.180 --> 00:56:08.580
It shouldn't, see, from the oldest of times,

1239
00:56:08.580 --> 00:56:10.200
people danced for many reasons.

1240
00:56:10.200 --> 00:56:12.120
They danced so that their crops would be plentiful,

1241
00:56:12.120 --> 00:56:13.560
or so that their hunt would be good.

1242
00:56:13.560 --> 00:56:15.300
They danced into the community spirit

1243
00:56:15.300 --> 00:56:17.040
and they danced to celebrate,

1244
00:56:17.040 --> 00:56:19.320
and that's the kind of dance we're talking about.

1245
00:56:19.320 --> 00:56:20.880
Mama, I'd end up worse than Daddy

1246
00:56:20.880 --> 00:56:23.850
because I wouldn't be doing what I know I've got to do.

1247
00:56:23.850 --> 00:56:26.850
I mean, I've seen your life, and now I see Daddy,

1248
00:56:26.850 --> 00:56:30.513
and look, look, I love you both, I do,

1249
00:56:31.350 --> 00:56:32.943
but I've got my work to do.

1250
00:56:33.986 --> 00:56:36.569
(upbeat music)

1251
00:56:42.288 --> 00:56:45.705
(upbeat music continues)

1252
00:56:52.065 --> 00:56:52.898
(upbeat music continues)

1253
00:56:52.898 --> 00:56:54.660
I told Britany, "Your GPA is such

1254
00:56:54.660 --> 00:56:57.690
that they're not going to allow you to audition."

1255
00:56:57.690 --> 00:57:01.350
But I said, "You go and you talk to the schools anyway."

1256
00:57:01.350 --> 00:57:02.450
But I have to open my mouth

1257
00:57:02.450 --> 00:57:03.690
and I have to make out for myself,

1258
00:57:03.690 --> 00:57:06.570
and I'm trying harder and harder to just, you know,

1259
00:57:06.570 --> 00:57:08.460
not be so scared to just get out there

1260
00:57:08.460 --> 00:57:10.715
and, you know, just do it, so.

1261
00:57:10.715 --> 00:57:14.132
(upbeat music continues)

1262
00:57:19.313 --> 00:57:21.990
Britany came to the table and said

1263
00:57:21.990 --> 00:57:23.940
that some of the students were auditioning,

1264
00:57:23.940 --> 00:57:26.820
and she says, "I don't know if I can go to college."

1265
00:57:26.820 --> 00:57:27.990 line:15%
I says, "Why not?"

1266
00:57:27.990 --> 00:57:30.330 line:15%
You know, and so she told me a little bit about herself.

1267
00:57:30.330 --> 00:57:32.070 line:15%
I says, "Well, of course you can."

1268
00:57:32.070 --> 00:57:35.100
Britany has gotten used to overcoming obstacles,

1269
00:57:35.100 --> 00:57:37.380
and that's exactly what she did.

1270
00:57:37.380 --> 00:57:39.907 line:15%
She was so cute because as I was telling her,

1271
00:57:39.907 --> 00:57:42.480 line:15%
"Okay, we're gonna count this as your audition.

1272
00:57:42.480 --> 00:57:45.120 line:15%
We're gonna be able to offer you a callback scholarship,"

1273
00:57:45.120 --> 00:57:47.220
and talked to her about the theater scholarship,

1274
00:57:47.220 --> 00:57:50.067
and she kept asking me, "Okay, are you sure?"

1275
00:57:50.067 --> 00:57:52.620
And I said, "Of course, that's what I'm telling you."

1276
00:57:52.620 --> 00:57:54.960
So she hugged me, I started crying.

1277
00:57:54.960 --> 00:57:58.500
I mean, it was just, it was one of the experiences you live

1278
00:57:58.500 --> 00:57:59.654
for when you do this.
I want to make it happen

1279
00:57:59.654 --> 00:58:01.335
for her if I can.

1280
00:58:01.335 --> 00:58:03.918
(upbeat music)

1281
00:58:10.341 --> 00:58:13.758
(upbeat music continues)

1282
00:58:19.349 --> 00:58:22.766
(upbeat music continues)

1283
00:58:26.807 --> 00:58:28.062
22 callbacks.

1284
00:58:28.062 --> 00:58:29.070
22?

1285
00:58:29.070 --> 00:58:30.930
I'm really excited now

1286
00:58:30.930 --> 00:58:33.963
to go talk to these colleges, oh, my God.

1287
00:58:37.529 --> 00:58:38.940 line:15%
(group chattering)

1288
00:58:38.940 --> 00:58:40.413 line:15%
Time for a festive day.

1289
00:58:42.840 --> 00:58:44.580
I'm chasing a dream right now.

1290
00:58:44.580 --> 00:58:49.087
I went to Thespian Festival 10 years ago and said,

1291
00:58:49.087 --> 00:58:51.810
"Someday I'm gonna bring a show here."

1292
00:58:51.810 --> 00:58:54.793
All right, guys, they're about to let us in.

1293
00:58:56.370 --> 00:58:58.920
After starting where they started

1294
00:58:58.920 --> 00:59:00.630
and enduring what they endured,

1295
00:59:00.630 --> 00:59:03.030
to be able to do this for the largest

1296
00:59:03.030 --> 00:59:04.590 line:15%
and perhaps the most critical audience

1297
00:59:04.590 --> 00:59:06.003 line:15%
they're ever gonna face,

1298
00:59:07.290 --> 00:59:10.513
once they've done this, there's nothing they can't do.

1299
00:59:10.513 --> 00:59:11.370
Wait, you ready?

1300
00:59:11.370 --> 00:59:12.470
We're ready.

1301
00:59:13.728 --> 00:59:17.040
(group chattering)

1302
00:59:17.040 --> 00:59:19.729
Even the wall is beautiful.

1303
00:59:19.729 --> 00:59:21.169
(group chattering)

1304
00:59:21.169 --> 00:59:22.002
We did it!

1305
00:59:22.002 --> 00:59:22.835
We did it.

1306
00:59:22.835 --> 00:59:24.990
(group cheers)
(group applauds)

1307
00:59:24.990 --> 00:59:27.840
Everybody that I have walked by has talked

1308
00:59:27.840 --> 00:59:29.772
about how excited they are to see you.

1309
00:59:29.772 --> 00:59:30.605
Yes.

1310
00:59:30.605 --> 00:59:35.329
Guys, give them the show of the week.

1311
00:59:35.329 --> 00:59:38.348
(group cheers)

1312
00:59:38.348 --> 00:59:43.348
Here we go, I've said this before.

1313
00:59:43.549 --> 00:59:45.090
I've said this before,

1314
00:59:45.090 --> 00:59:47.090
but I don't know if I've said it to you.

1315
00:59:47.985 --> 00:59:49.532
You love us.

1316
00:59:49.532 --> 00:59:51.369
(group chattering)

1317
00:59:51.369 --> 00:59:54.960
(group laughs)
(group chattering)

1318
00:59:54.960 --> 00:59:57.660
They say a mountain climber climbs

1319
00:59:57.660 --> 01:00:01.233
that mountain to see the view from the top of the world.

1320
01:00:02.880 --> 01:00:04.484
This is that view.

1321
01:00:04.484 --> 01:00:07.483
Yes, amen.
(group chattering)

1322
01:00:07.483 --> 01:00:08.874
Enjoy it, okay?

1323
01:00:08.874 --> 01:00:09.707
(group cheers)

1324
01:00:09.707 --> 01:00:13.363
Go get ready, okay.
(group chattering)

1325
01:00:17.061 --> 01:00:17.894
We are in the mountains, y'all.

1326
01:00:17.894 --> 01:00:19.080
Y'all, we in the mountains for real,

1327
01:00:19.080 --> 01:00:20.611
like, we in the mountains.

1328
01:00:20.611 --> 01:00:21.444
(group chattering)

1329
01:00:21.444 --> 01:00:22.438
Look at the stage!

1330
01:00:22.438 --> 01:00:23.550
(slow music)

1331
01:00:23.550 --> 01:00:24.873
Let's get to work, guys.

1332
01:00:26.850 --> 01:00:28.998
Let me get some hands on here.

1333
01:00:28.998 --> 01:00:32.248
(singers scat singing)

1334
01:00:37.436 --> 01:00:38.269
Go straight back.

1335
01:00:38.269 --> 01:00:40.873
Okay, we need hands on this drop.

1336
01:00:40.873 --> 01:00:42.935
Bounce, bounce.

1337
01:00:42.935 --> 01:00:44.747
(singers scat singing)

1338
01:00:44.747 --> 01:00:47.593
Now, you have to stay right here and hold onto this

1339
01:00:47.593 --> 01:00:48.426
'cause if you don't,

1340
01:00:48.426 --> 01:00:50.653
this is gonna rip all the way down there, okay?

1341
01:00:50.653 --> 01:00:52.679
No pressure.
No pressure.

1342
01:00:52.679 --> 01:00:55.335
(singers scat singing)

1343
01:00:55.335 --> 01:00:57.336
♪ Ooh ♪

1344
01:00:57.336 --> 01:00:58.558
Get the whole thing in tune.

1345
01:00:58.558 --> 01:01:00.474
♪ Ooh ♪

1346
01:01:00.474 --> 01:01:02.008
Pretend like you have an orange in your mouth,

1347
01:01:02.008 --> 01:01:03.523
nice and open, nice and open, calm.

1348
01:01:05.227 --> 01:01:06.268
Up.

1349
01:01:06.268 --> 01:01:08.101
♪ Ooh ♪

1350
01:01:09.259 --> 01:01:10.475
Up.

1351
01:01:10.475 --> 01:01:11.593
Down.

1352
01:01:11.593 --> 01:01:12.553
Up.

1353
01:01:12.553 --> 01:01:13.641
Down.

1354
01:01:13.641 --> 01:01:14.808
Two and a one.

1355
01:01:16.492 --> 01:01:17.658
♪ Yeah ♪

1356
01:01:17.658 --> 01:01:19.946
A one and a one.

1357
01:01:19.946 --> 01:01:24.378
(group chattering)
(slow music continues)

1358
01:01:24.378 --> 01:01:26.891
Coming on a stage like this, it's a legitimate stage.

1359
01:01:26.891 --> 01:01:29.580
This is, like, I'm Broadway bound right now, you know?

1360
01:01:29.580 --> 01:01:32.637
Broadway bound, baby, Broadway bound.

1361
01:01:32.637 --> 01:01:36.750
All right, Darren, please bring up 119.

1362
01:01:36.750 --> 01:01:38.155
Go ahead and take those down.

1363
01:01:38.155 --> 01:01:41.238
(tambourine rattles)

1364
01:01:42.586 --> 01:01:45.705
♪ Lord ♪

1365
01:01:45.705 --> 01:01:48.676
♪ Hallelujah ♪

1366
01:01:48.676 --> 01:01:50.670
♪ Today ♪

1367
01:01:50.670 --> 01:01:53.280
We have worked really hard.

1368
01:01:53.280 --> 01:01:55.410
I couldn't have done this show three years ago.

1369
01:01:55.410 --> 01:01:58.980
I wasn't ready, I don't think that our team was ready,

1370
01:01:58.980 --> 01:02:01.770
and we put together the right team,

1371
01:02:01.770 --> 01:02:03.690
the right tools to make sure

1372
01:02:03.690 --> 01:02:06.690
that we could make this climb up the mountain the right way.

1373
01:02:08.903 --> 01:02:10.885
Hey, guys, I gotta get you to clear the stage.

1374
01:02:10.885 --> 01:02:12.245
Clear, go, go, go, go, go!

1375
01:02:12.245 --> 01:02:13.080
All guys-

1376
01:02:13.080 --> 01:02:15.464
Clear the stage, the house has gotta open.

1377
01:02:15.464 --> 01:02:17.577
(slow rhythmic music)

1378
01:02:17.577 --> 01:02:19.322
(singer scat sings)

1379
01:02:19.322 --> 01:02:20.155
Can you help me with this baby?

1380
01:02:20.155 --> 01:02:22.080
Yeah, how do you want to get it out?

1381
01:02:22.080 --> 01:02:23.730
I don't want to get it out, I need to get it in.

1382
01:02:23.730 --> 01:02:24.563
You gotta get it in?

1383
01:02:24.563 --> 01:02:26.070
I was thanking God for all of our gifts

1384
01:02:26.070 --> 01:02:28.857
and the opportunity to share it with this festival

1385
01:02:28.857 --> 01:02:30.360
and the rest of the world.

1386
01:02:30.360 --> 01:02:31.380
This is a much bigger deal

1387
01:02:31.380 --> 01:02:33.238
than any of us thought it was going to be.

1388
01:02:33.238 --> 01:02:36.360
(slow music)
(group chattering)

1389
01:02:36.360 --> 01:02:38.850
You guys worked very hard this time.

1390
01:02:38.850 --> 01:02:41.820
We got a whole set done in, like, less than six hours.

1391
01:02:41.820 --> 01:02:43.257
It was pretty fantastic.

1392
01:02:43.257 --> 01:02:44.090
(group chattering)

1393
01:02:44.090 --> 01:02:46.757
(Keston laughs)

1394
01:02:48.174 --> 01:02:50.674
I'm never having a baby.

1395
01:02:50.674 --> 01:02:52.591
♪ Yeah ♪

1396
01:02:54.661 --> 01:02:55.494
(group chattering)

1397
01:02:55.494 --> 01:02:56.983
Where's the prop box?

1398
01:02:56.983 --> 01:02:58.403
Is the prop box back here?

1399
01:02:58.403 --> 01:03:00.916
(blow drier roars)

1400
01:03:00.916 --> 01:03:02.106
We don't need no shine.
Shoes, shoes.

1401
01:03:02.106 --> 01:03:02.983
Where's the shoes?
They're over here.

1402
01:03:02.983 --> 01:03:04.291
Are we starting?

1403
01:03:04.291 --> 01:03:09.291
(group chattering)
(slow music)

1404
01:03:12.821 --> 01:03:14.785
(audience chattering)

1405
01:03:14.785 --> 01:03:17.844
Like, this is the first time I saw.

1406
01:03:17.844 --> 01:03:18.844
It's packed.

1407
01:03:21.184 --> 01:03:24.101
(slow piano music)

1408
01:03:30.324 --> 01:03:34.074
(slow piano music continues)

1409
01:03:38.563 --> 01:03:41.896
(slow orchestral music)

1410
01:03:47.668 --> 01:03:52.667
(slow orchestral music continues)

1411
01:03:52.667 --> 01:03:55.323
I know there will be colossal fails.

1412
01:03:56.691 --> 01:04:00.540
I've had my fair share of colossal fails.

1413
01:04:00.540 --> 01:04:04.350
But sometimes the biggest risks are the ones

1414
01:04:04.350 --> 01:04:09.160
that yield the biggest rewards, and I'm so grateful

1415
01:04:10.260 --> 01:04:14.190
that the kids did exactly

1416
01:04:14.190 --> 01:04:17.493
what I knew they were capable of doing.

1417
01:04:18.501 --> 01:04:21.812
♪ Ooh ♪

1418
01:04:21.812 --> 01:04:24.885
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

1419
01:04:24.885 --> 01:04:27.766
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

1420
01:04:27.766 --> 01:04:31.013
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

1421
01:04:31.013 --> 01:04:36.013
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

1422
01:04:36.199 --> 01:04:39.963
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

1423
01:04:39.963 --> 01:04:42.720
I've never felt love like this from a cast.

1424
01:04:42.720 --> 01:04:44.122
When you're doing a show with them

1425
01:04:44.122 --> 01:04:45.720
and you're with them 24/7,

1426
01:04:45.720 --> 01:04:48.030
it's, like, the most amazing thing.

1427
01:04:48.030 --> 01:04:50.190
Any harsh realities that we deal with at home

1428
01:04:50.190 --> 01:04:53.100
or outside of school, I think the arts

1429
01:04:53.100 --> 01:04:55.800
and the stage is an escape, it's an outlet.

1430
01:04:55.800 --> 01:04:57.810
It allows us to express ourselves.

1431
01:04:57.810 --> 01:04:59.910
I feel like if we didn't have that, you know,

1432
01:04:59.910 --> 01:05:01.980
God knows what we would be doing.

1433
01:05:01.980 --> 01:05:04.110
If I didn't have this outlet,

1434
01:05:04.110 --> 01:05:07.260
I can't even think of how I would be coping.

1435
01:05:07.260 --> 01:05:09.240
This is how I cope.

1436
01:05:09.240 --> 01:05:12.600
I wouldn't say theater will help me escape,

1437
01:05:12.600 --> 01:05:14.000
but it helps me get through.

1438
01:05:16.873 --> 01:05:21.208
♪ But most of all ♪

1439
01:05:21.208 --> 01:05:24.731
♪ I'm thankful for ♪

1440
01:05:24.731 --> 01:05:27.503
♪ Loving who I ♪

1441
01:05:27.503 --> 01:05:32.503
♪ Really am ♪

1442
01:05:37.039 --> 01:05:42.039
♪ I'm beautiful ♪

1443
01:05:42.526 --> 01:05:45.022
♪ Yes, I'm ♪

1444
01:05:45.022 --> 01:05:50.022
♪ Beautiful ♪

1445
01:05:50.142 --> 01:05:52.190
♪ And ♪

1446
01:05:52.190 --> 01:05:54.124
♪ I'm ♪

1447
01:05:54.124 --> 01:05:56.041
♪ Here ♪

1448
01:06:00.399 --> 01:06:03.231
(audience applauds)

1449
01:06:03.231 --> 01:06:06.064
(audience cheers)

1450
01:06:12.478 --> 01:06:16.311
(audience continues cheering)

1451
01:06:21.360 --> 01:06:23.700
So I can tick off my bucket list

1452
01:06:23.700 --> 01:06:25.500
of dreams that have come true.

1453
01:06:25.500 --> 01:06:29.760
I just hope that they're able to access the euphoria

1454
01:06:29.760 --> 01:06:32.580
that they're feeling when they're in their dark spaces

1455
01:06:32.580 --> 01:06:35.100
because dark times will come.

1456
01:06:35.100 --> 01:06:37.380
There are some who are living through them right now,

1457
01:06:37.380 --> 01:06:39.720
but this is one of those times

1458
01:06:39.720 --> 01:06:43.757
that when I ask them to think of a time

1459
01:06:43.757 --> 01:06:47.292
that is just joy, (cries)

1460
01:06:47.292 --> 01:06:49.278
that this is one of those moments.

1461
01:06:49.278 --> 01:06:52.195
(group chattering)

1462
01:06:55.311 --> 01:06:57.894
(upbeat music)

1463
01:06:58.733 --> 01:07:01.566
♪ This is the day the Lord has made ♪

1464
01:07:01.566 --> 01:07:04.796
♪ He calls the hours his own, the Lord has made ♪

1465
01:07:04.796 --> 01:07:08.052 line:15%
♪ This is the day the Lord has made, his own ♪

1466
01:07:08.052 --> 01:07:11.365 line:15%
♪ And praise surround the throne, this is the day ♪

1467
01:07:11.365 --> 01:07:14.410
♪ This is the day the Lord has made ♪

1468
01:07:14.410 --> 01:07:17.785
♪ He calls the hours his own, this is the day ♪

1469
01:07:17.785 --> 01:07:21.002 line:15%
♪ This is the day the Lord has made, yes, it is ♪

1470
01:07:21.002 --> 01:07:24.520 line:15%
♪ And praise around the throne, this is the day ♪

1471
01:07:24.520 --> 01:07:27.483 line:15%
♪ I will rejoice every day ♪

1472
01:07:27.483 --> 01:07:30.918 line:15%
♪ I will rejoice, I will rejoice every day ♪

1473
01:07:30.918 --> 01:07:35.918 line:15%
♪ I will rejoice, this is the day that the Lord has made ♪

1474
01:07:37.565 --> 01:07:40.565
♪ The Lord has made ♪

1475
01:07:42.360 --> 01:07:44.550
We're just outside of the red carpet

1476
01:07:44.550 --> 01:07:46.110
at Radio City Music Hall,

1477
01:07:46.110 --> 01:07:49.609
and I'm about to walk into the 69th annual Tony Awards.

1478
01:07:49.609 --> 01:07:50.442
(audience applauds)

1479
01:07:50.442 --> 01:07:52.290
The first ever winner

1480
01:07:52.290 --> 01:07:55.530
of the Excellence in Theater Education Award,

1481
01:07:55.530 --> 01:08:00.060
presented by Carnegie Mellon University and the Tony Awards,

1482
01:08:00.060 --> 01:08:01.980
from Charlotte, North Carolina's

1483
01:08:01.980 --> 01:08:06.089
Northwest School of the Arts, teacher Corey Mitchell.

1484
01:08:06.089 --> 01:08:09.089
(audience applauds)

1485
01:08:15.608 --> 01:08:19.608 line:15%
(audience continues applauding)

1486
01:08:22.874 --> 01:08:25.680
Thank you, thank you all.

1487
01:08:25.680 --> 01:08:28.170
I don't accept this just for me.

1488
01:08:28.170 --> 01:08:31.950
I accept this on the behalf of every theater teacher

1489
01:08:31.950 --> 01:08:34.020
and every young student out there

1490
01:08:34.020 --> 01:08:38.190
who aspires to this stage and to Broadway.

1491
01:08:38.190 --> 01:08:41.520
Thank you for legitimizing us.

1492
01:08:41.520 --> 01:08:45.960
Theater education matters and art matters

1493
01:08:45.960 --> 01:08:49.452
and we thank you, good night.
(audience cheers)

1494
01:08:49.452 --> 01:08:52.413 line:15%
♪ I'm gonna rejoice every day, this is the day ♪

1495
01:08:52.413 --> 01:08:55.709 line:15%
♪ I will rejoice every day, this is the day ♪

1496
01:08:55.709 --> 01:08:58.333 line:15%
♪ I will rejoice, this is the day ♪

1497
01:08:58.333 --> 01:09:02.183 line:15%
♪ Rejoice every day, that the Lord has made ♪

1498
01:09:02.183 --> 01:09:07.183
♪ Hey ♪

1499
01:09:07.485 --> 01:09:12.485
♪ Hear my song tonight ♪

1500
01:09:13.019 --> 01:09:17.533
♪ It says all the things I want to say ♪

1501
01:09:17.533 --> 01:09:22.124
♪ And tells the story right ♪

1502
01:09:22.124 --> 01:09:25.691
♪ Life hasn't been perfect ♪

1503
01:09:25.691 --> 01:09:29.851
♪ And that's just the surface ♪

1504
01:09:29.851 --> 01:09:33.994
♪ Celebrate tonight ♪

1505
01:09:33.994 --> 01:09:36.488
♪ For the chance of a lifetime ♪

1506
01:09:36.488 --> 01:09:39.705 line:15%
♪ Your never stopped me from being myself ♪

1507
01:09:39.705 --> 01:09:43.434 line:15%
♪ You picked me back up whenever I fell ♪

1508
01:09:43.434 --> 01:09:47.497 line:15%
♪ And you always write my name in the sky ♪

1509
01:09:47.497 --> 01:09:52.497 line:15%
♪ So thank you for the chance of a lifetime ♪

1510
01:09:53.260 --> 01:09:56.473 line:15%
♪ I've been a little restless ♪

1511
01:09:56.473 --> 01:10:00.183 line:15%
♪ Always looking for a breakthrough ♪

1512
01:10:00.183 --> 01:10:03.867 line:15%
♪ You know I always want to impress ♪

1513
01:10:03.867 --> 01:10:07.849 line:15%
♪ You helped me more than you had to ♪

1514
01:10:07.849 --> 01:10:11.641 line:15%
♪ Now I want you to know ♪

1515
01:10:11.641 --> 01:10:15.131 line:15%
♪ From the bottom of my heart ♪

1516
01:10:15.131 --> 01:10:18.907 line:15%
♪ This is a song that I wrote ♪

1517
01:10:18.907 --> 01:10:21.484 line:15%
♪ It's like a little thank you note ♪

1518
01:10:21.484 --> 01:10:24.650 line:15%
♪ You never stopped me from being myself ♪

1519
01:10:24.650 --> 01:10:28.396 line:15%
♪ You picked me back up whenever I fell ♪

1520
01:10:28.396 --> 01:10:32.445 line:15%
♪ And you always write my name in the sky ♪

1521
01:10:32.445 --> 01:10:36.460 line:15%
♪ So thank you for the chance of a lifetime ♪

1522
01:10:36.460 --> 01:10:38.235 line:15%
♪ One chance, one life to live ♪

1523
01:10:38.235 --> 01:10:40.923 line:15%
♪ Let's dance, let's make the most of this future ♪

1524
01:10:40.923 --> 01:10:42.813 line:15%
♪ One day at a time, it's super ♪

1525
01:10:42.813 --> 01:10:44.891 line:15%
♪ We are the realest troopers ♪

1526
01:10:44.891 --> 01:10:46.555 line:15%
♪ Standing tall, fought the war ♪

1527
01:10:46.555 --> 01:10:49.388 line:15%
♪ We beat the odds, with your support, we showed them all ♪

1528
01:10:49.388 --> 01:10:51.483 line:15%
♪ And then we threw up deuces ♪

1529
01:10:51.483 --> 01:10:54.060 line:15%
♪ Boom, now recognize what we do ♪

1530
01:10:54.060 --> 01:10:55.946 line:15%
♪ We overcame and we grew ♪

1531
01:10:55.946 --> 01:10:57.708 line:15%
♪ Those obstacles not stopping us ♪

1532
01:10:57.708 --> 01:10:59.645 line:15%
♪ They focusing, do you ♪

1533
01:10:59.645 --> 01:11:01.578 line:15%
♪ Keep chasing on in that dream ♪

1534
01:11:01.578 --> 01:11:03.431 line:15%
♪ As warped as it may seem ♪

1535
01:11:03.431 --> 01:11:05.341 line:15%
♪ There will always be a way ♪

1536
01:11:05.341 --> 01:11:07.628 line:15%
♪ All you have to do is believe ♪

1537
01:11:07.628 --> 01:11:12.628 line:15%
♪ Hear my song tonight ♪

1538
01:11:13.213 --> 01:11:17.117 line:15%
♪ It says all the things I want to say ♪

1539
01:11:17.117 --> 01:11:21.866 line:15%
♪ And tells the story right ♪

1540
01:11:21.866 --> 01:11:25.627 line:15%
♪ Life hasn't been perfect ♪

1541
01:11:25.627 --> 01:11:30.089 line:15%
♪ And that's just the surface ♪

1542
01:11:30.089 --> 01:11:33.996 line:15%
♪ Celebrate tonight ♪

1543
01:11:33.996 --> 01:11:38.348 line:15%
♪ For the chance of a lifetime ♪

1544
01:11:38.348 --> 01:11:40.103 line:15%
♪ One chance ♪

1545
01:11:40.103 --> 01:11:41.976 line:15%
♪ One chance ♪

1546
01:11:41.976 --> 01:11:43.724 line:15%
♪ One chance of a lifetime ♪

1547
01:11:43.724 --> 01:11:47.146 line:15%
♪ You never stopped me from being myself ♪

1548
01:11:47.146 --> 01:11:50.909 line:15%
♪ You picked me back up whenever I fell ♪

1549
01:11:50.909 --> 01:11:54.939 line:15%
♪ And you always write my name in the sky ♪

1550
01:11:54.939 --> 01:11:58.683 line:15%
♪ So thank you, thank you tonight ♪

1551
01:11:58.683 --> 01:12:02.154 line:15%
♪ You never stopped me from being myself ♪

1552
01:12:02.154 --> 01:12:05.898 line:15%
♪ You picked me back up whenever I fell ♪

1553
01:12:05.898 --> 01:12:09.883 line:15%
♪ And you always write my name in the sky ♪

1554
01:12:09.883 --> 01:12:14.683 line:15%
♪ So thank you, thank you for the chance of a lifetime ♪

1555
01:12:14.683 --> 01:12:17.266 line:15%
(group cheers)