1234.

Get my shoes in.

Out the door.

Five.

I'm lost.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Feels great.

I'm gonna shine.

After I do what I'm gonna do.

I do it again.

Yeah.

Look at the sky with the beautiful color.

But never just for me.

You gotta share it with another.

I got to show, to give.

Let I want singing show.

Take a look and say a beautiful morning that turns into a beautiful evening.

And together make beautiful art.

And if you wanna see that, come along with me.

That's right.

Welcome to Experience Michiana.

I'm the show's producer, Kelsy Zumbrun.

This is a show we have not wanted to do for the last eight years.

Our beloved friend and host, Kelly Burget, passed away last Friday after a long battle with cancer.

She fought so hard for eight years, and for much of that time, she was right here helping us tell the stories in the Michiana area.

So in a little bit, we're going to celebrate her.

And, what she has done for us here in Michiana on the Experience Michiana show.

But first, we're also going to get out and explore the Michiana area, which is what she love to do to connect with people and show what they were doing in our community.

So we're going to head to Goshen and find out about the Phoenix Performing Arts, this latest performance next to normal.

But first we're going to go to the Cat Lady Cafe, where we're going to find out about the Midwest Meow Fest.

Now, you may not have known this, but Kelly loved her dogs.

But then became a cat lady, and so she would love this segment.

Dave has that for us.

I'm here with one of my favorite community people, Kim, who is the owner of the Cat Lady Cafe.

You're one of my favorite people.

Not just because I know you personally, but actually because.

And I text you this recently, so this isn't me.

Just, you know, saying it for the sake of the camera.

A lot of people have ideas, but to execute an idea is the real.

It's a real struggle.

You know what I'm saying?

Yes, it is a real struggle.

Yeah.

And not only have you got the Cat lady Cafe here, but all these cats that are here from the Humane Society of Saint Joseph County.

And recently you reached a new milestone for which I think is incredible.

So tell me a little bit about that.

Well, thank you.

And first of all, thank you.

Yes, you text me from time to time letting me know that I'm hanging to hang in there doing a good job.

So I appreciate that.

You know, we need we need entrepreneurship is a it's so low.

It's it's lonely sometimes.

And so we need cheerleaders.

So thank you for being one of mine I appreciate it.

And I'm one of your biggest fans.

Thank you.

So it's mutual.

So 300 now we're at 306 adoptions.

Right now.

Today.

And so again, super grateful for our partnership, with our friends at the Humane Society of Saint Joe County and could not do that without them.

But we're here.

We're coming up on our three year anniversary of being in business.

So lots of three, three, three, 300, 300 cash, milestone adoptions.

So I, you know, again, until I started my own business, I would never think about little things, like how much the furniture cost, how much your sign cost, how much this wall cost, how much the electric, like all those things.

And I'm not trying to, like, send you into a mental spiral here.

By our money, of all the delay.

But it is.

It's so difficult to take that leap.

People don't realize how much it's like, financially hard and just the struggle of, well, people come in.

And that's why I just want people watching to really support what you're doing.

And so you reached the 300 adoptions, which again, there are 300 cats now and 300 happy people, happy homes, happy home that have cats because you decided to do something.

Thank you.

I just love that.

Well thank you.

And I, you know.

Yes.

Despite all of that or including all of the financial issues, despite, you know, that go along with this.

You know, I wake up every day.

I'm happy.

I love being here.

Yeah.

I'm thrilled that I have created this place with my team.

You know, with a lot of the folks behind the scene.

I mean, I'm happy to be the face of the of the place, but lots of people behind the scenes that keep this place going, you know, the community has supported us and we would not be here without that.

All the folks that come into this area from out of town that come and see us, that that love cat cafes or are so excited that we're here, I mean, that all adds into it.

And I always say, even if you come in and buy a cup of coffee, you're helping us pay the rent.

You're helping us pay the electricity so we can help these cats.

So that's that's how it works.

So and so when you say like cats and cafes and people think cats and food and everything that's going on, it's like the cats are in here in their own room and then the cafe is separate, but then you can mix the two of you with.

Yes, absolutely.

We just always want to let people know, because sometimes you think of animals, you're not just sitting and eating and cats are like rubbing off cats.

You're not going to jump in your coffee.

I mean, they they try to in here, but we discourage that as much as possible.

But yes, we always want people to know that if you don't care to come in and see the cast or you're just out and about, we want what we serve really good coffee.

Yes, you do know that.

And we get that that compliments and feedback from people a lot.

I think they're pleasantly surprised.

Like we're cool, we have cats.

That's that's the draw here.

But our coffee drinks are really good.

So even if you're just out and about, we want you to stop in and grab a coffee now for sure and help this local entrepreneur who went for, you know, you're doing it.

You're going for something else.

Which again, such a big endeavor.

Okay, so I feel like this segment is going to end with a brown bag.

You just in the corner like, you know, breathing into it.

But tell me that you've created something that's going to be at the century Center here soon.

Yeah, just across the river.

Yeah.

So another big leap.

And I feel like this is just kind of the next thing immigration from from this business.

So the event is called the Midwest Meow Fest.

Yeah.

And so think of like tradeshow convention style at the Century Center.

Yeah.

But of course all cat related.

So we'll have lots of vendors that are selling cat themed products.

We'll have an adoption village.

So our friends at the Humane Society as well as many other local rescues.

Yeah, we'll have cats.

They're up for adoption.

And our main draw is, she's known as the kitten lady.

Her name is Hannah Shaw.

Okay.

She's coming in from California.

She is an internationally known kitten educator.

Wow.

So we're going to educate folks as well.

We're going to have a ton of fun, but we're going to educate because in my three years of doing this and many more years of being involved with the Humane Society, there's just there's so much that people don't know about about how to care for cats.

You know, we have the stray cat population.

You see a cat outside.

So I get asked that all the time.

And I'm always trying to educate people on that.

So we're going to we're going to do a little bit of education and have a ton of fun.

I love the fact that, like, the whole like, cat lady thing was such a like derogatory term and you just, like, embraced it and built a whole business around it.

You're like, no, I'm owning the cat lady.

That's yeah, that is perfect.

And we have not talked about this, but that is how the name came up.

Really.

I knew I wanted to do, Cat cafe did not have a name, did not have a name.

And I was brainstorming with a friend who was helping me, and I said, you know, I said, I, I'm there's such a negative thing about being a cat lady.

And I said, I want to turn that around.

So that's how the name came about.

So I like, you know, that is yeah, I think it's great.

I love it so much.

And again, I know that you're here on Colfax, right?

Like this, is this the Commerce building or what's the commerce on the Commerce Center?

Yeah.

That you're inside here.

And what are your opening hours for here?

And then we'll talk about the, you know, the meow fest.

Sure, sure.

So we're open here every day except for Wednesdays.

Some days during the week, we open at 11 a little bit later.

Not not a coffee time, but 11.

Yeah.

Fridays and Saturdays were 10 to 4.

Sundays, noon to noon to five.

Yeah.

And so, yes, we always recommend reservations if you want to come in and see the cats.

That's another thing we try to encourage people to, to know about because we limit the number of people in the room.

Yeah.

So if we're full we can't get you in and it is relaxing.

And I will tell you.

Right.

Because my wife has not a cat lady.

Okay, we've talked about this, so we're working on it.

We've recently, you know, our dog, passed away recently after I had her for like, 10 or 11 years.

And you know what's funny about that?

Not that I don't want to turn this into therapy, but, like, when she first died, I was like, okay, we had a good run, you know?

It was like I had her for, you know, it's a dog.

It's, you know, and the last few weeks I'm like, I miss her so much, you know?

Yeah.

So yeah, we're often out and about.

And we were recently out at one of the pet stores that has the cats in there, and my daughter, like, just loves seeing them.

And my wife looked at me.

She goes, I, I, you know, we're expecting another baby.

So she goes, no, not right now.

Right now.

No, no.

She goes, but I think I could see a cat like, you know, in our future.

And I was like, you can, you can.

Okay.

So.

Oh I didn't push it.

No, no, no.

You know, I usually push things, so I just I was like, all right, this step in the right direction.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

I don't know what's going on.

And so you mentioned that you're open here, so you never know.

A cat might be in our future.

Yes, please.

Yes, yes.

With the meow first.

When is that on?

That is Saturday, March 21st.

Okay.

So the five at the Century Center.

So that's not too far away.

I know you know about a month away.

And and again, do you have to be a crazy cat lady to want to go to this?

I mean, for people watching, I think, you know, like my wife, like I'm not interested in cats.

Like, you know what, as you said, the education.

But what else is really there for people?

So we're going to have events on the mainstage.

Hannah Shaw will be one of our speakers, so we'll have some education.

We're going to do some bingo.

We're going to do some silly things.

We have a local veterinarian that's going to speak as well, just as some general cat health, again, things that people want to know about.

But then our vendor booths will be lots of shopping, local artisans that are going to be there as well.

Just so all cat themed or mostly cat themed type of things and just just a fun environment.

Nice, is a ticketed like, do people have to buy tickets for.

Yes, yes, we are selling tickets on our website Midwest Meow fest.com.

Okay, we'd love to.

We'd love to have you buy tickets in advance, but we will have tickets at the door as well.

But obviously and again, I just kind of encourage you enough, like, you're a local person who's taking these chances.

I mean, if people even knew just how much it was to rent out the Century Center, you know, again, I'll get you the brown bag here in a second.

Okay.

But but all these things, I was like, I can't encourage people enough that like, buy a ticket, go along, support it.

Because otherwise, like, we don't have a local economy without this.

This is it's people like you taking a chance to do that.

So thank you for doing it.

Make sure your supporter and make sure and come and see these cats whatever you do, because I do really like them.

My wife has a thing about them jumping on the counter.

So that's fine.

You know, we'll we'll get over there.

Right.

So.

Right.

So yeah good job.

Good job.

Thank you.

We'll get you a brown bag now.

Thank you.

Hyperventilate over the corner together okay.

Thank you.

Well, opening weekend is coming up here for Phoenix Performing Arts, and this time we're taking a little bit of a shift than what we might normally have seen here at the Phoenix Performing Arts.

I have with me my friends here, Sean and Ashlea, thank you so much for joining me.

Next to normal is a production that's opening this weekend, and this one has a little bit of a different tone than I've seen with you guys in the past.

Yeah, so it's our third season, so we're third already I know.

Oh my gosh, I know it.

This is the first show for three years.

It's crazy.

I have a friend of hers mine do that.

And so as we kind of dip our toes into this third season where we're trying some new things, you know, there's so much available to producing art, right?

And so we're we're taking a turn here and we're getting really real, real vulnerable and real human, to a show that is absolutely stunning.

But I don't feel it is as well known.

And so we're very excited and feel really blessed to be able to share such a poignant story with the community this weekend.

And I love that you use the word human, because this is a very relatable story for many people across across the world, too.

Yeah, I think it can hit you in one of two ways.

Or maybe both.

I think, you know, there's moments that it will be relatable directly to the patron and the audience.

But even if you don't feel like, thankfully, you can't relate to some of the messaging in here, I feel like there's this really underlining message of empathy.

And I think now more than ever, it's really important to be able to step back and put ourselves in other people's shoes.

Yes, and understand that we are all going through something.

And if you can approach it with that mindset, I just think we will treat each other with so much more kindness.

And so although it is a very heavy, you know, kind of heartbreaking and, you know, moment in a musical theater, I think it also has silver lining of light and hope and, and something that everybody can take away with them and feel inspired to put into their daily lives.

Yeah.

And I know the title is next to normal.

I often feel like nobody's actually normal.

Oh, absolutely.

There is no definition of normal anymore, right?

Nobody does not.

That is boring.

It is.

It is fun.

Sean, tell us about your role that you're doing this time.

Sure.

So I play Dan Goodman.

He's this his family of four that it kind of centers around.

And he's the husband the father and his wife.

Diana is going through bipolar disorder.

So his role in it, he's he's trying to manage the, the, illness.

And, he kind of learned some hard lessons that that's not the easiest thing to do.

You know, she goes through so many different types of treatment.

She goes through, your prescriptions, her hypnosis, her electric shock therapy.

Yes.

And, the story does a beautiful job of showing how it affects, you know, Diana, the wife, but also the family around her.

So you see how it affects the husband, wife relationship.

Mother, son, father daughter, daughter boyfriend.

You know, it plays with all these different relationships.

And, Yeah, Dan just really takes, this, you know, side ride along with Diana to try and manage it and try and do what's best for his family and his, which is really great that it kind of showcases the caregiver aspect.

Right?

Because that's something that we don't always consider.

It's always, you know, generally focused on the patient and how we can help them better.

But to have that caregiver perspective I think is really phenomenal.

What kinds of, experiences maybe have you are you pulling from to help you in this role if you want to share?

Sure.

No, I think it's, you know, everyone if you if you're not if you don't have any type of mental illness or disorder, you know, someone who does.

So I think, like I said, the show just does a really good job of, you know, the affected is always the most affected in these situations, but it shows how it affects the ones around them as well.

So I think about, you know, if I've ever had a friend or family member who's gone through this kind of thing, how it affected me and what I did to try and help it and that kind of thing.

And what is the best step.

And I like we said, the title is next to normal.

He's trying to curate this perfect, painless life.

And, you know, I think he realizes that's not that's just not possible.

No it isn't.

Well, I have to say, stepping into the theater and I see your set, it is beautiful.

Is your husband the lead on this?

Yeah.

This guy.

Yeah.

He's amazing.

I love you, so talented.

Yeah.

I'm just a little bit about what went into the set making this road.

Yeah.

So this show is again different.

Not just because of context, but because of cast size.

So this show is only six people.

Is it really?

It's only six people.

And that's what the show calls for.

And so you would think, oh it's six people, but it is grandiose and spectacle and in creation.

And so I think the set size kind of matches the depth and the umph of what this production brings.

And so there are a lot of caveat moments of things where the emotional turmoil we're experiencing is also kind of paralleling in the, in the blocking and the staging of what's going on.

And so I think that was kind of what his goal was, is to make something that feels lived in something real, and it looks like you are in someone's house, but then has those moments that you can apply those technical more, special effect, more theatrical moments, to showcase all the mixtures and all of the energy levels that are crisscrossing throughout the entire production.

Yeah.

And are you directing this show?

I am not, you're not.

I got your costumes this time.

Look at you.

Yeah, we're doing the running a youth show at the same time, so.

Yeah.

So we actually had, a guest director, Brian Scully.

He's been on our stage before, and so, he and Zach did the artistic and technical directing, and then Brian did the stage directing.

And so it's been really neat to see, just people kind of intertwining and interweaving into different roles and, and just to see it come to life with so many really tender heart just putting their touch on here.

Absolutely.

And I know everyone who's a part of Phoenix Performing Arts.

You guys have made your name in this community.

I just love it.

And so for those who are coming to the audience, you know, what do we want to share with them?

What do you hope that they take away with them at the end of this production?

Yeah, I mean, we did first and foremost, I think it stands to just give a warning that there there is some sensitive content that comes with this production.

I do think it's been very sensitively and and beautifully done.

I don't think that there is anything that I would feel would be, too heavy that you couldn't handle it.

A fear of a certain age and understanding of what the source material is about.

There's some really cool artistic touches that have been done, and I love watching that.

But then also, I just not only are you supporting our in our community, which I think is so important, but you're supporting people's stories both real and and make believe, right?

As Sean kind of touched on, even if you don't, thankfully suffer from neurodivergent see or, or type of, neurological disorder or mental illness someone in your life does, whether you know it or not, right?

You may be walking down the street.

People you work with, people that are your best friends may not even share it with you.

And so being able to support that awareness, we're going to have the Samaritan Center here as our guest.

This weekend, to provide information on mental health services and just to kind of shine a light on the fact that mental health and mental health advocacy is a good thing.

Yeah, it's okay not to be okay.

And I just hope that we can, help shine a light on that in a way that is a little bit more palatable through, you know, song and through theater.

And it isn't musical.

It is sung all the way through rock score or rock score.

Rocks!

See the star up there?

Rock score I love it, and, Sean, you are so talented.

I've seen you perform before.

What is it been like as far as the actor experience in this?

Because it is a smaller cast.

It's only six of us.

And, you know, you see that in an audition notice and on the cast list and you're like, okay, six people.

But our first rehearsal, we all got there and we're like, oh, this is it.

It's luckily this a lot of people knew each other, worked with each other beforehand.

So we kind of broke that barrier right away.

And everyone has just been so supportive.

You know, we talk about the heavy content, but, you know, at the end of each rehearsal, we all check in with each other.

Oh, I love that.

One night it got real heavy about the new Harry styles song came out.

We do that all so I could see them across the way and they're all dancing.

I'm like, this is good.

You need those moments of reprieve.

You do, you do?

Absolutely no.

What are the performances happening?

So just one we can donate Valentine's Day weekend this week.

Yeah.

Three time free chances to see.

And I said, you know, we've curated a perfect Valentine's Day date for you.

You can go get dinner and drinks locally and then come see a live performance.

And then I don't do more, you know, drinks or party.

And after that, right.

And all you have to do is show up.

So it's February 13th at 730 14th, happy Valentine's Day at 730.

And then the final show is the 15th, at 3 p.m.. And how can people get their tickets?

So you can call our telephone number.

It's (574) 971-8162.

Or the better option is online because that you have access to all, all hours of the day.

Or you can also get them at the door.

But if you buy them ahead of time, the price is the same as it is at the door.

So I love this as an opportunity to, you know, spend the weekend.

If you don't already have your Valentine's, I will tell you, I don't have my Valentine's Day plans yet this weekend.

So now you do.

Now here's your option.

If you're like, what am I going to do?

Here's your opportunity to do that.

What do you guys have coming up next real quick?

Oh my gosh.

We are actually honored to be the regional premiere of a musical called Come From Away.

And so it's a musical that is all about, a live event that happened during the September 11th attacks, when planes were rerouted to Newfoundland and Canada.

And so our auditions are literally the Friday after the show.

So next Friday, what is it, the 21st and then that Friday and Sunday?

Yes.

Yeah, 20th and 22nd.

And Sean is co-directing that with Zach.

So good for you.

So we're doing all the new things this season I love it.

I'm excited for you guys.

I hope you have a phenomenal season this year and break a leg.

Thank you so, so much.

So now we want to take a little bit of time to celebrate Kelly and some of the memories that we have with her here on Experience Michiana.

We're going to take a look back.

And as we did, we actually I didn't remember this.

But she was actually there in the very first episode when we launched this show.

But as a guest, she was teaching her class, dance class at ISB, and that actually spawned into, Uzma.

We love her so much, and we know you did too.

So let's take a moment to just enjoy some of the memories that we have with Kelly here on Experience Michiana.

But again, Kelly, tell everybody a little bit about your background.

Just give us the overview of the Kelly Morgans The Kelly Morgan story.

You know, I moved here in 2003.

I'm originally from New York, born in Brooklyn, Brooklyn.

But then when it was do I Bed-Stuy, by the way.

But that's another story.

We'll save that for another show.

Not not today.

All right.

And so I moved here to host an inspirational morning show that aired all around the world.

Right.

That was a fantastic opportunity and did that for about 7 or 8 years.

Was that the harvest?

That was the harvest show?

Yes.

And I got a chance to go to Israel in Hawaii.

Tough job, you know.

Yeah.

So that was really, like I said, a great opportunity, a lot of fun.

And then I moved on there to work at USP, where I teach right now.

I teach African dance and Afro jazz and, and then also have done several, several episodes here.

I think a couple of episodes on the very first episode wasn't the first.

I think so, or at least in the first week you were on here.

Was that my dance when you came to my dance?

Yes.

So I teach a dance class and it's African dance.

And so we have live drummers and everything.

And Gaudi came.

This man can get down.

Okay.

I don't know if you've ever done a show with you dancing, but you were.

No, you were pretty amazing.

We burned those tapes.

Kelly, tell me about Uzima.

What's the origin of the name and how did you develop this dance and workout?

Right.

Well, I was asked to do an African dance workshop back, on Martin Luther King celebration, and it was so much fun.

The women after the class were whooping and hollering, and I and I kind of felt a real sense of community happening in that room.

And so I said, listen, guys, you know, you're interested in it.

And they said, if you teach somewhere, we'd love to come.

And so I kind of thought about it, and I wondered if something like this might work here in South Bend, if there would be interest in it.

And I thought, you know what?

I'm going to try it, because the feeling in that room was so awesome that I wanted to kind of have that more often.

So I thinking, what am I going to call this class?

And I was researching the work and I wanted to figure out what does dance mean in the African language.

And I came across the word Uzima, and I can't believe how one simple word could really change somebody's life.

But that's really what it did for me, because Uzima is Swahili and it means a celebration of wholeness, health and life.

And I knew right then and there that that's what I wanted.

And more than that, that's what I needed in my life, and that's what I wanted for the women that came to the class.

There are some things in this world I believe everybody loves, and in my opinion, chocolate is one of them.

Yes.

And Yvonne.

Right.

And you know what?

I love chocolate so much.

I am willing to look like this on camera.

Okay.

That's how much I love chocolate.

Oh my gosh, they are so cute.

Oh my goodness.

So this is River Jordan Camel Dairy Farm.

And as you can see these are camels.

Now are these baby cameras.

They are these are our youngsters stamps now guys.

The best time I just wanted to say I know we said it last week, but I'm having the best time with you this year.

I know I love.

We didn't get the question.

We had to do it through zoom.

I don't have to talk about it.

But you know what?

I see a little something.

Oh my God, we'll be at the farmers market.

You were talking about that.

There's a Keighley.

Yeah.

Nice.

Okay.

There you go.

All right.

Oh, I'm going to do some sweets for somebody really sweet.

Okay.

Now you can buy me something.

Let's go.

Okay.

Let's.

Okay.

Now, tonight, we're here at Saint Michael's Church because the dancers and the singers are all in there rehearsing for this concert.

So let's head on in and see how things are going.

Well, gentlemen, thank you so much for taking a break from rehearsal.

It's exciting to be here.

There's a great energy in this atmosphere.

Now, Marvin, I want to start with you, okay?

Okay.

Because so the community Foundation reached out to you to, to kind of be the lead in this project.

And I thought, man, you are the most working is retired person I know.

But what made you decide that you have to say yes to this opportunity to do that music, which I love because it's part of who I am, but also the chance to educate folks about African-American music is all about.

So when Laura approached me, I thought, okay, this could be a chance and a couple things.

And then there was you.

I liked you, Kelly.

Oh, you big thing.

Oh my goodness.

They don't see the dance, right?

Like, we like like we don't like triple stomp kick, triple step, triple bind, triple.

Fine.

But the turn, triple walk walk, triple step turn.

Triple.

Three.

Two one.

Go go go.

Oh.

Quite became a glow.

But she's waving at all colors all over our lesson.

Michiana.

You will never see this again in the winter.

But I have to show off my Bibi shirt because I am now a grandmother and they thank you, Kelsy, Dave and Courtney.

They bought this shirt, but Bibi is actually grandmother in Swahili.

Nice.

Which is kind of a shame that I know it's awesome.

But anyway, he's adorable.

Oh my gosh Kelsy, can we put some pictures here?

Can I show them?

All right, so you got some pictures, but there's no there's no way.

Good thing this happened here.

Yeah.

Oh that was I'm going to be shopping for myself and for my new grandson.

Hey.

All right, Ruby.

So we're just going to lift and lift and lift and lift and do that shimmy, shimmy and a little circle.

Have o circle, all right?

And bring it up.

And then we're going to do a little undulation and then just take a step hip and follow me.

Oh okay.

Well, that's it for this week's show.

Thank you so much for celebrating Kelly with us.

If you would keep Kelly's family, especially her husband and her kids, in your prayers.

And, just remember to celebrate the people in our community and find a way to connect.

She would love for you to do that.

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