JOINING ME IN THE KITCHEN TODAY IS CHAD WHITTINGTON FROM THE CLUB ASSOCIATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.

CHAD, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> AND EXCITED TO BE HERE.

AS FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE BECOMING A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CAPA.

>> WE WERE FORMED IN 1969 TO SAVE THE THEATER.

THE WRECKING BALL WAS SITTING OUT ON STATE STREET IN FRONT OF THE THEATER.

A GROUP OF PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER AND SAVED THE THEATER AND WE HAVE BUILT FROM THAT.

IT HAS BEEN A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

I TALK ABOUT A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE AT THE BEGINNING BUT WE'VE HAD SUPPORT FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE GROWN INTO AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS EIGHT PHYSICAL SPACES IN COLUMBUS THAT WE OWN AND OPERATE.

WE PUT ON ABOUT 900 EVENTS A YEAR AND HALF 1 MILLION VISITORS A MONTH AS BUILDINGS.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT JOURNEY OVER THE LAST 55 YEARS.

>> WHAT A GREAT ORIGIN STORY, THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER.

I HEAR YOU HAVE A BIT OF AN ORIGIN STORY WAS CAPA, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THAT?

>> I HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS.

I HAD MY 26th YEAR AT CAPA.

I STARTED WHILE I WAS A STUDENT AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WORKING AT THE OHIO THEATRE IN MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY AND I GOT TO KNOW THE OFFICE STAFF.

I WAS MAJORING IN ACCOUNTING AND THEY SAID, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, WHY DON'T YOU START UPSTAIRS PART-TIME.

I DID, I WORKED IN THE ACCOUNTING APARTMENT.

I NEVER IMAGINED AT THAT TIME I WOULD HAVE STUCK AROUND THIS LONG BUT IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND IT IS FUN.

IT IS HARD WORK.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO AT THE THEATER IS TO WATCH KIDS COMING TO THE THEATER.

THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE SHOW AND LOOKING AROUND AT THIS BEAUTIFUL THEATER, IT IS MORE THAN JUST A JOB.

IT IS REALLY A PASSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THINK ABOUT HOW MANY KIDS HAD THEIR FIRST TO GET EXPERIENCE AND ARE WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY OR TAKING THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

THAT IS A SPECIAL.

>> EVEN FOR THOSE THAT DON'T MAKE A CAREER OUT OF IT, ART IS SOMETHING PEOPLE INTERACT WITH THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.

I LOVE BEING PART OF HOW THEY START TO INTERACT WITH LIFE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

>> THAT IS VALUABLE.

I AM EXCITED TO GET STARTED WITH OUR BAKING TODAY.

WE ARE MAKING ONE OF MY FAVORITE TREATS.

THESE ARE BROWN BUTTER SNICKERDOODLES.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SNICKERDOODLE.

THESE ARE IT UP A LITTLE BIT WITH THE BROWNED BUTTER.

ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED?

>> DESERT WAS THE RIGHT AREA TO WORK FOR ME.

I AM EXCITED.

>> I CAN'T WAIT.

THE INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED ARE TWO CUPS OF ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR, ONE TEASPOON OF BAKING SODA, TWO TEASPOONS CREAM OF TARTAR, QUARTER TEASPOON SALT, TWO STICKS AND SALT AND BUTTER 1 1/4 CUP PACKED DARK BROWN SUGAR, THREE QUARTER CUP GRANULATED SUGAR, TWO LARGE EGGS, ONE TEASPOON THE ABSTRACT, 20 TEASPOONS OF CINNAMON AND ONE TABLESPOON PLAIN GREEK YOGURT.

WE HAVE OUR GOAL JUST BROWNED BUTTER THAT SMELLS INCREDIBLE.

THAT WILL TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO COOL DOWN TO ROOM TEMPERATURE.

WE CAN MIX TOGETHER OUR DRY INGREDIENTS NOW.

>> OKAY.

>>: THE BUTTER IS IMPORTANT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO SCRAMBLE YOUR EGGS WHEN YOU MIX IT ALL TOGETHER.

YOU WOULD JUST PUT THE SAUCE AND BUTTER INTO THIS WE ARE MAKING IT REALLY GOOD.

WE ARE ADDING THE BROWNED BUTTER INTO THE MIXER BOWL.

WE WANT TO GET ALL THE BROWNED BITS INTO THE BOWL.

LITTLE FLAVOR BOMBS.

THEN I'M GOING TO ADD IN OUR WHITE SUGAR AND OUR BROWN SUGAR.

I'M JUST GOING TO MIX THOSE TOGETHER.

NOW, IF YOU WANT TO ADD THE REST OF OUR WET INGREDIENTS.

WE HAVE THE EGG AND EGG YOLK, VANILLA AND GREEK YOGURT.

WHILE OUR DOUGH IS CHILLING, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE INITIATIVES THAT CAPA.

>> WE ALWAYS HAVE EVENTS GOING ON AT CAPA.

WE DO 900 A YEAR THROUGH OTHER VENUES.

THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON ALWAYS.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON IS REACHING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE WE ARE CONNECTING WITH EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE STARTED THE CINEMA COLUMBUS FILM FESTIVAL TO CONNECT WITH MORE WITH THE FILM COMMUNITY IN COLUMBUS, WHICH IS GROWING AND DOING FANTASTIC WORK.

WE HAVE ALSO STARTED PRODUCING, WHICH MEANS CREATING SOME OF OUR OWN CONTENT.

THE CHRISTMAS CAROL, WE USED TO BRING THAT IN FROM A TOUR THAT WENT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WITH COVID-19, IT DIDN'T COME BACK AROUND AND THAT WAS A TRADITION WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD IN COLUMBUS SO WE PRODUCE THAT EVENT OURSELVES IN COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE AND PUT IT ON AT THE OHIO THEATRE.

JUST A FEW THINGS WE ARE DOING TO REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE WORKING FOR A MORE GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO GET INTO THE SOMALI COMMUNITY, AND CAN COMMUNITY, MORE CONNECTED WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND IT IS A SLOW PROCESS BUT ONE STEP AT A TIME RIGHT NOW FOR US.

>> WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT A GREAT WAY TO USE THE PERFORMING ARTS AND THEATER TO CONNECT TO PEOPLE AND THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE BELIEVE.

THE ARE TO BRING A LOT TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE INSPIRE, WE EDUCATE.

WE CHALLENGE SOMETIMES BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW, IT IS IMPORTANT TO JUST BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, THE SHARED EXPERIENCE.

YOU CAN COME INTO A THEATER AND SIT WITH 900, 2000 PEOPLE BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THE RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS OR POLITICAL BACKGROUNDS BUT YOU SIT THERE, YOU LAUGH TOGETHER, CRIED TOGETHER, YOU GASP TOGETHER AND YOU HAVE THIS A SHARED EXPERIENCE THAT REMINDS US OUR COMMONALITY IS MORE THAN OUR DIFFERENCES.

RIGHT NOW, THAT IS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION THAT WE SERVE IN THE ARTS IS TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS SO VALUABLE.

I THINK WE SHOULD CHECK ON OUR DOUGH AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SOME COOKIES.

WE HAVE OUR CHILLED DOUGH.

IT IS BEST TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE FRIDGE AND LET IT SIT FOR 30 MINUTES OR SO SO IT IS NOT TOO HARD.

I HAVE A NICE COOKIE SCOOP.

A LITTLE ICE CREAM SCOOP.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THE SCOOP.

YOU CAN USE A SPOON OR JUST GRAB A PORTION OF DOUGH.

IF YOUR DOUGH IS CRUMBLY, YOU CAN SQUEEZE IT IN YOUR HANDS TO FORM IT INTO A BALL AND ONCE YOU DO THAT AND GET IT NICE AND ROUND, WE WILL ROLL IT IN CINNAMON AND SUGAR, WHICH IS A CLASSIC SNICKERDOODLE TECHNIQUE AND WE WILL LINE OUR BAKING SHEET, PLACE IN A COUPLE INCHES APART AND POP THEM IN THE OVEN.

>> LET'S GIVE IT A TRY.

>> LET'S GET ROLLING.

>> WE HAVE OUR COOKIES IN THE OVEN.

WHEN WE WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THEM TO BAKE, TELL ME ABOUT HOW CAPA IS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

>> SHORE, ETC.

THAT HE IS ONE OF THE MINDS -- WORDS THAT COME TO MIND.

HOLISTICALLY FOR CAPA, IT IS THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE ARE ENGAGING EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE WELCOME TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY?

ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING IS WE HAVE DIVERSITY IN THE PROGRAM WE ARE BRINGING IN AND THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT THE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES YOU SEE ON STAGE REPRESENT EVERYBODY THAT YOU SEE IN THE AUDIENCE.

CASTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE, BRINGING IN SHOWS THAT WE KNOW ARE FOCUSED ON DIVERSITY.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE AT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE GOOD EXPERIENCES WHEN THEY CONNECT TO THE ARTS.

ONE OF THE WAYS YOU WANT TO DO THAT IS BY MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND, OKAY, I CAN DO THAT BECAUSE THERE IS SOMEONE THAT LOOKS LIKE ME UP ON THE STAGE.

THAT IS IMPORTANT TO US.

NOT ONLY CAPA BUT THE ARTS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE IN COLUMBUS IS DOING A FANTASTIC JOB OF RECOGNIZING THAT AND IMPLEMENTING THOSE IDEALS INTO THE PROGRAMMING THEY ARE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT SEEMS CRUCIAL.

I LOVE THE WAY IT IS WELCOMING AND OPEN AND ENCOURAGES FOLKS TO EXPERIENCE THE ART FOR THEMSELVES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEN, THE MORE PHYSICAL WAY FOR CAPA, WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW OUR BUILDINGS CAN BE WELCOMING FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.

EVERYTHING FROM ADULT CHANGING TABLES TO ALL GENDER RESTROOMS TO CULTURE CITY.

CULTURE CITY IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM, CERTIFICATION PROGRAM GO THROUGH THAT PROVIDES TRAINING FOR YOUR STAFF, ESPECIALLY THE FRONTLINE STAFF.

THINK ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT TAKE THE TICKETS AND USHERS THAT TAKE PEOPLE TO THEIR SEATS, TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND NEEDS, WHETHER PHYSICAL NEEDS, SENSORY NEEDS THAT THE AUDIENCE MIGHT HAVE.

THIS PROGRAM HAS COME IN AND HELP US IDENTIFY QUIET AREAS IN THE THEATERS.

IF SOMEONE WITH SENSORY NEEDS NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THE AUDITORIUM AND FIND A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A QUIET ENVIRONMENT, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THOSE PLACES IN THE THEATER FOR THEM.

HAVING BANKS AVAILABLE THAT HAVE YOUR PROTECTION IN THEM AND FIDGET TOYS AND OTHER THINGS THAT SOMEONE WITH SENSORY NEEDS MIGHT NEED IF THEY ARE UPSET BY SOMETHING THAT TAKES PLACE DURING A PERFORMANCE.

IT IS ALL THESE THINGS THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS, BUT ACTUALLY, THE FOLKS THAT NEED THEM, THEY ARE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON THAT.

ACTUALLY, THE STAFF AT CAPA CARE A LOT ABOUT THAT AND THEY HAVE HELPED US TO A LOT OF THE WORK AND HAVE HELPED US IDENTIFY THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

>> THAT IS WONDERFUL.

I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH HOW ACCESSIBLE AND WELCOMING YOU ARE, THAT IS GREAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHAD, THE MOMENT HAS COME.

>> THEY LOOK GREAT.

>> THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING WITH ME.

BEFORE WE WRAP UP AND BEFORE WE TRY ONE OF THESE DELICIOUS COOKIES, WHAT IS ONE MORE THING YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT CAPA?

>> I THINK THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN GENERAL IS VERY COLLABORATIVE AND THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR CAPA.

COLLABORATION IS SUCH AN ABORTED INGREDIENT IN WHAT WE DO.

WEST SIDE STORY" IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT, A COLLABORATION BEEN BETWEEN 22 THE CLUB IS INTO THE, THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

I TALKED ABOUT "CHRISTMAS CAROL," AND ANOTHER EVENT CREATED RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY GROUPS AND IT GIVES EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER.

WHAT YOU GET FROM THAT WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WE COME UP WITH MORE GREAT IDEAS IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

I AM SO EXCITED THAT WE CAN BE OF "WEST SIDE STORY," AND ALL THE OTHER GREAT COLLABORATIONS THAT TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I DON'T THINK I CAN LEAVE WITHOUT SAYING THAT.

CAPA WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FORMED WITHOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND WE CAN DO WHAT WE DO EVERY YEAR WITHOUT TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

NOT ONLY PEOPLE THAT VISIT BUT PEOPLE THAT DONATE AS WELL.

I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SUPPORTED US FOR THESE 55 YEARS.

>> WE ARE GRATEFUL YOU ARE HERE.

WE ALL BENEFIT.

LET'S TRY A COOKIE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> HERE WE GO.

THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE, CHAD.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.

FANTASTIC.

>> RIGHT?