In this week’s episode, I sit down with Ellen Denny & Emilio Vieira. Ellen Denny & Emilio Vieira are two Toronto based actors, playwrights, and the creators of “february: a love story” which will be available to stream from February 14th to March 7th. In our conversation today we discuss the main different iterations of this piece and what they learned about themselves and the project through each one, how they began working together as collaborators and their process both individually and as a team when it comes to writing, and the importance of trying to remain as flexible and mindful as possible when pursuing any sort of creative project right now. We also discuss the advice they would give other artists who are looking to form new collaborations or work on new projects in the industry, how we can keep ourselves motivated through the difficult parts of any creative process, as well as where they hope to see theatre and live performance in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Hailey Gillis. Hailey Gillis is a Toronto based performer who most recently was a part of the Musical Stage Company’s “Porchside Songs” & “Virtual Uncovered” series as well as Crow’s Theatre’s “Ghost Quartet” live steam. In our conversation today we discuss how she has navigated the pandemic as an artist and how it’s shaped her relationship to performing in the “new normal”, the different projects she has worked on in the past 8 months and what she has learned from the experience, as well as the difference of blending theatre/on camera as opposed to filming theatre. We also discuss the importance of community and transparency in our industry right now, the connection we need to establish with new audiences through these new artistic mediums that are being created, as well as the communication and collaboration she is so excited to be seeing within the theatre industry in Toronto.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Chris Tsujiuchi. Chris Tsujiuchi is a performer, musical director, accompanist, and cabaret artist. In our conversation today we discuss his experience navigating the pandemic as an artist, his work with the Musical Stage Company as a part of “Porchside Songs”, and the benefits that can be gained through virtual programming with regards to accessibility. We also discuss this year’s “A Very Christ-erical Christmas Cabaret (Covid Edition)”, the ways in which he has had to pivot to move his annual Christmas cabaret online, as well as what he has learned through the process and how he hopes to see the industry continue to evolve in the coming year.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Colin Asuncion. Colin Asuncion is a multi-talented performer, baker, marketing manager, and one-third of the Toronto based boy band Asian Riffing Trio. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to the performing industry how he has navigated his relationship with it while also maintaining the other aspects of his career, his experiences performing with Asian Riffing Trio over the past few months as a part of the Musical Stage Company’s “Porchside Songs”, as well as the ways in which he has been pursuing his passions during the pandemic and the new doors it has opened up for him in his life. We also discuss his experiences as a finalist on “The Great Canadian Baking Show”, the importance of authenticity and the ways in which his work in marketing management has informed the other aspects of his life, as well as some of his plans for the future and the things that are currently happening in the industry in Canada that are exciting him.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Jeff Follis. Jeff Follis (aka Uropa) is a Vancouver based drag performer, visual artist, and singer originally from Calgary. In our conversation today we dive into the world of drag and discuss it’s rise in popularity over the past several years, how he first began performing as a drag queen and his process of discovering Uropa, as well as his experiences in theatre school and what he has taken from those experiences moving forward into his drag career. We also discuss both the differences and similarities between drag and other forms of performing arts, the importance of authenticity and connecting with your audience no matter what type of performing you are doing, as well as the work he is doing to move drag and by extension the performing arts forward in Canada.

In this week's episode, I sit down with Kelsey Verzotti & Jacob Sheffield, two multi-talented artists who recently launched SideBiz Studio. SideBiz is an online marketplace that showcases products and services offered by the Canadian arts community. In our conversation today we discuss the inspiration for SideBiz and how the idea was formed, how they took that idea and put it into action, and what they have learned so far through the process of creating their online marketplace. We also discuss the ways in which they are trying to foster a strong sense of community through SideBiz, the words of encouragement they would give other artists looking to pursue a new idea or project, as well as where they see theatre/live performance/the arts headed in the future.

SideBiz Studio (Website)

www.sidebizstudio.ca

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Tara Jackson & Masini McDermott. In our conversation today both Tara Jackson & Masini McDermott share their experiences as black women in the Canadian theatre industry, how the theatre industry puts pressure on people of colour to not “cause a fuss” or be “difficult” in the hopes that they are hired again, as well as the importance of remembering that this isn’t a new conversation or issue but one that black people are faced with their entire lives. We also discuss their experiences dealing with everything going on in the world with regards to Black Lives Matter, how it is up to allies to speak up when they see injustice and how they can actually use their white privilege to create lasting change, as well as how they hope to see the theatre industry as a whole move towards equality in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Lauren Ritchie. Lauren Ritchie is a dance educator, choreographer, and host of the Dance Podcast. In our conversation today we discuss the differences between the ways she was taught to dance and how dance educators are teaching their students now, the importance of having a holistic approach to your training no matter what you are training for, as well as her relationship with goals and the benefits that come from distilling down what the actual intention or want is behind our goals. We also discuss the work she is currently doing with regards to mental skills training and her focus on bringing the not only the physical but also emotional and mental intricacies of dance into alignment, her experiences hosting the Dance Podcast and what she has learned through the process, as well as where she hopes to see certain conversations around arts-based training and education headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Douglas Walker. Douglas Walker is an actor, singer, and dancer originally from Scotland. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre and the path that lead him to pursue it professionally, what he learned from his time in school both as a dancer as well as at the Royal Conservatory of Scotland, and what the main similarities and differences are between theatre in the UK and theatre in Canada. We also discuss his experience moving to Canada and how he has gone about developing connections and meeting a wide range of artists in the Canada theatre community, what he has learned from his experience understudying both here in Canada and in the UK, as well as the types of conversations he hopes continue to be had in the industry and where he hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Kalie Hunter. Kalie Hunter is a performer, teacher, adjudicator, and is also one of the owners of Metro Movement in Toronto. In our conversation today we discuss her experiences growing up in B.C. and how she was introduced to the world of dance at a young age, how the dance industry and theatre industry in Canada differ and what each industry can learn from the other, as well as her transition into musical theatre and the advice she would give other dancers looking to diversify their skill sets and identify as musical theatre performers. We also discuss some of her most positive performing experiences and how she has developed her dance captain/understudy techniques, the process of taking over ownership of Metro Movement and what she has learned through the process, as well as how her experience working to find a balance between having a family and a career in the theatre industry in Canada.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Kira Campbell. Kira Campbell is the Artistic Associate and Production Manager of Stage West Calgary. In our conversation today we discuss how the mindset of “How hard can it be?” has helped shape her career, how she got involved in the theatre world and what she learned from her time in school, as well as what brought her to Calgary and the importance of exploring as many aspects of the theatre industry as you can. We also discuss what goes into planning a season at Stage West and how it differs from other theatres, how the team she has cultivated at Stage West works with the community to seek out mutually beneficial collaborations, as well as the advice she would give artists currently working in the theatre industry and where she sees the industry in Canada headed in the future.