Let's Grab Coffee

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Ari Weinberg. Ari Weinberg is an actor, director, and the Artistic Director of the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre. In our conversation today we discuss his experiences growing up near Toronto and what that meant for how he was introduced to theatre, what he learned from the arts programs he was a part of and how he began working in the industry, as well as what drew him to the musical theatre performance program at Sheridan College and what he took from his time there. We also discuss how he began working as a director, the importance of viewing yourself the way you want to be viewed by others and how he became the Artistic Director of the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, as well as where he sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Mike Cox and Al Braatz to celebrate 150 episodes of Let’s Grab Coffee. These two wonderful gentlemen are actors, singers, dancers, writers, multi-instrumentalists, and two of my favourite human beings on planet earth. In our conversation today we discuss the importance of self-care and self-maintenance during a long run, the growing importance of social media in the theatre industry, and the things they focus on when approaching a new show or project. We also discuss the importance of authenticity and gratitude, some of the main lessons they have learnt over the past year, as well as where they see theatre in Canada and society as a whole headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Lianna Makuch. Lianna Makuch is a performer, playwright, one of the Artistic Producers of Pyretic Productions. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to theatre and the important mentors that pointed her towards a career in the industry, her background in Ukrainian dance and the connection between her heritage and the type of theatre she is drawn to, as well as what she learned from her time studying theatre at the University of Alberta. We also discuss what she has learned through her experiences producing shows and writing grants, the importance of creating work with a unique perspective, as well as her experiences writing her show “Blood of Our Soil” and what people can expect from the upcoming Toronto production.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Ruaridh MacDonald and Jean-Paul Parker. Ruardh MacDonald and Jean-Paul Parker are the creators of the new show “The Ordinary Adventures of Gordo & Herm” which will be premiering at the Super Wonder Gallery in Toronto March 5th to March 7th at 8pm. In our conversation today we discuss how they were both introduced to theatre and the paths they took with their training, how each of them began writing and what inspired the characters of Gordo and Herm, as well as how they began collaborating on this show and what their first impressions of each other were. We also discuss what they have learned through the process of developing this piece, what they have learned from the creative team they have brought on board, as well as where they see this show and theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Carl Pucl and Douglas Price. Carl Pucl and Douglas Price are the creators of the new Canadian musical Kitsault which will have it’s first public reading on February 28th and March 1st at the Al Green Theatre in Toronto. In our conversation today we discuss how the two met and began working together, in what ways their first impressions of each other were correct and in what ways they were incorrect, as well as what the first steps were for creating the show Kitsault. We also discuss their writing process and how they collaborate, what they have learned through the workshop they are currently doing, as well as what people can expect from the first public reading and where they see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Kieran Martin Murphy. Kieran Martin Murphy is an actor and singer-songwriter based out of Edmonton. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to the arts and the path he took with his education, how he began singing and what he learned from his experiences in professional choirs, as well as the importance of not getting swept up in only thinking big picture and continuing to work on fundamentals. We also discuss some of his most positive experiences in the industry, the advice he would give other artists looking to get more into the singer-songwriter world or record their own album, as well as where he sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Claire Hunter. Claire Hunter is a Toronto based singer-songwriter and actor. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to performing as well as when she began playing guitar and writing music, her time at Randolph College for the Performing Arts and what she learned from her time in school, as well as how she began working as a singer-songwriter and what she learned from those early experiences. We also discuss her experiences recording her debut EP “Something Safe” in 2016 and the advice she would give other theatre artists looking to get more involved in the Toronto music scene, her upcoming EP “Something To Give” and how this experience differed from recording her first album, as well as where she sees theatre and the live music industry in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Daryl Cloran. Daryl Cloran was a founding member and the Artistic Director of Theatrefront, the Artistic Director of Western Canada Theatre, and is now the Artistic Director of the Citadel in Edmonton. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre growing up in Sarnia, his time at Queen's University in Kingston and what he learned from his education, as well as his experiences creating and running his theatre company Theatrefront. We also discuss his experiences as Artistic Director at Western Canada Theatre and the importance of finding the balance between giving the audience what they expect and pushing their boundaries with new and exciting work, how he became the Artistic Director of the Citadel and what he has learned from some of his experiences in Edmonton, as well as where he sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Larissa Pohoreski. Larissa Pohoreski is an actor, singer, dancer, musician, and was recently selected as one of the Top 30 Under 30 by the Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to theatre and her background in Ukrainian dance, her training at Grant MacEwan and the main lessons she took from her time in school, as well as some her experiences performing in the industry and the rise in popularity of actor/musician shows. We also discuss what she has learned through her experiences with her theatre company Mavka Theatre, the upcoming Toronto production of “Blood of Our Soil” which she will be music directing and performing in from March 7th to 16th at Tarragon Theatre’s Extraspace, as well as where she see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Pamela Gordon. Pamela Gordon is a Sterling award-winning actor, singer, and dancer based out of Winnipeg Manitoba. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to theatre, her experiences training in dance and the main similarities and differences she noticed between theatre and strictly dance growing up, as well as how she began working in the industry and some of the main lessons she took from her earliest experiences. We also discuss some of her most positive experiences in the theatre industry and what made them so positive, her experiences as a member of the band Earth Beat and what she learned gigging with a band overseas, as well as important similarities she has noticed working at various regional theatres across the country and where she hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Stephan Dickson. Stephan Dickson is a choreographer and performer and was the associate choreographer for both The Music Man and The Rocky Horror Show this past year at the Stratford Festival. In our conversation today we discuss his training in dance from an early age and how a danced based education has benefited him in his life and career, what spoke to him about musical theatre specifically, as well as the importance of being able to use the language of every aspect of theatre when working on a show both as a performer and a creative team member. We also discuss some of his most positive experiences in the industry so far and what made them so positive, his transition into working as a choreographer and the advice he would give other performers looking to do the same, as well as where he sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Jeremy Walmsley. Jeremy Walmsley is an actor, singer, and musician originally from Manitoba. In our conversation today we discuss what motivated him to begin performing growing up in a more rural community, what he learned from his time in school and the importance of finding your own artistic voice, as well as what he learned from his move to Toronto and how he established himself in a new city. We also discuss how he began working both in the film and television world and as a gigging musician, some of his most positive experiences in the industry and what made them so positive, as well as where he hopes to see theatre as well as local live music in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Darren Burkett. Darren Burkett is an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, and teacher originally from British Columbia. In our conversation today we discuss his experiences growing up performing and how they have shaped his career, how he got involved in the theatre community in British Columbia and what he learned from some of his earliest experiences in the industry, as well as the people he looked to for guidance and what he learned from those mentors. We also discuss his work as a dance captain and the advice he would give other performers interested in working as dance captains, his experience auditioning for, rehearsing, and portraying the role of Michael Wormwood in the first national tour of Matilda, as well as where he sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Camille Eanga-Selenge. Camille Eanga-Selenge is an actor, singer, and dancer originally from Ottawa. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to theatre and her background in dance, her experiences at the University of Ottawa and how her year studying Psychology has translated into her theatre career, as well as what she learned from her training at Sheridan College. We also discuss her experiences performing in the Broadway, second national tour, and Australian national tour of Book of Mormon, what she has learned from her experiences working as a dance captain/swing and the advice she would give other performers looking to do the same, as well as the importance knowing when it’s time to make changes in your life and where she hope to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Cameron Carver. Cameron Carver is a theatre director, choreographer, and movement director originally from London Ontario. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre through the arts programs that were offered in London, his time at Sheridan College and the main lessons he took from his time in school, as well as some of his first experiences in the industry and what he learned from those experiences. We also discuss what spoke to him about directing and choreographing, his experiences getting his Masters of the Arts in Theatre Directing at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the UK, as well as how the theatre industry in Canada differs from the theatre industry in the UK and where he sees both theatre industries headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Aaron Hastelow. Aaron Hastelow is an actor, singer, and dancer who most recently starred as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Charlottetown Festival. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre growing up, his experiences at Sheridan and the main lessons he took from his time in school, as well as his experiences at the Shaw Festival and the things he learned as a member of that company. We also discuss his experiences at the Charlottetown Festival, stepping into the role of Jesus this year in Jesus Christ Superstar and what he has learned from that experience, as well as future goals for himself and where he hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Calvin Laveck. Calvin Laveck is an actor, singer, dancer, and musician originally from the Yukon. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre growing up in the Yukon, his time in school and the main lessons he took from his training, as well as what he learned from some of his first experiences in the industry. We also discuss his experience performing in Anne & Gilbert this year and what he has learned from performing in a longer run, the trend of actor musicians and what it offers to audiences that is unique, as well as future goals for himself and where he sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Adam Sergison. Adam Sergison is an actor, dancer, and singer originally from Pickering Ontario. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre and some of his early experiences performing shortly after leaving high school, his training in dance and the main benefits he feels training in dance from an early age provides, as well his experiences working as a dancer in the world of film and television. We also discuss what he has learned from some of his most positive performing experiences in the industry, his transition to working as a choreographer and what he has learned from the process, as well as where he hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Amir Haidar. Amir Haidar is a Toronto based performer and is currently one of the standbys for the Toronto production of Come From Away. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre growing up in Lebanon, the path that he took with his training and what he learned from his time in school, as well as the importance of self motivation and self awareness in this industry. We also discuss his experiences with pantomime and what he learned from performing in the Stirling Festival Theatre Christmas Panto for four years, his experiences auditioning for and being a part of the Toronto production of Come From Away, as well as where he hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Stacey Kay. Stacey Kay is a performer, motivational speaker, and songwriter who most recently released her first full-length album titled “11 O’Clock Number”. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to performing and her experiences growing up that lead her to pursue a career in the arts, her time at Sheridan College and the important things she learned about herself during her time in school, as well as her first experiences in the industry and the main lessons she took from those early experiences. We also discuss how she began writing and working more in the world of pop music, the ways technology and social media can help artists to reach new audiences and grow their fan base, as well as where she sees the music and theatre industries in Canada headed in the future.