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In this week’s episode I sit down with Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal. Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal are a contemporary musical theatre song writing team based in Toronto Ontario. In our conversation today we discuss how they met and what their first impressions of each other were, the experiences they had in school and how each of their specific skill sets have helped them in their career, as well as some of their first experiences working in the industry. We also discuss some of their most positive experiences writing for musical theatre, their process when approaching a new project, as well as where they see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Arinea Hermans. Arinea Hermans an actor, singer, and dancer who has worked for theatre companies such as the Musical Stage Company and Young People’s Theatre. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to theatre growing up in Burlington Ontario, her experiences at Sheridan College and the many lessons she took from her time in school, as well as some of her most positive experiences in the industry so far. We also discuss her experiences winning the Musical Stage Company’s 2016 Banks Prize, her mentors and the main things she has learned from them, as well as where she hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Shaina Silver-Baird. Shaina Silver-Baird is an actor, singer, dancer, and songwriter based in Toronto Ontario. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to theatre and music, her experiences at York University and the main lessons she took from her time in school, as well as some of her most positive experiences in the industry. We also discuss the things she has learned from her mentors both in the theatre industry as well as the music industry, her singer-songwriter career as Ghost Caravan and her upcoming EP, as well as where she hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Steve Cooke. Steve Cooke is an improviser, comedian, podcaster, and writer originally from Kingston Ontario. In our conversation today we discuss growing up in Kingston and his early experiences around theatre, his experiences at Ryerson and the main lessons he took from his time in school, as well as how he got involved with the improv community in Toronto. We also discuss his podcast “Killed To Death”, both the benefits and drawbacks of the amount of content available to audiences now online, as well as where he hopes to see live performance in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Tom Carson. Tom Carson is a director, producer, administrator, writer, teacher, and is the Executive Director for Smile Theatre. In our conversation today we discuss how he got involved in theatre, his time at York University and the main lessons he took from his time in school, as well as some of his early experiences in the industry working in Montreal. We also discuss how he got involved with Smile Theatre and some of the company’s main goals, the importance of vulnerability both in terms of audiences and performers, as well as where he hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Ray Hogg. Ray Hogg is a performer, director, choreographer, teacher, and the former Artistic Director of Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg. In our conversation today we discuss how he got involved in the performing arts, the path he took with his training and the main lessons he took from his time in school, as well as some of his most positive performing experiences. We also discuss how he began working as a director and choreographer, the importance of building relationships in the industry, as well as where he hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future. Ray Hogg also shares the main things he tries to teach his students and takes part in the podcast’s newest feature the “Lightning Round”.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Dan Curtis Thompson. Dan Curtis Thompson is an actor and stand up comedian originally from Belleville Ontario. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre, his experiences in the musical theatre program at St. Lawrence College in Brockville, as well as what he learned from some of his first experiences in the industry. We also discuss how he began working as a stand up comedian, his monthly comedy show “New Faces”, as well as where he sees live theatre in Canada headed in the future. Dan was also kind enough to be the first interview featuring the “Lightning Round” where I ask him ten random rapid-fire questions submitted by listeners.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Evie Koop Sawatzky. Evie Koop Sawatzky is a performer, director, teacher, and founder of RuBarb Productions Inc. In our conversation today we discuss her experiences growing up around theatre, the importance of curiosity and the benefits of learning lots of different skills, as well as what pushed her to pursue a career in theatre. We also discuss how her theatre company RuBarb Productions Inc. was created, the many things she has learned from running the company, as well as where she hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Laura Mae Nason. Laura Mae Nason is an actor, singer, and dancer who has performed in theatres across Canada including the Arts Club, Theatre Aquarius, Drayton Entertainment, and the Charlottetown Festival. In our conversation today we discuss her early training in dance, finding musical theatre and the path she took into the industry, as well as what she learned from some of her first experiences in the industry. We also discuss some of her most positive experiences in theatre, what she has learned from raising a family in the theatre and the importance of figuring out your own path in this industry, as well as where she sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Kristian Truelsen. Kristian Truelsen is an actor, director, and writer. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre, the path that lead him to a career in the industry, as well as how his experiences have differed working in Canada as well as the US. We also discuss the mentors he has had in the industry, some of his most positive experiences working in the many different aspects of the industry he is a part of, as well as where he sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Kelly Holiff. Kelly Holiff is a Canadian theatre and concert performer. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to theatre, her experiences at the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, as well as what she learned from some of her first opportunities in the industry. We also discuss her experiences working in the world of cabaret and concerts, the importance of finding people in the industry you connect with and who force you to think outside the box, as well as where she would like to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

To celebrate 100 episodes I sit down this week with Gerrad Everard and Matt Cage. Gerrad Everard is an actor, singer, dancer, and writer who has worked across North America and Matt Cage is best known for his award winning performances and work as an Elvis tribute artist. I very recently finished up performing Million Dollar Quartet with both of these gentlemen and I thought what better way to celebrate the end of a 250 show run then by sitting down to chat about the whole experience. In our conversation today we discuss how both of them got into the industry, the things they learned from their early experiences in theatre, as well as their experience auditioning for and booking Million Dollar Quartet. We also discuss their first impressions of each other, the things they have learned through this show’s process, as well as where they hope to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Al Braatz. Al Braatz is an actor, singer, dancer, and musician who has worked across Canada as well as in the UK. In our conversation today we discuss his path into the theatre industry, the main lessons he took from his time in school both at Sheridan College as well as in the UK, as well as what he learned from his first experiences in the industry. We also discuss the importance of creating first steps for yourself, the rise in popularity of performers playing their own instruments, as well as where he hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week episode I sit down Julia McLellan. Julia McLellan is an actor, singer, and dancer originally from Nova Scotia. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to theatre, her time in school and the main lessons she took from her training, as well as her experiences on the Wizard of Oz tour. We also discuss her time at the Stratford Festival, what she learned from her experiences swinging Kinky Boots, as well as where she hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Jade Repeta. Jade Repeta is a singer, actor, and dancer who has worked across Canada. In our conversation today we discuss how she began singing and dancing at an early age, her experiences at Sheridan and the things she learned from her time in school, as well as some of her first experiences in the industry. We also discuss some of her most positive experiences in the industry, the importance of finding where what you bring to the table meets what the industry needs, as well as where she hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Trevor Patt. Trevor Patt is an actor, singer, dancer, and musician who has spent the last several seasons working at the Stratford Festival. In our conversation today we discuss his first experiences with theatre growing up in London Ontario, the path he took training wise and what he learned from those experiences, as well as what he learned from some of his first experiences in the industry. We also discuss the mentors he has had so far in his career, the rise in popularity of performers playing their own instruments, as well as where he hopes to see theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Kale Penny. Kale Penny is an actor, musician, and songwriter. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre growing up in British Columbia, the path he took with his training and the main things he learned from his time in school, as well as what he learned from some of his first experiences in the industry. We also discuss some of his most positive experiences in the industry, the trend towards performers playing their own instruments, as well as his experiences writing and recording his CD “The Tracks”.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Anthony MacPherson. Anthony MacPherson is an actor, singer, and dancer who has worked across Canada and the US. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to theatre growing up in a small town in Nova Scotia, his time at Sheridan and the main lessons he took from his time in school, as well as the importance of always remembering to honour your connection with the audience. We also discuss some of his most positive experiences in the industry including the national tour of Matilda, the role pop culture plays in theatre currently, as well as where he sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Kristen Peace. Kristen Peace is a Canadian performer who has worked all over the country with companies such as Drayton Entertainment, the Charlottetown Festival, as well as Mirvish. In our conversation today we discuss how she was introduced to theatre and her experiences with it at a very early age, the importance of knowing who you are in the industry and constantly trying to look at yourself objectively, as well as some of the things she learned through her early experiences in the industry. We also discuss the importance of mentorship in theatre, her experiences in the Toronto production of Kinky Boots, as well as where she sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.

In this week’s episode I sit down with Steve Thomas. Steve Thomas is a composer and music director who has worked and had his shows produced all over Canada. In our conversation today we discuss how he was introduced to the world of theatre, his background in music, and his experiences at Humber College. We also discuss some of his first experiences working in the industry and composing, his process when approaching writing a new piece both on his own and as a collaborator, as well as where he sees theatre in Canada headed in the future.