The Performers Podcast

Dan Chameroy has performed across North America, including the tour of 'Matilda the Musical.' He made his Toronto stage debut in 1991 as part of the Canadian cast of 'Les Miserables' at The Royal Alexandra Theatre and performed in the legendary pre-Broadway production of 'The Drowsy Chaperone.' We discuss his work with Gary Griffin and Donna Feore at the Stratford Festival. Dan also opens up about his work's physical demands and the time he hurt his back so badly he wasn't sure he'd ever perform again. Don't miss Dan's performance on Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20 in Ross Petty's virtual production 'There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays.'

Kahlil Ashanti served in the United States Air Force and had a hit Fringe Festival show that went to the Edinburgh Fringe and Off-Broadway. As well as being a talented performer, my guest Kahlil Ashanti created an online ticketing system, unlike any other. Although it was used in theatres around the world before the pandemic, it's even more useful now, when everyone is creating content online. weshowup.io is an innovative, digital pay-what-you-want solution. Follow Kahlil on: https://www.kahlilashanti.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kahlilashanti/ Visit https://weshowup.io/

Rodrigo Beilfuss is a Brazilian-born Canadian actor-director with a German last name, who trained in England and now calls Winnipeg, Manitoba his home. He is the artistic director of Shakespeare in the Ruins. Growing up in Brazil, Beilfuss envisioned a career as a diplomat. He was well on his way after being accepted to law school, but he faced a fork in the road when he was also accepted to a cultural exchange program in Winnipeg. He chose Winnipeg thinking he'd return to Brazil, and a career in the foreign service after the cultural exchange was completed. As part of his cultural exchange program, Beilfuss was introduced to the works of Shakespeare; he fell in love with the Bard's words and soon traded his pursuit of a diplomatic career for a one in theatre. Beilfuss admits that when he was first introduced to Shakespeare, he didn't understand much of the language. However, his realization that he was not alone in his struggle to comprehend Shakespeare's work ultimately gave him the confidence to work through it. "Ironically, Shakespeare gave me a sense of belonging - everyone was confused; everyone was terrified," says Beilfuss. From Winnipeg Beilfuss traveled to Stratford, Ontario and England where he studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His master's thesis research at LAMDA examined the process, and cultural impact, of performing Shakespeare in different languages - a natural topic for Beilfuss, whose first language was not English. SHOW NOTES: Website: http://www.rodrigobeilfuss.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RBeilfuss Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbeilfuss/?hl=en Cyrus Lane podcast Lisa-Repo-Martell Podcast Joseph-Ziegler Podcast Stream Macbeth from Stratford as part of the Shakespeare Film Festival Hamlet at the Rose Theatre Brampton with Pakistani-Canadian star Ahad Raza, directed by Haysam Kadri a graduate of the Birmingham Conservatory at the Stratford Festival. Shakespeare In The Ruins website

Tony Nappo is a Canadian actor who graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and has appeared in critically acclaimed television, film and stage productions. As well as discussing parenting and acting, Tony shares the story of how he managed to kick his drug habit after a 5-day bender that almost killed him. He also publishes the weekly column Nappoholics on https://www.intermissionmagazine.ca/

Bruce Dow is an award-winning performer who has played featured rolls on Broadway five times. When Broadway was shut down, Dow was in previews with the show "Diana." Dow who resides in Canada, was one of the thousands of people who work on Broadway that had to figure out their next steps. In our podcast you'll hear how the cast and crew working on "Diana" learned about the show closing down after Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City, has declared that all theaters close temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jonathan Goodwin is appearing in the show The Illusionists, which is at the Meridian Hall in Toronto from January 1st through January 5th. As well as performing in The Illusionists, Jonathan has appeared on many TV shows and has created theatrical magic for many performers, including Derrin Brown, who is currently on Broadway with his show Secret. Follow Jonathan: On Instagram  On Twitter 

Gavin Crawford is one of Canada's most creative and exciting comedic performers. From his days at The Comedy Network to his years as a cast member of "This Hour Has Twenty Two Minutes," to his recent work as host of CBC Radio's "Because News" Crawford's unique sense of humour always shines brightly. In January, Crawford stars in the one-person show "Fully Committed" at the Grand Theatre in London.   In the podcast, you'll learn about how he prepares for his performance in which de is 40 different characters. And you won't believe what he said to Andrew Lloyd Webber when he was hosting the Canadian version of the reality show "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?," which aired on CBC in the summer of 2008. We also discuss his path from graduating with a BFA Acting from the University of British Columbia to joining Toronto's improvisation comedy troupe The Second City.

Tracey is a director and choreographer whose international credits include productions in the West End, South Africa and Asia. She also directed the U.S. National Tour of Queen's "We Will Rock You." AJ Bridel is a genuine triple threat. Her performance in the Toronto production of "Kinky Boots" received rave reviews. For two years, she starred in the title role in "Anne of Green Gables" at the Charlottetown Festival. Currently, AJ's starring in the new Ross Petty's family musical "Lil Red Robin Hood" which is directed and choreograph

Best known to hundreds of thousands of comedy fans as the host of CBC Radio's "The Debaters" there is no debate that Steve Patterson is North America's funniest and least moderate debate moderator.  As a solo comedian Steve spent two decades touring around the world.  Twice named Canada's Best Male Stand-Up at the Canadian Comedy Awards, Steve has also taken his award-winning humour to the literary world with "The Book of Letters I Didn't Know Where to Send."  In our interview, you'll discover how growing up in a single-parent family influenced his ability to make people laugh. Steve also shares a story about a high school music teacher in London, Ontario, that influenced his path to making a living as a performer.

Michael Healey has gone from writing a play that debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival to having his work appear at the Stratford Festival. It's an impressive trajectory that includes writing "The Drawer Boy," one of the most-produced plays in North America. Healey discusses everything from how he writes scenes to his process in the rehearsal room. Healey, who has suffered from depression, opens up about his path from the days he could barely get out of bed to his most productive and happy days. I enjoy Healey's political comedy and his sense of humor truly shines in our chat.

Donny Most, is best known for his role as Ralph Malph on the hit TV show "Happy Days." Most explains how Henry Winkler went against his director's wishes to create a defining moment in the development of his character Fonzie. He shares stories about working with "Happy Days" creator Garry Marshall who went on to develop other popular shows such as "Mork and Mindy" and more recently "Pretty Woman" and "The Princess Diaries." Most is currently performing in "ART" at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. The production runs until October 20. "Art," which won the Tony for Best Play, delves into male bonding in a hilarious yet touching way.   More info about "Art": Click Drayton Entertainment

Liisa Repo-Martell is an intense actor. She has performed Shakespeare with Keanu Reeves, co-created innovative theatrical hybrids exploring documentary, academic and artistic work. In April 2020 you can see Liisa at the Globe Theatre in Regina, Saskatchewan in The Boy in the Moon is the true story of a family's journey raising their son Walker, who suffers from an extremely rare genetic disorder.   Thanks to Stratford Tea Leaves for sponsoring The Performers Podcast.  

Keith Dinicol is a Canadian actor currently appearing in Drayton Entertainment's stellar production of “Twelve Angry Men.” As Keith mentions in our podcast director Marti Maraden has assembled a cast of top actors including Neil Barclay, Skye Brandon, Benedict Campbell and Cyrus Lane just to name a few. As an actor with decades as a company member with the largest repertory company in North America, The Stratford Festival, Keith has worked on everything from Shakespeare to Strindberg and Stoppard. Dinicol traces his roots back to the early days of the Stratford Festival, where other than Tyrone Guthrie he's worked with every artistic director, either as an actor or director. He also shares memories of working with his father-in-law John Neville at Edmonton's Citadel Theatre and Stratford.

Tracey Power is the writer and choreographer behind “Glory” a play that the Globe and Mail called a “bittersweet, entertaining and uplifting sports drama.” I saw Glory and loved it. Tracey shares her process behind uncovering the true story of a group of scrappy women who defy the stereotypes of their time and become national hockey legends - in the 1930s. The play that debuted at the Western Canada Theatre Company in British Columbia is on stage now, and runs until July 20th, in Southwestern Ontario thanks to the folks at Drayton Entertainment.

Ma-Anne Dionisio is best known for originating the role of Kim in the Canadian production of "Miss Saigon" and subsequently performing around the world. She currently plays Diana Goodman in the Musical Stage Company's production of "Next to Normal" in Toronto. Ma-Anne shares how she went from being a 17-year-old nerd to an international musical theatre sensation. Ma-Anne reminds us that actors who portray mental illness on stage need self-care practices off stage to help them cope with the stress. She is also very candid about her experience as a single mother working in theatre. Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Stratford Tea Leaves Guaranteed Extraordinary Quality Tea

For over three decades, Tony Award-winner Bob Martin has worked as an actor and writer. Early in his career, Martin was directing for Second City in Toronto. He's also written for TV, with the Chicago Tribune calling Slings and Arrows "one of the most loving satires to have ever graced television." He 's best known for writing and starring in the hilarious The Drowsy Chaperone, for which Martin won the 2006 Tony Award for "Best Book of a Musical." His most recent Broadway show, The Prom, received 7 Tony Award nominations. We talk about how the revision process is crucial to a great script Martin updates us on the Broadway adaptations of The Princess Bride, NIght at the Museum and Slings and Arrows. And Martin explains why it can be emotionally challenging to watch a performance of The Drowsy Chaperone. Follow Bob Martin on Twitter. Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs Plate Save 50% on a week's worth of delicious food

David Stones is a poet based in Stratford Ontario. His poems have been published internationally and won awards. Recently he's been performing a stage adaptation of his book poems titled “Infinite Sequels.” On stage Stones is accompanied by a violinist which ads an imaginative aspect to his words. The London Free Press' Joe Belanger noted that “‘Infinite Sequels' is a brilliant, beautiful piece of theatre. Stone recites his poignant poetry with mostly subtle gesture, movement and animated face, asking us to face moments and questions about our lives we may not have even recognized.” In our conversation Stones admits his love of poetry goes back to his youth confessing that it was only later in life after his career and kids were no longer a pressing concern that he found the freedom to truly hone his work and share it publically. He talks about his creative process, his inspiration Dylan Thomas and Leonard Cohen to name a few, and the intersection of poetry and social media. PODCAST SHOW NOTES: David Stones Website David Stone on Instagram Ladies and Gentlemen… Mr. Leonard Cohen – watch for free at NFB.ca Follow on Twitter. Follow on Instagram Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs Plate Save 50% on a week's worth of delicious food  

Dave Merheje won the Juno award for best comedy album with his 2018 release “Good Friend Bad Grammar.” I've been hoping to interview Merheje since I first saw him perform a killer set at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. His rhythmic comedic style celebrates family and personal frustrations that truly spoke to me, not only as a fan of comedy but more significantly as a father and a son. He's on the Netflix special "Comedians of the World." Watch for his upcoming regular appearance in the Hulu show “Ramy,” with Ramy Youssef, which starts streaming April 19. Follow Dave on Twitter. Follow Dave on Facebook. Follow Dave on Instagram. Thanks to my sponsors:AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food    

Kate Lumpkin is the founder and lead casting director of Kate Lumpkin Casting, CSA. We discuss the importance of making a good self-tape for auditions, the growing demand for actors who can handle experiential theatre, why knowing who you are as a human is the most important thing that informs you as an artist, and lots more! Kate has collectively worked on over 40 film/TV productions, and 80 theatrical productions in New York City and across the USA including shows at The Kennedy Center and many others. She's also the Head of Education for the Broadway Collective - a training academy for young performers looking to break into the industry. Follow on Twitter. Follow on Instagram Thanks to my sponsors:AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food

Alexis Gordon is one of the young stars of Canadian theatre. Her work at the Stratford Festival (Carousel, the Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, Coriolanus, The Tempest...) has been getting great reviews. In the upcoming summer theatre season she'll be at the Shaw Festival - one of several Stratford Festival Company members making the move to Shaw in 2019. We discuss that change along with her work under the renowned directors Robert Lepage and Donna Feore. Follow Alexis Gordon on Twitter. Follow Alexis Gordon on Instagram. Thanks to my sponsors:AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food    

Colm Feore is one of North America's top classically trained actors who has appeared on stages around the world, on the big screen and on television. We discuss his stage work on Broadway with Denzel Washington, his film work with Judi Dench & Vin Diesel, his work at the Stratford Festival, and more. Colm is married to the very busy director / choreographer Donna Feore so I asked him how they manage to have a successful marriage and raise their children while working around the world. Thanks to my sponsors:AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food  

As a performer, your lifestyle is not the same as the average person's daily 9-to-5 routine. You're up late, you have busy rehearsal schedules, you eat when you can because despite whatever is happening in your life the show must go on! So when I had the chance to speak with Julieanna Hever and Ray Cronise i was thanking my lucky stars. Their approach to nutrition is saving lives - just ask Penn Jillette or Kevin Smith. Julieanna and Ray wrote "The Idiot's Guide to Plant Based Nutrition." The book goes deep into the science of nutrition but also has super-handy summaries at the end of each chapter with a list of "The Least you need to know." The book has everything from how to equip your kitchen, ( I loved the bit about handy utensils) to a chapter on the plant-based pregnancy. Julieanna Hever completed her bachelors of arts degree in Theatre from UCLA and then went on to do a masters of science degree in Nutrition from Cal State Northridge, thus bridging her three biggest passions for life food, performing, and helping people. Ray Cronise is a former NASA scientist currently focused on disrupting diet and nutrition advice. He helped Penn Jillette, and Kevin Smith recover from near-death experiences and has helped thousands of others regain the youthful vitality that comes with proper nutrition. Show Notes Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition by Julieanna Hever and Raymond J. Cronise. The Instant Pot. A a versatile multi-cooker that can do the job of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and more. Every kitchen should have an

Barry Anderson is an actor and songwriter based in New York City. On Broadway, Barry has appeared in 'Legally Blonde The Musical' and 'Jersey Boys.' However, it's Barry's international performances with the touring company of 'Jersey Boys' that interested me most. He performed over 2,000 times with the tour! How do you keep healthy and happy while on the road for over six years? Barry managed that, and he shares the secrets of his success in our conversations. Barry grew up in the tiny rural town of Osseo, Wisconsin and our conversation begins with Barry sharing the story of his first visit to Manhattan. Follow Barry on Twitter. Follow Barry on Instagram Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food

Phil Rickaby is an actor, playwright and founding member of keystone Theatre. Phil is also the host of the Toronto theatre podcast “Stageworthy.” We also compare notes on religion, our theatre training and Phil's family life, before we move into his writing process.  Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food

Charlotte Gowdy is a graduate of the National Theatre School in Montreal and Ecole Philipe Gaulier in Paris. As an actor, she's played lead roles at the Shaw Festival and theatres across Canada. These days she's making a career transition as she follows her heart's desire to direct! As well as a career transition, Charlotte has gone through some personal transformations including quitting alcohol and becoming a vegan. This episode is packed with great tips for actors and directors. Charlotte shares what she's learned working with the critically acclaimed artistic directors Chris Abraham, Tim Carroll and Jillian Keiley. Charlotte, who is also a competitive athlete, shares some of the secrets to maintaining a healthy lifestyle while working under the precarious conditions of freelance life. She also discusses her work directing Anna Chatterton's "Within the Glass" with Troubadour Theatre Collective.   Books Mentioned: Healthier Leaner Energetic You by Leslie Beck. Smoothie Nutrition by Victoria Boutenko. Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition by Julieanna Hever and Raymond J. Cronise. Sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Stratford Tea Leaves. The world's best, freshest and most exotic loose-leaf teas. Click here.  

Johnny Thompson is one of the most respected minds in magic. These days he works with Penn & Teller on both their TV show "Fool Us" and their show at the Rio in Las Vegas. His passion for show business began at a young age, and he was drawn to carny sideshow. Thompson shares the story of the evolution of his career from a pitchman to sewer worker, jazz musician, orchestrator and magician. Along the way, Thompson refined both his comedy and magical skills which led to the creation of his nightclub act The Great Tomsoni & Co. When was the last time you had the chance to spend fifty minutes with a living legend reflecting on his life? It was an honour for me, and I hope you find the time for this intimate interview. Thompson's secrets have been collected in a two-volume publication: "The Magic of Johnny Thompson." It includes contributions from Teller and Lance Burton both of whom learned significantly from Thompson and both of whom we discuss in the interview. Other magicians who come up in the interview include Piff the Magic Dragon, Marshall Brodien and the inventor of the "bra trick" Howard Brooks. Get details about the "The Magic of Johnny Thompson" and watch archival video at Magicana   Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food    

The ticketing institute helps you drive more audience development and that means more new people, attending more shows, more often. Andrew is also the force behind the Ticketing Professionals Conference and a board member of the International Ticketing Association. If you produce plays or any kind of show, you'll enjoy this episode. Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food

Mark Crawford is a playwright and actor. His play "The Birds and the Bees," which premiered in 2016 at the Blyth Festival and quickly became one of the most-produced Canadian plays of the decade, is runs at the Huron Country Playhouse II until Sept. 1. His most recent play, "The New Canadian Curling Club," premiered at the Blyth Festival in 2018. We discuss his writing process and the impact of production budgets on his artistic process. He shares one of the best ever audition stories that changed his life but not in the way you'd think. Follow Mark on Twitter: @markjdcrawford Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food

Mike Shara is one of Canada's most accomplished actors with multiple seasons at the Stratford Festival and the Shaw Festival. He covers a wide range of topics from his time at Theatre School to the limitations of acting in Canadian television. Mike's worst audition story is a classic and, even better, he has some great thoughts on how to avoid blowing the audition before you even open your mouth. We discuss working with director Chris Abram on The Matchmaker and Othello. Mike opens up about the struggles he faced learning Shakespeare and how participating in team sports impacts his work. Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food  

For 20 years Wayne Turmel worked as a stand-up comedian touring throughout North America, headlining clubs and concerts. He appeared on the TV show “Evening at the Improv” and opened for bands such as Chicago and Hall and Oates. In his mid-life, Wayne began a second career in business development and training. He now helps clients around the world learn to present, sell, and lead people and projects when they're not all in the same place. Wayne has also written novels, in the podcast, we discuss his newest work of historical fiction, Acre's Bastard, whose central character is a half Syrian, half French child caught up in the madness of a holy war. Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs PlateSave 50% on a week's worth of delicious food    

Ken Davenport is a Broadway producer whose credits include Once On This Island, The Play That Goes Wrong, Groundhog Day, Deaf West Theatre's Spring Awakening, Macbeth starring Alan Cumming, Godspell, and Kinky Boots just to name a few. You'll find out how he financed his first few shows and the marketing strategy he used to promote them with limited resources. Thanks to my sponsors: AnthroDesk The best sit/stand desk. Details here. Chefs Plate Save 50% on a week's worth of delicious food  

Nora McLellan is one of Canada's most celebrated and respected actors. In this episode we begin by discussing her early days in Vancouver and move forward to the Shaw Festival and her recent performance in the Annie Baker play "John." McClellan is candid about the ups and downs of life and the arts as well as some of the lessons she's learned to improve her acting skills working under the direction of some of North America's finest directors. Currently, you can see McClellan in "Shirley Valentine," at the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia.   Save 50% off your Chefs Plate order

My son Cole began reading Philip Roy's “Submarine Outlaw” series at age 7 and he's rediscovering them again now. It's perfect summer reading for the kids. Roy's book “Me and Mr. Bell” has been translated into Japanese and selected as one of the books for a Japanese book review contest sponsored by the School Library Association in Japan and Mainichi Newspaper chain. He only began writing professionally at age 31. Here in Canada Philip is a nominee for the Red Maple Award and the Silver Birch Award. Philip has sat on provincial literary juries, Canada Council juries, and he sat across from me for an to discuss his life and creative process. Save 50% off your Chefs Plate order Philip Roy's book Submarine Outlaw

Steffi DiDomenicantonio is currently performing in the Toronto production of "Come From Away." At the age of 29, she's achieved great things, and I know her career is just beginning. Although Steffi rose to national prominence as a finalist in the 2006 season of "Canadian Idol," she's been a musical theatre performer for most of her life. In our conversation, Steffi explains the secret to her success and how a vision board helped her focus on a dream gig performing in the first Broadway national tour of "Spring Awakening." We also talk about her television work on "Crawford" with Mike Clattenburg, best known as a creator, writer and director of the comedy series "Trailer Park Boys." Save 50% on Chef's Plate Steffi on Twitter | Instagram  

Murray is best known for his work as bassist in the Canadian bands Moxy Früvous and Great Big Sea. In 2014, he directed the Independent Film, "The Cocksure Lads Movie" which is now being developed into a musical "Chelsea Sunrise" with the Canadian Music Theatre Project at Sheridan College. You'll hear how he wrote the songs for the play and why he never received the investment he was offered when he appeared on the TV show "Dragon's Den." Murray's Website: http://www.murrayfoster.ca/ The Secret Life of The American Musical on Amazon  

Chris Boyce is the Co-Founder and Executive Producer at Pacific Content, who produce podcasts for big brands including Shopify's “TGIM” and Slack's the “Slack Variety Pack” which Fast Company described as “‘This American Life,' meets ‘The Office,' meets ‘Monty Python.'” I spoke with Chris at Podcamp Toronto, in 2016. Chris' background includes his term as Executive Director, Radio/Audio, and Director of Program Development for CBC Radio, overseeing the development and launch of the broadcaster's new generation of programming including "Q," "Under the Influence," "The Debaters," and "Spark." In our podcast, Chris discusses the value of figuring out "what is the story I'm trying to tell" before you begin your interview. The value of eliciting emotions and drama from your guests because the host or narrator can provide the fact. We play a podcast clip that demonstrate how to create the audio illusion you are recording on location with your guest when you are actually recording from your office on Skype or Zencaster. Chris provides information for freelance podcast producers hoping to work with Pacific Content. Show Notes Pacific Content Zencaster Shopify TGIM podcast

Are you a risk taker? Have you managed to find a balance between the creative process and earning a good living? As a writer, David Merry has written jokes for legendary comedians including Joan Rivers and Rodney Dangerfield. As a magician, he's invented some spectacular tricks And as a comedian, he's one the most “in-demand” performers I've worked with doing hundreds of shows each year. Through all of this David's taken risks and he opens up about the ups and downs of his many ventures. David's a lifelong learner who's in the process of meeting the requirements to become a member of the Director's Guild of Canada, but most impressive is that through all the ups and downs and transitions in his entertainment career he's been a great husband and father. SHOW NOTES David's Website DavidMerry.com David Merry on YouTube David's New Year's Eve show in Ottawa with Ben Miner and Jessica Holmes! Info and tickets

Bethany Joy Lenz stars in the new movie “Snowed Inn Christmas” premiering on Lifetime, Saturday, December 16 at 8 pm. Canadian readers can see it on W Network Sunday, December 17 at 6 pm. The Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press picked “Snowed Inn Christmas” as a TV highlight of the week with the latter adding it's a “feel-good movie… about a woman (Bethany Joy Lenz) and man (Andrew Walker), who have nothing in common – until they're called upon to help save the historic town inn located in Santa Claus, Indiana.” Lenz plays a button-down journalist who, like her character in “One Tree Hill,” is smart and knows who she is – at least until she gets trapped on assignment with a colleague she's competing with to save her job. The setting, a gorgeous turn of the century Victorian home in Santa Claus, Indiana (a real town), provides a romantic and mysterious backdrop where the journalists discover the stories of their lives. As well as appearing in “Snowed Inn Christmas” Lenz recently joined the cast of “Grey's Anatomy.” In the podcast, we cover everything from her appearances on the daytime soap “Guiding Light” to “One Tree Hill” and her new role in “Grey's Anatomy.” She opens up about the time she auditioned for "Once" on Broadway, it didn't go well, and a new Broadway musical she's written. SHOW NOTES Bethany Joy Lenz on Instagram Bethany Joy Lenz on Twitter Bethany Joy Lens on iTunes Snowed Inn Christmas on TV Lifetime - Saturday, December 16 at 8pm. W Network (Canada) - Sunday, December 17 at 6pm.  

As well as playing lead roles on Broadway, Ilana Levine has worked with iconic film directors including Sydney Lumet and Robert Altmann. We talk about her experiences working with, and learning from actors who have won Tony Awards and Academy Awards.  She has appeared in many television shows including Law and Order and Seinfeld. As you'll hear, Ilana is married to an actor and they have two kids. Ilana is very candid about the struggles they faced as they worked to create a stable, loving environment for the kids to grow up in while pursuing the mercurial success of careers in show business. Click here for her podcast "Little Known Facts." Follow on Instagram. Follow on Twitter.

How do you raise 1 million dollars for your theatre? Dennis Garnhum is the Artistic Director of the Grand Theatre, in London, Ontario. Within a few months of taking on the new job he, along with development team, raised 1 million dollars for the theatre. Garnhum Grew up in London, and he was 13 years old when he first appeared on stage at the Grand. Later he was an usher, stage manager and eventually, in 2004, he and his husband, Bruce Sellery (also from London) married in the balcony at The Grand. Before arriving at the Grand, Dennis was the Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary since 2005 where, as well as developing new plays, he built some impressive partnerships with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, the Shaw Festival and Bard on the Beach. So our conversation leans towards the business of running a theatre and finding a life balance. Show Notes The Grand Theatre's website

Emm Gryner has found the sweet spot between being an independent artist and raising a family. In her early 20s Gryner had a hit song on the radio, toured with David Bowie and then transitioned to a successful career as an independent artist. Her songwriting has been praised by the likes of Bono and we discuss how a songwriting contest led to her radio hit. We discuss the difference between writing a hit for radio and writing to explore her own feelings. Gryner was also the driving force behind the recording of Bowie's "Space Oddity," by Chris Hadfield, in outer space while he was the commander of the International Space Station.  As well as touring to support her own work Gryner is also the founder of the popular folk act "Trent Severn." Watch for Gryner's upcoming project "Only of Earth," an 80's synth-pop and 70's classic rock-infused album. Show Notes. Emm Gryner's website Video:  Emm Gryner and Joe Sumner celebrate David Bowie at Terminal 5 in New York  

Cyrus Lane has appeared in many productions with the Stratford Festival, Outside the March, and CBC TV's Murdoch Mysteries. He's currently rehearsing for his role as Ebenezer Scrooge in Ross Petty's “A Christmas Carol the Family Musical with a Scrooge Loose!” at the Elgin theatre in Toronto. At this year's Stratford Festival he appeared in “Timon of Athens,” “The Changeling” and “The Madwoman of Chaillot,” all of which received consistently glowing reviews. But it was his work in last year's “Macbeth” that bodes well for his role as Scrooge in Petty's perennially popular pantomime. Scroll down for your chance to win a family pack of 4 tickets to see “A Christmas Carol the Family Musical with a Scrooge Loose!” Lane, is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In our podcast Lane discusses his work as an understudy to Ian Lake's Macbeth. Lane was given very short notice before he took on the role at Stratford's legendary festival stage. He played the role for two weeks and describes the role of Macbeth as being "the loneliest part ever written." Click to Win tickets to Ross Petty's A Christmas Carol  

Randy Lennox is the President of Bell Media, Canada's leading content creation company with assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media.  Previously Lennox was the CEO of Universal Music Canada the country's largest music record label, where he signed and championed internationally renowned Canadian artists. In our podcast we discuss how Lennox, along with David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl and Tony Smith, produced Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell for the stage. Steinman's anthemic rock songs form the foundation of a magical stage experience that transports audiences to another world courtesy director, and multimedia-theater pioneer, Jay Scheib's use of musical theatre and opera traditions layered with alluring, multi-camera video projections. Bat Out of Hell is unlike anything that has come before it and Lennox addresses the risks, and rewards, associated with producing such an extravaganza. For more details on the show visit http://batoutofhellmusical.com/ For Toronto tickets visit: https://www.mirvish.com/shows/bat-out-of-hell Follow Bat Out of Hell on Twitter: @BatTheMusical 

Donna Feore has choreographed performances at the Opéra National de Lyon France and the Canadian Opera Company but she's best known for her work directing at the Stratford Festival, North America's largest classical repertory theatre company. Her work at the festival includes critically acclaimed productions, all with new choreography of "Guys and Dolls," "The Sound of Music," and "Fiddler on the Roof," just to name a few. In 2016 she gained notoriety for directing the first ever professional production of "A Chorus Line" with all new, original choreography which Feore created. I spoke with Feore about her work directing and choreographing the world premiere of "The Hockey Sweater," a new musical is based on the beloved short story by Roch Carrier. The animated short film adaptation of Carrier's story received the Best Animated Film award at the 1981 British Academy Film Awards. We talk about the creative process behind adapting the story to a stage musical. Feore, who is known for seeking out the best actors, also talks about her audition process and what she expects from actors.

Raoul Bhaneja is producing and starring in the upcoming production of "Disgraced." The Pulitzer Prize winning play returns to the Panasonic Theatre in Toronto on November 11 after a critically acclaimed run in 2016. The play deals with faith, politics and the notion of "tolerance." The powerful subject matter draws in audiences that, as Bhaneja mentions in the podcast, stay in their seats after the show for heated exchanges during the post-performance "talk backs." We also discuss how actors of colour face struggles in landing leading roles, despite the movement towards "colourblind casting." Those struggles were, in part, the impetus behind Bhaneja's drive to produce and appear in a solo version of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" that played in New York and London to critical acclaim.  Show Notes Follow Raoul on Facebook Follow Raoul on Twitter Get a $92 ticket for $35 with the promo code Raoul35 Use the promo code at: https://www.mirvish.com/shows/disgraced

For almost 30 years Brian D. Johnson was the film critic and Arts writer for Macleans, Canada's top current affairs magazine. His work as a critic explored art with the insight of not only a passionate observer but also an accomplished artist with a fascination of the human condition. Brian's directorial debut, the documentary “Al Purdy Was Here,” is a beautiful piece of work on many levels, I think you'll really enjoy our chat. It spans everything from Brian's working relationship with Leonard Cohen to his working relationship with his son. Incidentally we recorded last year prior to Leonard Cohen's passing. Our conversation begins with the fact that more films than ever are being made in Canada but there are less “Canadian” films. Follow @briandjohnson on Twitter Al Purdy Was Here on iTunes Advertisers This Week: Stratford Tea Leaves SpringWorks Indie Arts Festival

Best-selling author Jeff Goins's most recent book is "Real Artists Don't Starve." You'll learn how Goins dismantled the myths about starving artists by painstakingly researching successful artists. We cover the basics like why working alone can be a barrier to success and how thriving artists aren't reluctant to borrow (steal, really) from their influencers. It's a great chat that will help you figure out what might be holding back your career, or provide you with some actionable tactics to help artists around you. Real Artists Don't Starve at Amazon. For more about Jeff Goins visit https://goinswriter.com/  

E.B. Smith grew up with a father who, as baseball player with Chicago Cubs, understood what it meant to dream. The Chicago Cubs hold Major League Baseball's longest championships drought going from 1908 to 2016 without winning a world series. Smith's father understood the value of hard work and practice in pursuit of a dream. So when Smith's dream of performing on the Festival stage at The Stratford Festival finally came true he took his father on a tour of the theatre to share his joy and excitement of performing in the legendary theatre. Together they snuck onto the thrust stage and Smith's father had the opportunity to stand where legendary actors from Brian Bedford and Len Cariou to Maggie Smith and Jessica Tandy have performed. Looking around the theatre from centre stage Smith's father said “This is the big leagues. This is your Wrigley Field,” comparing the Festival stage to Chicago's legendary baseball park. Smith's mother was an academic, in our conversation Smith describes his home life as an eclectic scene with athletes, deep thinkers and a grandfather with a great sense of humor. Our podcast covers Smith's path to success, from his home in Chicago to university in Ohio and life as an American born actor working in Canada.

Mya Gosling is the creator of the popular webcomic Good Tickle Brain, the world's foremost and possibly only stick-figure Shakespeare webcomic. I love Mya's work, she makes Shakespeare super fun. Based on our conversation it's clear to me that her primary goal is to share her love of Shakespeare with others, and that's a good thing. So naturally I spent a bit of time in our podcast talking with My about how she makes money from her Good Tickle Brain webcomic. Of course we also talk about Shakespeare and her favourite shows on the playbill at the Stratford Festival. No spoilers here, you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out. Show Notes Good Tickle Brain Lady Macbeth's relationship advice Utah Shakespeare Festival @bardfilm The University of Iowa's film studies page about “Omkara,” composer/director Vishal Bhardwaj's transposition of the story of “Othello” to the landscape and culture of contemporary eastern Uttar Pradesh Mya at the Stratford Festival Forum Wed., September 6, 10:45 am to 12 pm Info and tickets

Joanne has performed stand-up comedy across the country, she's also done storytelling at the Stratford Festival's “Late Night with Lucy Peacock cabarets,” and improvisation for four seasons of “Sin City,” Toronto's popular live, improvised soap opera. She's been a writer on the hit TV shows "This Hour has Twenty Two Minutes" and the "Baroness Von Sketch Show." Plus she's had a hit Fringe Festival show and is about to debut her new show “She Grew Funny” at the Toronto Fringe.   We talk about a course Joanne took to help her write her second Fringe Festival show and the impact of having a daughter on her career.

Gil Garratt is the artistic director at the Blyth Festival, which focuses on new play development and work with rural themes. Plays developed at Blyth have been produced around the world, which is impressive especially considering Blyth is a rural town of 1,000 people. In our conversation Garratt shares his progressive thoughts on the Canadian dramaturgical and development process, adding that working on comedies can be the most divisive of all genres. I have witnessed, in the rehearsal of comedy, more relationships destroyed, friendships obliterated over the course of the comedy, than I have working in tragedy. Garratt graduated from the National Theatre School's Playwriting Program and holds an Honours BA from the University of Waterloo, and an MA from the University of Guelph.