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.