Let's Grab Coffee Tyler Check

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