The history of American acting methodologies and ways that we can eliminate trauma when teaching acting fundamentals.

Reflecting on American Acting Training in 2021

1. What is the history of teaching acting in musical theatre?
2. How has it affected actors negatively?
3. What can we do to better train actors without using trauma?

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Read the blog post of this episode that includes additional photos, videos and resources.

Visit the podcast website that includes a full transcript.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa

Email us at: [email protected]

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) interview Leo Yu-Ning Chang about his thoughts on the current state of musical theatre.

Visit the podcast website.

Leo Yu-Ning Chang is a bilingual performer and educator born and raised in Taiwan, where he co-founded an award-winning A Cappella Band-Guess What. Upon earning his M.F.A. degree in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University, Leo took the faithful leap. He moved to NYC and soon made his Off-Broadway debut in Revelation: The Musical. Leo is currently on faculty at Marymount Manhattan College and serving as a teaching artist at New York City Center. 

His selected credits include Bubble Boy, Farewell My Concubine (Reading), Mr. Holland’s Opus (Reading), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Company, The Full Monty, and Enchanted April. 

Follow Leo on Instagram, Facebook and his website.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa

Email us at: [email protected]

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) discuss the challenges associated with the role of the stage director.

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

podcast website

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa

Email us at: [email protected]

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee and Tim interview JoJo Siu and Sarah Timm about their thoughts on the current state of musical theatre through the lens of a costume designer. We also talk about their successful podcast The Costume Plot.

Join us on Clubhouse for our weekly podcast encore event with JoJo and Sarah on Thursday at 4pm PT.

JoJo Siu graduated from UCIrvine with her M.F.A. in Costume Design. She hails from Philadelphia, and has been working as a designer for film, opera, theatre and dance both nationally and internationally for over 10 years. She has worked with the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Santa Fe Opera, South Coast Repertory, Fullerton College, Chapman University, Backhaus Dance, OC Shakespeare Festival, Sierra Madre Playhouse, and Singapore Repertory Theatre, among many others. She is a huge advocate for Asian diversity within theatre, and loves when diversity and design can come together on the stage to represent storytelling. She loves theatre and film that is inspired by  folklore and magic--a storytelling tradition that is inherent to her own Chinese heritage and history. She’s participated in the (CAATA) Consortium of Asian American Theatres and Artists, is a member of USITT, and has designed for several world premieres, including The Trial of Dedan Kimathi, The Madres, and W.A.S.P. Her repertoire includes Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Othello, and Twelfth Night, Importance of Being Earnest, Toys in the Attic, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Evita, Spring Awakening, Eurydice, Waiting for Godot, Never the Sinner, and Blood Wedding. 

Sarah Timm is a costume designer and cutter/draper working in professional theatre in Orange County. She works primarily at South Coast Repertory and Fullerton College, and has twice competed in the Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic Con.

Follow Jojo on and Sarah's podcast entitled The Costume Plot on Instagram and their Podcast  website.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa

Email us at: [email protected]

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) discuss the problematic nature of, what is considered to be, the Golden Age of musical theatre.

Reflecting on the term “Golden Age” in 2021

1. What is the Golden Age?
2. Why have we put so much emphasis on it?
3. What are the problematic concepts with these musicals?
4. How do we approach these musicals now?

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Join us on Clubhouse this week on Thursday, April 1 at 5pm PT for a post show conversation.
Click here to join the event

podcast website

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa

Email us at: [email protected]

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) interview Gwendolyn Walker (she/her) about her thoughts on the current state of musical theatre.

Join us on Clubhouse for our weekly podcast encore event with Gwen.

Gwendolyn Walker is an Assistant Professor of Voice and Alexander Technique in Penn State’s BFA Musical Theatre program. She is also a graduate of the Contemporary Alexander School and is a certified Alexander Technique teacher. Her unique approach to training young artists from a somatic perspective as well as from a contemporary commercial vocal perspective has made her a sought-after guest artist and private teacher around the world. Prior to coming to Penn State, she was the Coordinator of the Voice Department at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. Gwen’s areas of research all relate back to reducing mental and physical anxiety for today’s artists. A passionate antiracist and activist, her most recent articles and presentations have been about tools for educators to address the current mental health crisis on college campuses, training transgender and gender non-binary humans, and how to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the voice studio and in the greater theatre industry. Gwen is an Equity Actress who has performed in National Tours, major regional houses, and off-Broadway. She maintains an active Voice and Alexander Technique Studio in New York City and her students can be seen in most shows on Broadway today.

Follow Gwen on Instagram, Facebook and her website.

podcast website

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa

Email us at: [email protected]

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) discuss their lessons learned in both the educational and professional arena of musical theatre during 2020 and the early part of 2021. 

• Will academia change course?
• How have we evolved as artists? 
• Are we optimistic about the future of the craft? 
• What actions are + can we continue to take as a community to make change happen?

We share our personal lessons learned that will shape our teaching and artistic decisions moving forward with the hope that the more we talk about this change the more others will join.

Podcast Encore Event in Clubhouse

podcast website

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa

Email us at: [email protected]

Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him)  introduce Season 2 of their podcast, Breaking the Fourth Wall.

Podcast Encore Event in Clubhouse

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa

Email us at: [email protected]

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Tim and Ashlee Espinosa discuss the upcoming Broadway revival of 1776 directed by Diane Paulus with a focus on inclusive casting. How do we continue the movement of casting folx in a more inclusive and supportive way just like Diane is doing right now?

This is the final episode of Season 1. We will be taking a break and seeing everyone back again in July with a new season that is going to include interviews of folx in the musical theatre industry that are making positive change with their work, their voice and their actions. 

Visit our podcast website for a transcription of this episode and all previous episodes of Breaking the Fourth Wall.

Visit our online homes:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa
@TheTimEspinosa

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Email us at: [email protected]

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Tim and Ashlee Espinosa discuss their favorite resources right now for creative outlets in quarantine isolation to further their creative outlets. The topic this week is focused on online teaching and how we can use distance education to continue to grow and learn as artists and educators. We share the tools we have found helpful when teaching online class and also coaching or consulting online for theatre and music theatre artists and students.

Visit our podcast website for a transcription of this episode and all previous episodes of Breaking the Fourth Wall.

Visit our online homes:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa
@TheTimEspinosa

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Email us at: [email protected]