Sarnia Famous

Happy Friday theatre lovers! This weeks guest is Valerie Schmidt. Val is a funky, tatted, altruistic babe with maybe a bit of a mischievous side.  We chat about the unique and surprising way keyboards are used in theatre productions, how being on the keys grants her access to parts of the theatre process not everyone is privy to and finally she gives me a brief insight on her work with the medically fragile and Alzheimer’s patients. On with the show!

Happy Friday theatre lovers. This week’s guest is Brent Wilkinson. Brent is a kind, modest, natural ideas guy who is super easy to talk to. We chat about his work as a creative writer for radio, how that links to his theatre experience, and I learned that Brent is a master, albeit a modest one, of Simpsons voices as well as many others. On with the show!

Happy Friday…..book lovers?!?! This week we gonna spice things up a little with the multi-talented Katelyn Shortreed. Katelyn is a fellow librarian, music teacher, and recently she has written, illustrated, and self published a series of books. Mini Melody Explores is not only children’s fiction but a music resource with immense potential. When Katelyn first told me about her book series I immediately knew I needed to tell everyone I know about it – and so, here we are! One last note before we begin, if you catch some odd grunting sounds that is Katelyn’s puppy, not me, grunting encouragement.

Happy Friday theatre lovers! This week’s guest is Frank Brennan. Frank is warm and naturally funny without meaning to be, intelligent and obviously passionate about music and his career. We talk about his 31 years as a teacher, what it was like to compete in music festivals with his family when was younger, and we even talk about what types of books he likes to read which made my heart extra happy. I only wish you could see Franks facial expressions when my mic picked up something loud – absolutely priceless. 

Happy Friday theatre lovers! This week’s guest is Jeff Mantha. Jeff is animated, goofy, and a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic. We chat about how he sacrifices his body for the art of theatre and how films, and in particular classic films, have shaped his personality especially his natural urge to mimic certain actors. This episode is a, uh, a little sweary. I tried to bleep it out, but I would still shield your children accordingly. 

Happy Friday theatre lovers, this week’s guest is Lee Bazeley fresh from the run of Fox on the Fairway at the Imperial. We talk about his penchant for purchasing instruments he can’t play, how Ruth “bullied” him into getting involved in the theatre, his awkward one-on-one audition for Beauty and the Beast. Lee is a self-proclaimed nervous dude but to me he was super chill to chat with. 

Happy Friday theatre lovers! This week’s guest is Kip McMillan who couldn’t be more likeable and genuine if he tried. Kip and I chat about his journey from hard rock bands to theatre musicals, why its important to be open to the expertise of others, and along the way he warmly and enthusiastically sings the praises of his peers. O

Happy Friday theatre lovers! This weeks guest is Brittany Jenkins who constantly blew my mind with her sage like wisdom, she is truly erudite beyond measure. She opens up about how meditation has helped her through dark times, she provides a unique perspective on the incorporation of various art mediums in the theatre space, and finally she drops some interesting behind the scenes deets that may surprise you about Jay Peckham’s Christmas Carol. 

Happy Friday theatre lovers! This weeks guest is the triple threat Liv Gogas. Liv is another extremely talented and gorgeous woman to be on the show who surprised me with her insecurities. If you are out there listening and identify as a chubby nerd like me, know that even the most gorgeous and shapely ladies have insecurities too. We also chat about funny theatre mishaps Liv has experienced mostly involving staircases and spontaneously putting her body at risk. On with the show!

Happy Friday theatre lovers! This weeks guest is Cassandra Lynn Smith and we chat about how movies and television have formed us throughout life in positive and negative ways, and what a movie marathon looked like to her as a kid, and she reminisces on being a basic white girl in the 90s. Cass is naturally funny, eloquent, relatable and just extremely easy to talk to. Oo! Warning there are a couple of b-grade swears in this episode.