Standing By

To wrap up Season 2, I wanted to do something fun for all. Over the course of my interviews, I asked each of my guests to submit questions for ME to answer - oh, how the tables have turned! From how I got into theatre and what I like to snack on backstage, to what I do outside the industry and... more about what I like to eat, you'll hear a delightful smattering of responses to some very entertaining questions. When you're in the midst of some challenging pandemic times and can only hang out with your household, I had to turn to my trusty bubble co-host, my audio wizard, Greg! He's been a requested guest over the last two seasons, so we chat about how he got into the audiovisual world, what it's like running a company in this industry during a pandemic, and what his favourite thing is about me (jk). I can't say thank you enough to everyone for tuning in this season and for sharing this podcast with those you love, and I hope to be back soon. In the meantime,  stay happy, stay healthy, and please enjoy Burning Questions with Maddy & Greg!

The final guest episode of 2020 brings you true theatre royalty: production designer Drew Facey! Is there anything this human can’t do? Answer is: NO! Drew has spent a good chunk of his super cool life designing many sets and many, MANY costumes for shows all across the country. I learned about his diverse background in the arts, how he branched into theatre design, and that he won’t be caught dead in Montreal in the winter 🙅🏼‍♀️ Drew has recently transitioned his practice from the walls of a theatre to the walls of your home, working in interior design and 3D visualization (yes, it’s as cool as it sounds!). Drew may be my final guest, but, don’t fear: I have one more surprise headed your way next Monday! I can’t think of a better way to cap off this run of episodes, so please enjoy Standing By with Drew Facey! 

Meghan is here to make your Monday brighter! She is currently the assistant producer at a little-known company... The Shaw Festival? Maybe you've heard of it. She's also a superstar stage manager who is killing the game! We converse about her journey as an Apprentice Stage Manager, the joy that theatre brings to her life, and what her dreams are for the future. We also talk about how she navigates this pandemic-laden world, finding ways to bring art to audiences in a safe and entertaining way. I would be remiss not to mention Meghan's alternate personality: she is a "procrastineator", and has managed to find the best food in many parts of the world, and she posts about it on her food account (@thefrobelly) so you can eye it up with jealousy and desperation. Thanks for tuning in each week, and for continuing to share this little podcast - it's greatly appreciated!  Hit up Meghan on Insta to see all that she's busy with (@meghanfrobo), and I hope you enjoy this joyful episode with Meghan Froebelius!

For a sweet, sweet start to your week, begin here with Sabrina Stace! Sabrina is a wardrobe technician and up-and-coming costume designer who can sew a clasp faster than you can blink. We crossed paths last year at the Banff Centre, and it was such a treat to catch up with her and get filled in on all she's up to. We talk about her initiation to Wardrobe Land (and what made her stay!), how she enjoys giving back to students through her workshops at Mt. Allison University, and what it was like travelling the country with Ballet Jörgen. She is also saving the world during this pandemic and sewing up a storm, creating custom masks for all, near and far. Check out her Instagram for info on how to get yours, and see all the wonderful work she has created: @stace_sabrina. Thanks to those who continue to share, rate, and listen, and I hope you enjoy the utterly lovely Sabrina Stace!

This Monday brings a super special episode, featuring the Queen of Green: Julia McLellan! Not only is she a Kinky Boots Broadway alum and kickass vocal coach (@coachwithjulia), she has a passion for living and sharing her low-waste lifestyle. We talk about her touring travels, how much she loves teaching, and how her journey in learning about waste in our everyday lives brought her to where she is today. We also chat about her newest initiative - @canandiangreenalliance - which will bring greener practices to every corner of our industry. This episode is SO informative, and I'm super grateful to Julia for all of the knowledge, tips, and tricks she passed along. For all things waste-free, check out her page, @zerowastewarbler, and literally WATCH AND LEARN. As usual, thanks for tuning in, sharing, and enjoying this podcast. There's no way this episode can't improve your Monday, so get listening!

Swipe those Monday blues away with this week's new episode! Liam Befurt is a wiz: an Associate Technical Director, Tour TD, and the master of all things technical. Got lights? He will design them. Got sounds? He'll make your audio dreams come true. We chat about how his exposure to theatre at a young age sparked his interest about what happens behind the curtain, how his job has ebbed and flowed over the years, and his favourite experiences that push him to keep killing it! He also brought me wine. So. He rules! Make sure to subscribe and share, and enjoy your Monday with Liam Befurt!

Monday's here and so is Mack! Mr. Gordon is a jack-of-all-trades, and man of many talents, and always has his hands in numerous deliciously creative pies. He is an actor, writer, director, and producer, fashioning wonderful projects for all to enjoy. We chat about how he got into the business (no, like, actually great info, y'all!!), how he juggles his passions, and how Chance The Rapper convinced him to move to Chicago. His company, Theatre In The Dark, produced an amazingly neat show, "A War Of The Worlds" - a live, virtual audio drama - and you can see it from wherever you are until November 21st. Check out @theatre_dark on Instagram, or head to theatreinthedark.com for pay-what-you-can tickets! Thanks for continuing to listen, share, and send happy vibes, and I hope you enjoy Mack Gordon! 

Happy Monday, y’all! Today episode is a gooder. Krista and I met earlier this year within the podcast world - I was a guest on one of her episodes of her podcast, The Backstage Creative, and we got together again to release an episode for Standing By! She is a fantastically talented musician who gives us some insight about what it’s like to work in the arts, how she made her way into playing in theatre pits, and how the current state of the world is impacting our work. Make sure to check out her podcast and toss her some love, too - find it on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, and Stitcher. Thanks for subscribing, rating, and sharing, and happy listening!

Monday is here! And so is this great friend of mine. Christine is a fellow Stage Manager that I have known for a good, long while, and chatting with her is always a good time. We talk about about the painstaking process of applying for jobs, her (past and present!) journey through school, and the love we have for a certain show that is super close to both our hearts. Though she is stationed in BC, she has had the chance to explore the country, taking some awesome shows to many people around Canada.  She's the kindest soul you'll ever meet, and I hope you enjoy our conversation. Look forward to another new episode next Monday, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share. Many thanks to all you stellar listeners, and enjoy!

Double the fun for today's release day! The second of the two available episodes today features my conversation with a good pal that I love to hate: Richard Lam. We had a grand time talking about the one million titles he holds: on top of being an actor, also a musician, sound designer, music director, writer, producer, artistic director... the list goes on. We chat about racism in our industry, what it's like to be an Equity councillor, and how much he loves Home Hardware. Head to his Instagram to see what he's up to (@rickyslams) and be sure to check in with his band - James King and The Midnight Hours (@jk12hr) - to catch their new music coming soon. Make sure to listen to today's first episode with Tracey Power, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share! Thanks for listening, and please enjoy.