The Performers Podcast

Donny Most, is best known for his role as Ralph Malph on the hit TV show "Happy Days."

Most explains how Henry Winkler went against his director's wishes to create a defining moment in the development of his character Fonzie.

He shares stories about working with "Happy Days" creator Garry Marshall who went on to develop other popular shows such as "Mork and Mindy" and more recently "Pretty Woman" and "The Princess Diaries."

Most is currently performing in "ART" at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. The production runs until October 20.

"Art," which won the Tony for Best Play, delves into male bonding in a hilarious yet touching way.

More info about "Art":

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Liisa Repo-Martell is an intense actor. She has performed Shakespeare with Keanu Reeves, co-created innovative theatrical hybrids exploring documentary, academic and artistic work.

In April 2020 you can see Liisa at the Globe Theatre in Regina, Saskatchewan in The Boy in the Moon is the true story of a family's journey raising their son Walker, who suffers from an extremely rare genetic disorder.

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Keith Dinicol is a Canadian actor currently appearing in Drayton Entertainment's stellar production of "Twelve Angry Men." As Keith mentions in our podcast director Marti Maraden has assembled a cast of top actors including Neil Barclay, Skye Brandon, Benedict Campbell and Cyrus Lane just to name a few.

As an actor with decades as a company member with the largest repertory company in North America, The Stratford Festival, Keith has worked on everything from Shakespeare to Strindberg and Stoppard.

Dinicol traces his roots back to the early days of the Stratford Festival, where other than Tyrone Guthrie he's worked with every artistic director, either as an actor or director.

He also shares memories of working with his father-in-law John Neville at Edmonton's Citadel Theatre and Stratford.

Tracey Power is the writer and choreographer behind "Glory" a play that the Globe and Mail called a "bittersweet, entertaining and uplifting sports drama."

I saw Glory and loved it.

Tracey shares her process behind uncovering the true story of a group of scrappy women who defy the stereotypes of their time and become national hockey legends - in the 1930s.

The play that debuted at the Western Canada Theatre Company in British Columbia is on stage now, and runs until July 20th, in Southwestern Ontario thanks to the folks at Drayton Entertainment.

Ma-Anne Dionisio is best known for originating the role of Kim in the Canadian production of "Miss Saigon" and subsequently performing around the world. She currently plays Diana Goodman in the Musical Stage Company's production of "Next to Normal" in Toronto.

Ma-Anne shares how she went from being a 17-year-old nerd to an international musical theatre sensation.

Ma-Anne reminds us that actors who portray mental illness on stage need self-care practices off stage to help them cope with the stress.

She is also very candid about her experience as a single mother working in theatre.

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For over three decades, Tony Award-winner Bob Martin has worked as an actor and writer. Early in his career, Martin was directing for Second City in Toronto. He's also written for TV, with the Chicago Tribune calling Slings and Arrows "one of the most loving satires to have ever graced television." He 's best known for writing and starring in the hilarious The Drowsy Chaperone, for which Martin won the 2006 Tony Award for "Best Book of a Musical." His most recent Broadway show, The Prom, received 7 Tony Award nominations. We talk about how the revision process is crucial to a great script Martin updates us on the Broadway adaptations of The Princess Bride, NIght at the Museum and Slings and Arrows. And Martin explains why it can be emotionally challenging to watch a performance of The Drowsy Chaperone.

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David Stones is a poet based in Stratford Ontario. His poems have been published internationally and won awards.

Recently he's been performing a stage adaptation of his book poems titled "Infinite Sequels." On stage Stones is accompanied by a violinist which ads an imaginative aspect to his words.

The London Free Press' Joe Belanger noted that "'Infinite Sequels' is a brilliant, beautiful piece of theatre. Stone recites his poignant poetry with mostly subtle gesture, movement and animated face, asking us to face moments and questions about our lives we may not have even recognized."

In our conversation Stones admits his love of poetry goes back to his youth confessing that it was only later in life after his career and kids were no longer a pressing concern that he found the freedom to truly hone his work and share it publically.

He talks about his creative process, his inspiration Dylan Thomas and Leonard Cohen to name a few, and the intersection of poetry and social media.

PODCAST SHOW NOTES: David Stones Website David Stone on Instagram Ladies and Gentlemen… Mr. Leonard Cohen – watch for free at NFB.ca

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Dave Merheje won the Juno award for best comedy album with his 2018 release "Good Friend Bad Grammar."

I've been hoping to interview Merheje since I first saw him perform a killer set at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. His rhythmic comedic style celebrates family and personal frustrations that truly spoke to me, not only as a fan of comedy but more significantly as a father and a son.

He's on the Netflix special "Comedians of the World."

Watch for his upcoming regular appearance in the Hulu show "Ramy," with Ramy Youssef, which starts streaming April 19.

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Kate Lumpkin is the founder and lead casting director of Kate Lumpkin Casting, CSA.

We discuss the importance of making a good self-tape for auditions, the growing demand for actors who can handle experiential theatre, why knowing who you are as a human is the most important thing that informs you as an artist, and lots more!

Kate has collectively worked on over 40 film/TV productions, and 80 theatrical productions in New York City and across the USA including shows at The Kennedy Center and many others.

She's also the Head of Education for the Broadway Collective - a training academy for young performers looking to break into the industry.

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Alexis Gordon is one of the young stars of Canadian theatre. Her work at the Stratford Festival (Carousel, the Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, Coriolanus, The Tempest...) has been getting great reviews.

In the upcoming summer theatre season she'll be at the Shaw Festival - one of several Stratford Festival Company members making the move to Shaw in 2019.

We discuss that change along with her work under the renowned directors Robert Lepage and Donna Feore.

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