The Story Project

Lauren Shields is a New York based Director, Intimacy Coordinator, and Coach. Lauren has directed plays and musicals throughout different Off Off Broadway theaters, festivals, and academic institutions. She graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre, with a dance minor from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MFA in Directing The Actors Studio Drama School with PACE University. 

Lauren co-founded and runs Blank Page Theatre Company, with the mission to raise questions about our social climate to facilitate conversations about the world that we find ourselves living in today. She also is a co-founder of 151st Productions with the mission to create thought-provoking and emotionally resonant short films that illuminate the universal truths that connect us all. Lauren runs her own coaching company, Audition Checkup, where she focuses on bringing out actors' individuality to make them stand out in the audition room.

00:00 Meet Lauren Shields

03:47 Discovering directing as a musical theater performer

05:33 MFA in Directing

11:00 Finding the right education

16:20 Teaching based on individual needs 

20:25 Audition observations and advice

25:52 Prepare, then let go

27:46 Directing & writing short films

31:30 Staying true to your values on social media 

36:42 Audition Checkup 

40:05 Successes & pride 

www.laurenashields.com / @laurenashields (IG)

www.auditioncheckup.com / @auditioncheckup (IG)

Phil Sloves is a Broadway performer/multi-hyphenate living in New York City. Phil was most recently seen on Broadway in SpongeBob SquarePants and on television on Law & Order SVU. Phil has also performed off-Broadway and all over the country in regional theaters. He's also the CEO and founder of Actor Reboot. 

00:00 – Falling in love with performing

04:00 – BFA in Musical Theater

05:30 – Body imagine and industry standards

09:00 – Broadway debut in SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical

12:03 – Co-Star on Law & Order SVU 

15:00 – Theater and television

19:00 – Staying in NYC

21:58 – Actor Reboot 

25:58 – Remote coaching and resources for actors

28:04 – Advice for recent college graduates and professionals

30:09 – What are you proud of?

Phil Sloves

philsloves.com

@philsloves (IG)

Actor Reboot

actorreboot.com

@actorreboot (IG)

Mariah Reives is a dancer, choreographer, and entrepreneur who is currently performing in The Great Gatsby on Broadway. Her previous credits include Funny Girl on Broadway, Cassandra on the 1st National Tour of ‘Cats’ The Musical, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

In today's episode, Mariah discusses her time performing on Broadway, why she stepped down as Dance Captain, and how she prioritizes her mental health. She gives advice including when NOT to get an agent, why we should focus on our weaknesses, and why she wishes she did more regional productions before Broadway.

She also shares the story of her Broadway Debut, what it was like bringing her dog along on a National Tour, and why she created The Performer's Circle to give accessible information to performers.

Enjoy our episode with Mariah Reives!

Chapters:

(01:13) Broadway’s The Great Gatsby

(01:46) Stepping Down As Dance Captain

(05:23) What is An Onstage Dance Captain?

(08:24) To Dance Captain or Not To Dance Captain

(13:51) Advocating for Your Needs in a Professional Setting

(19:29) Enjoying the Ensemble Track

(21:45) Giving Dancers Accessible Information

(28:20) When NOT To Get An Agent

(31:42) Don’t Rush to Broadway

(33:55) Broadway Debut in Funny Girl

(40:52) Mariah’s Human Bio (feat. Leo the Pup)

(43:14) Dog Momming on a National Tour

(46:08) Loving Words and Goodbyes

About Mariah:

Mariah Reives is a dancer, choreographer, and entrepreneur who began dancing in Sanford, North Carolina at the age of three. She then went on to train at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for high school and then graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a B.A. in Teaching Dance.

She is currently the dance captain and in the ensemble of The Great Gatsby on Broadway. Her credits include Funny Girl Broadway, Cassandra in the First National Tour of ‘Cats’ The Musical, Carmen, Me and My Girl , The New Yorkers, Jerome Robbins Broadway, and The Wiz. She has been seen on television for The Tony Awards, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

Reives created a professional workshop for aspiring artists called ‘The Performers Circle’ and is excited to guide the next generation of Broadway stars!

Brooklyn based Clinton Edward (he/they) is a choreographer, writer, actor, educator, and creator who has been the associate choreographer on productions including the Met Gala (with headliner, Ariana Grande), and Urinetown at City Center Encores (starring Jordan Fisher and Rainn Wilson), the assistant dance captain in the original cast of Queen of the Night (off Broadway), and founder of an immersive events company.

In today's episode, Clinton shares how they've crafted their career in a way that's aligned with their desires, needs, and curiosities. He discusses the responsibilities of leadership in theater productions, what was harmful and helpful about his college experience, and what is his biggest dream of choreographing on the biggest stage in the world.

www.clintonedward.com

Deepti Menon is an actress, animator, and filmmaker whose work spans music videos, commercials with companies including Nike, Facebook and Converse, and TV roles on Law & Order (NBC), The Equalizer (CBS), and I Think You Should Leave (Netflix). In today’s episode, Deepti shares her honest insight into the entertainment industry as a performer and creator and discusses:

• How she booked her television roles (and her thoughts on having an agent)

• Realizing her career in animation satisfied her pull towards acting and directing

• The pros and cons of self-taping, and what shifted when she went to in person auditions

• Being treated extremely differently on set when she was a PA versus when she was talent

• Creating a web series with almost no budget, and hoping that project shows others what she’d be capable of with more money, support and resources 

• Her dreams of being a showrunner (which is absolutely inevitable for this wonderful artist)

• Finding, and using, her voice on set and behind the scenes

Writer-performer ⁠Isabelle Barbier⁠ shares all of the details of her creative process including her journey from improv to scripted projects, where all of her plentiful ideas live, how she turns an idea into a full fledged film, and the impact of professional training (acting school!) on creativity.

Isabelle and Jess discuss the importance of community and collaboration, the ins and outs of indie filmmaking, and the role of humor in addressing sensitive topics such as sexual trauma.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever been curious about making your own work, have a story you’ve been wanting to tell, and are curious to engage in everyday feminine rebellion.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Isabelle Barbier

01:30 Journey of an Artist

03:37 Improv to Scripted Work

05:09 Acting School

09:52 Confidence and Community

14:49 The Challenges of Acting School

18:55 Rediscovering Uniqueness

20:06 The Birth of 'Grrrl Guts'

28:11 The Impact of #metoo

35:01 Understanding Trauma Responses

38:50 The Healing Power of Writing

41:03 Navigating Auditions and Creative Control

47:09 Idea to Final Product

50:07 Creating Indie Short Films

54:28 Wildest Dreams

About Isabelle

Isabelle Barbier is an NYC-based writer-performer who’s obsessed with women talking. Her work tells very silly and very serious stories of everyday feminine rebellion. Her recent screenplays have been finalists for the Academy Nicholls Fellowship, Blacklist X WIF fellowship, and winner at SF Indie Fest.

She’s recently appeared as an actor in The Other Two (HBO Max) Actual People (Mubi) and CRSHD (Tribeca Film Festival). For playwriting, she received The Judith Campion Launch commission from Atlantic Theater company, and after a sold-out workshop at Ars Nova ANT Fest, she’s developing her new show Rip Her To Shreds for an off-broadway run.

Writer-performer Isabelle Barbier shares all of the details of her creative process including her journey from improv to scripted projects, where all of her plentiful ideas live, how she turns an idea into a full fledged film, and the impact of professional training (acting school!) on creativity.

Isabelle and Jess discuss the importance of community and collaboration, the ins and outs of indie filmmaking, and the role of humor in addressing sensitive topics such as sexual trauma.

This episode is for you if you’ve ever been curious about making your own work, have a story you’ve been wanting to tell, and are curious to engage in everyday feminine rebellion.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Isabelle Barbier

01:30 Journey of an Artist

03:37 Improv to Scripted Work

05:09 Acting School

09:52 Confidence and Community

14:49 The Challenges of Acting School

18:55 Rediscovering Uniqueness

20:06 The Birth of 'Grrrl Guts'

28:11 The Impact of #metoo

35:01 Understanding Trauma Responses

38:50 The Healing Power of Writing

41:03 Navigating Auditions and Creative Control

47:09 Idea to Final Product

50:07 Creating Indie Short Films

54:28 Wildest Dreams

About Isabelle

Isabelle Barbier is an NYC-based writer-performer who’s obsessed with women talking. Her work tells very silly and very serious stories of everyday feminine rebellion. Her recent screenplays have been finalists for the Academy Nicholls Fellowship, Blacklist X WIF fellowship, and winner at SF Indie Fest.

She’s recently appeared as an actor in The Other Two (HBO Max) Actual People (Mubi) and CRSHD (Tribeca Film Festival). For playwriting, she received The Judith Campion Launch commission from Atlantic Theater company, and after a sold-out workshop at Ars Nova ANT Fest, she’s developing her new show Rip Her To Shreds for an off-broadway run.

In this episode, Broadway performer Chantelle Good discusses the pressing issues within the performing arts industry, emphasizing that representation alone is insufficient and highlights the importance of valuing the hard work of performers.

She shares insights into the daily life of a Broadway performer, the challenges of being a swing, and the necessity of fostering empathy and compassion.

Chantelle also shares a funny “swing” story and shares one of her wildest dreams.

This episode is for you if you're ready to question the status quo, embrace the messiness of growth, and reimagine what leadership and success can look like in the performing arts.

Timestamps & Topics

00:00 Representation in the Arts

03:03 Valuing the Work of Performers

06:14 The Life of a Broadway Performer

08:56 Challenging Toxic Norms 

11:48 Embracing Mistakes 

17:13 The Journey of a Swing

20:07 Dreams Beyond Broadway

24:05 Empathy and Compassion 

About Chantelle

Chantelle Good is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist who is currently performing in MJ The Musical on Broadway. 

Based in Brooklyn, New York, her performance credits include Punchdrunk's Sleep No More and Freddie Falls in Love at the Joyce Theater. She has also danced for artists including JLo, Snoop Dogg, and H.E.R., as well as companies including Still Motion, Loni Landon Dance Project, and The Forest of Arden. 

Chantelle also works in the non-profit sector as the Co-Artistic Director of TOES FOR DANCE and the Programs Director of Share The Movement. 

She also enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for dance as a teaching artist and guest choreographer for institutions and programs across North America. She continues to deepen her learning around decolonizing teaching practices, in order to foster inclusive environments for her students and cultivate community whenever possible.

In today’s episode, Chantelle shares about her journey to becoming a swing on Broadway, the importance of setting boundaries in performance spaces, and learning to use your voice. 

Chantelle and Jess discuss the unfortunate prevalence of body image issues in the performing arts community and practice navigating conversations about the topic. 

This episode is for you if you're questioning how to advocate for yourself in professional settings or looking to reclaim your individuality in an industry that hasn't always felt like it was for you.

*This episode includes a conversation about body image that may be triggering for some. If this is a sensitive topic for you, feel free to pause around 26 minutes in and come back for part two.*

Timestamps & Topics

00:00 Chantelle's Human Bio

02:00 Chantelle's Journey to Broadway

04:10 Life as a Swing on Broadway

05:58 Unexpected Career Paths

09:24 Audition Experiences and Sleep No More

11:23 Setting Boundaries in Performance

12:35 Evolving as an Artist

14:53 Navigating Body Image and Self-Expression

18:23 Mission Statement as an Artist

19:47 Balancing Commercial Work and Artistic Integrity

22:28 Unlearning and Embracing Individuality

26:11 Experiences with Nudity in Performance

32:12 The Importance of Community

34:46 Challenging Body Talk in the Arts

Come back from Part 2!

About Chantelle:

Chantelle Good is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist who is currently performing in MJ The Musical on Broadway. 

Based in Brooklyn, New York, her performance credits include Punchdrunk's Sleep No More and Freddie Falls in Love at the Joyce Theater. She has also danced for artists including JLo, Snoop Dogg, and H.E.R., as well as companies including Still Motion, Loni Landon Dance Project, and The Forest of Arden. 

Chantelle also works in the non-profit sector as the Co-Artistic Director of TOES FOR DANCE and the Programs Director of Share The Movement. 

She also enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for dance as a teaching artist and guest choreographer for institutions and programs across North America. She continues to deepen her learning around decolonizing teaching practices, in order to foster inclusive environments for her students and cultivate community whenever possible.

Multidisciplinary artist Spinks shares her journey through dance, acting, writing and ceramics as a queer, biracial woman. She shares why she walked away from musical theater, how she found freedom in commercial work, and the profound reason she hasn’t returned to a dance class…yet. Spinks and Jess also discuss the impact of capitalism on joy, creativity, and a building a career in the arts. This episode is for you if you’re looking to define success on your own terms, find fulfillment in your chosen craft, and carve your own unique path. 

Time Stamps & Topics

00:00 – Meet Spinks; multidisciplinary artist, passionate soul, and creative wildflower.

02:08 – Weird Little Badass Babe

02:53 – The Winding Journey of a Multi-Hyphenate

11:04 – Walking Away From Musical Theater Dreams

18:34 – Storytelling and Movement Across All Art Forms

24:22 – Paycheck or Passion?

30:57 – The Brave Act of Vulnerability

34:54 – Reclaiming Creativity Outside of Capitalism

35:22 – Dance, Revisited

39:00 – Facing Fear, Again and Again

45:02 – Dance as Medicine

52:04 – Redefining Success

57:02 – Finding Calm in the Chaos

About Spinks:

Spinks is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Brooklyn. First a musician, then a dancer, and eventually an actor, Spinks has found herself entirely devoted to the performing and visual arts her entire life. Her work has been displayed in various theaters, on stages big and small, in cinemas, and in the quiet pages of several magazines all around the world. 

On screen, she's been lucky enough to work with the likes of Google, Clinique, Planned Parenthood, Bio Glitz, and Cocoa Jones (to name a few). Her writing can be found published in FROTH Magazine, Strong Young Thing Magazine, Mixed Mag, and Issues 1-3 of Susie Magazine. Her ceramics have been featured by Florence Contemporary Art Gallery and American Design Club. 

When not working as an interpretive artist, she can be found experimenting in all things performing and media with her production company, VERNE.