Tits and Teeth Podcast

Debbie Patterson is our final guest speaker of the season! What better way to close the series than with this invigorating lecture where Debbie reminds us that by bringing disability into our practice, we open our practice to endless possibilities. This season, T+T Productions has collaborated with the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers (CGDC) to bring you a series of episodes centred around assistants and associates directors and choreographers. This series is for EVERYONE and shares all the behind the scenes magic of theatre creation from the industry’s very best. In today's episode Debbie speaks on the history of ableism in theatre, shares stories of her work as a disability consultant and dramaturg, and calls us to recognize that we are all temporarily abled.

Debbie Patterson is a Winnipeg based playwright, director and actor. She trained at the National Theatre School of Canada, is a founding member of Shakespeare in the Ruins (SIR), served as Theatre Ambassador for Winnipeg’s Cultural Capital year, was the Carol Shields Writer in Residence 2012 at the U of W, and the Playwright in Residence at Theatre Projects Manitoba in 2013/14. She served as Artistic Associate at Prairie Theatre Exchange from 2012 to 2018 and a former member of the PTE Playwrights Unit. Debbie is a proud advocate for disability justice through her work as founding and current Artistic Director of Sick + Twisted Theatre, and was most recently a cast member of Richard 2 and Grand Magic in the 2023 Stratford Festival season.

Thank you to Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support in this project.

Stephanie Graham is a director, choreographer and producer. She encourages us all to sit in that producer seat at least once, so let’s dive in and learn how! This season, T+T Productions has collaborated with the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers (CGDC) to bring you a series of episodes centred around assistants and associates directors and choreographers. This series is for EVERYONE and shares all the behind the scenes magic of theatre creation from the industry’s very best. In today’s episode Steph shares detailed knowledge for producing theatre, from getting the rights to a show, to the different types of engagement agreements, to finding sponsorship within your circle of influence, and much more.

Links for this episode:
https://www.caea.com/Theatre/Agreements-Policies
https://fringefestivals.com/festivals/
https://www.mtishows.com/annie

Stephanie Graham has over twenty-five years in the industry, and is one of Canada’s most sought-after Director/Choreographers. Stephanie has directed and choreographed at theatres across the country, including Globe Theatre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Neptune Theatre, Grand Theatre, Thousand Islands Playhouse, Stephenville Festival, Capitol Theatre and more. She is a passionate educator and mentor and has worked at Sheridan College, Randolph College for the Performing Arts, George Brown Dance and Queens University. She is the Artistic Producer for Torrent Productions, the co-founder of Theatre Making Movement, was an Intern Artistic Director for The Musical Stage Company and Artistic Associate at the Globe Theatre. Stephanie won the 2015 Dora Award for outstanding choreography Opera/Musical for The Wild Party and has been nominated three times for a Merritt Award for outstanding choreography on Neptune Theatre’s productions of Peter Pan, Cinderella and The Addams Family.

Thank you to Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support in this project.

A work/life balance, how do we sustain such a thing in this fast paced industry? Katie German is here to remind us that it's always in flux and as individual as we are. This season, T+T Productions has collaborated with the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers (CGDC) to bring you a series of episodes centred around assistants and associates directors and choreographers. This series is for EVERYONE and shares all the behind the scenes magic of theatre creation from the industry’s very best.  Today, Katie shares practices on how we can manage and maintain a work/life balance, how to cultivate a more inclusive work space for parents and caregivers, and reminds us to ask for what you need, and if they say no, ask why.

Katie is a Métis director, performer, educator and mother based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Katie is currently the owner and director of Junior Musical Theatre Company (JMTC), and the Assistant Program Director of Pimootayowin Creators Circle with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. Coming up Katie will be directing This Is How We Got Here at Persephone Theatre. Other recent directing and performance credits include: A Pickle (Dir - WJT), Frozen River (Dir - Manitoba Theatre for Young People), Rez Sisters, Into The Woods (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre), Hockey Sweater, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (Rainbow Stage), Embodying Power and Place (Dir - New Harlem Productions, Nightwood Theatre & Native Earth Performing Arts), Winn nipi (Dir - Prairie Theatre Exchange), CAN Premier of Tuck Everlasting (JMTC), and Elizabeth Rex (Bunbury Productions)

Thank you to Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support in this project.

Stafford Arima is the artistic director of Theatre Calgary in Alberta Canada, a title he wasn't necessarily seeking, but, when the opportunity came his way, Stafford took his own words to heart; 'if a door opens, one should at least peek inside' and thus began his journey towards artistic directorship. 

This season, T+T Productions has collaborated with the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers (CGDC) to bring you a series of episodes centred around assistants and associates directors and choreographers. In today's episode Stafford cracks open what it means to be an artistic director. He shares stories on how to collaborate and engage with the community, take care of the 'business of show', and grow with the position.

Stafford is an award-winning director for both stage and screen. Born in Toronto, Canada, he moved to New York to pursue his career, and now resides in Calgary, Alberta where he sits as artistic director of Theatre Calgary since 2017. Some of his New York credits include: Allegiance (Longacre Theatre), Ragtime: 25 Anniversary Concert (Minskoff Theatre), The Secret Garden: In Concert  (David Geffen Hall), Carrie (Lucille Lortel Theater), Altar Boyz (Dodger Stages). Additional credits include: Bhangin’ It (La Jolla Playhouse), Poster Boy  (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Dial M For Murder (The Old Globe), and Ragtime  (Paper Mill Playhouse / Piccadilly Theatre)—the West End premiere earning 8 Olivier Award nominations.

Thank you to Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support in this project.

Taking on both roles of director and choreographer, how do you do it? Julie Tomaino is here to give us all the details! T+T Productions has collaborated with the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers (CGDC) to bring you a season centred around assistants and associates directors and choreographers. This series is for EVERYONE and shares all the behind the scenes magic of theatre creation from the industry’s very best.  Julie gives an honest take on the pros and cons of holding both positions, shares advice on finding and communicating a show's central premise, and why walking amongst the trees is essential to her process.

Throughout this episode you'll hear Julie reference her experience directing and choreographing Margaritaville at Theatre Calgary, the project she was currently working on at the time of recording.  

Julie is an award winning director, choreographer, and educator. Her expansive career have taken her across Canada and the US with credits from top theatres such as: The Citadel, The Arts Club, Theatre Calgary, The Rev Theatre Co, Chemainus Theatre Festival, Young People’s Theatre, Thousand Islands Playhouse, The Capitol Theatre, The Grand, Western Canada Theatre, Persephone, The Globe, Magnus, and Ross Petty Productions.

Thank you to Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support in this project.

Tracey Flye is our next expert speaker in this series! T+T Productions has collaborated with the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers (CGDC) to bring you a season centred around assistants and associates directors and choreographers. This series is for EVERYONE and shares all the behind the scenes magic of theatre creation from the industry’s very best. Today, Tracey pulls apart and demystifies the process of being a successful director. She shares how to build a strong collaborative creative team, stay on budget, and bring the creative vision in your head to life. 

Tracey is one of Canada’s busiest and most respected directors/choreographers with credits that span over 200 productions. She is an award winning director/choreographer and remains committed to new work development and as an educator and as a mentor.

Some of Tracey's credits include: a 12-year association with the legendary rock band QUEEN and its production of We Will Rock You (Toronto, South Africa, Asia and the US. National/Broadway Tour), a 21-year association with Ross Petty Productions and the annual Christmas Panto, Next to Normal (Musical Stage Co), Ring Of Fire (Theatre Aquarius/Citadel Theatre), ONCE (The Grand Theatre/RMTC). Choreography and staging credits include: Billy Elliot (RMTC), Kiss Me Kate and Evita (Stratford Festival), The Drowsy Chaperone (TC/RMTC) and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Boys in the Photograph (Mirvish). She was also the Resident Director for the National Theatre’s Warhorse and ONCE for Mirvish Productions.

Thank you to Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support in this project.

We're back with season 5 of Tits and Teeth, now produced under T+T Productions! This season we have collaborated with the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers (CGDC) to bring you a series of discussions centred around assistant and associate directors and choreographers. This series is for EVERYONE and shares all the behind the scenes magic of theatre creation from the industry’s very best, and today we are kick starting with choreographer, Steve Cota!

Steve breaks down the differences between an assistant and associate, what each job's requirements and expectations are, and how to be a top notch assistant or associate on any project. 

Steve is the Founder and Artistic Director of In the Wings. He is incredibly passionate about teaching, both while educating young aspiring artists and leading industry professionals.  Steve has most recently choreographed Frankenstein Revived at the Stratford Festival of Canada and his choreography has also been seen at The Grand Theatre in London, Ontario.  Steve was the assistant director for: Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors, The Rocky Horror Show (Stratford Festival), the associate choreographer for: Here’s What it Takes, Billy Elliot, Little Shop of Horrors, The Music Man, The Rocky Horror Show, Guys and Dolls (Stratford Festival) and the assistant choreographer for: A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music (Stratford Festival), andWest Side Story (Vancouver Opera).

Thank you to Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support in this project.

Enjoy this MINI-SODE featuring the INCREDIBLE Tyrell Witherspoon. 

In this episode we give you an update about what we’ve got coming down the pipeline (stay tuned legends!), we include a *shameless plug* of our Assistant and Associates Program (which we are JAZZED about) but mostly, we wanted you to get to know our newest team member, Tyrell! We bloody love him, and we know you will too. Learn more about Tyrell and give him some love in the comments below.

Tyrell is an accomplished triple threat performer and choregrapher with over 25 years of experience in theatre, dance, film, and television. Most recently, Tyrell was seen as a cheerleader in “Bring It On: Cheer or Die” on the SyFy network and on stage in “The Wizard of Oz” at Rainbow Stage. As a choreographer, Tyrell has leant his skills to a few recent projects including “Fame” with Winnipeg Studio Theatre, assistant choreographer on “The Hockey Sweater” at Rainbow Stage, performance lead and choreographer for Skip the Dishes’ “Deliver with Pride” campaign, and choreographer for the feature film, “Nobody”. Tyrell is a sought-after dance educator and currently teaches multiple genres with Evolution Dance Company in Selkirk, MB and is the co-founder of Withermet Productions with his husband Matt Armet, where they aim to produce, curate, and create queer content through dance, short series, film, and more

Well well well, look who’s back in your feed! Tits and Teeth, hosted by yours truly, Jen Thiessen and Kyla Musselman, is back with more interviews with some of theatre’s best artists working in Canada, on Broadway and around the world. So let’s begin!

Tracey Flye is one of Canada’s most iconic director/choreographers, and we are thrilled to have her on the podcast today. Tracey’s career is legendary with credits that span countries, styles, and genres. We learn more about Tracey’s ‘herstory’ in the industry, how the mentorship she received throughout her career pushed and benefited her artistry, and, we introduce and discuss a new organization to Canadian theatre, the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers (CGDC).

Some highlights from Tracey’s amazing career include: Once, We Will Rock You, War Horse (Res. director Mirvish Productions) Kiss Me Kate, Evita (choreographer, Stratford Festival) West Side Story (director/choreographer Rainbow Stage) Evita, West Side Story (Vancouver Opera) Reprint (director, Musical Stage Co.), and Ring of Fire (director, Theatre Aquarius and The Citadel Theatre).Tracey has also been at the helm of the Ross Petty Panto for the past decade serving as their magnificent and hilarious director and/or choreographer.

So come along for the ride, get those tits up, those teeth out and enjoy this episode of Tits and Teeth Podcast. 

Welcome to the final episode of Season 4 of Tits and Teeth Podcast! Can you believe it?! To close out the season we are bringing you one guest and one guest only, the sensational actor and activist, Vanessa Sears. 

Vanessa Sears is a Dora Award winning actor with the voice of an angel and a stunningly contagious laugh. She is one of Canada’s most accomplished performers who’s potential knows no bounds. Some of her theatre credits include; Caroline or Change (Musical Stage Co.) Mary Poppins (Young People’s Theatre) Grand Hotel (Shaw Festival) Little Shop of Horrors and Billy Elliott (Stratford Festival) and Kinky Boots (Mirvish Productions). She can be seen on screen in Sex/Life (Netflix) Tallboyz (CBC) and Y:The Last Man (FX). Vanessa is also a board member of the Canadian Green Alliance and a woman who will always fight for what’s right and inspire others to change. In this episode we chat about advocacy in the arts, bringing our values with us to the theatre and Vanessas hopes for the future of the industry. She is a bright light and you don't want to miss this one!

Thank you to all of our listeners who have continued to support us through 4 great seasons of Tits and Teeth. You continue to inspire us to strive for more and bring you top quality content. Remember to keep those tits up and those teeth out and we will see you soon for season 5 you bloody legends.