Artists At Home: Keeping Busy During Quarantine Theatre Insomnia

In our final episode, we sit down with Jesse Collin, actor and owner of The Craft Self Tape Studio. Jesse shares his insight on what makes a good self tape, and the importance of telling a story. He also gives us a peek inside his new studio and shares what you can expect when taping with him!  

Follow Jesse on Instagram (@jessecollin.actor), and check out his website at http://jessecollin-actor.com.  

Follow The Craft Self Tape Studio on Instagram (@torontoselftape), and book online at https://torontoselftape.com, by email at info@torontoselftape.com, or by phone or text: (647) 977-2676.

In today's episode, we're chatting with Scott Phyper who is a Stage and Production Manager, Theatre Artist, and most recently, cruise ship entertainment staff! Scott tells us about his experience working in the entertainment department of the Royal Princess cruise ship, what it was like being on a ship when the pandemic hit, and how his homecoming was less exciting than how he'd hoped. Plus, he offers some insight for anyone who may be interested in working on a cruise ship in the future and tells us about the unfortunate accident that he sustained recently while riding his bike (don't worry - he's okay!)

Make sure to follow Scott on Instagram (@scottphyper) to stay up to date with what he's up to!

n today's episode, we sit down with pop singer/songwriter Vicki Lovelee to chat about her new single, Breaking Barriers, and how she's still been able to create and release music during this pandemic. In addition to talking about creating her new single, Vicki walks us through her songwriting process and touches on how she's created her public persona. She also talks about some of her musical inspirations, and tells us the one person she regrets passing up the opportunity to see live! Breaking Barriers is out NOW on all streaming platforms!  

Vicki Lovelee is a Chinese Canadian pop singer, born and raised in Ontario, Canada. Her songs come to life through her music videos and storytelling lyrics — giving her music another layer of emotion and theatrical drama. She has the ability to combine her emotions with artistic visuals, and incorporating them in her music.   Vicki writes all her lyrics and allows her vulnerability and honesty to shine through her songs. She writes about her experiences such as heartbreak, mental health, falling in love, and her identity as a Chinese Canadian. Everything she writes is about her journey through life and the good & bad that it comes with. She is able to write lyrics that are both relatable and unique to her own experiences. Vicki has a deep love for pop music and culture. She grew up listening to mainly pop and rap as well. She is also influenced by jazz, having studied jazz vocals while in university. Her music is influenced by pop icons like Lady Gaga, Allie X, and MARINA. 

Having 3 singles released already, Vicki Lovelee is working hard on new music, ready to be released very soon! You can find her on social media @vickilovelee and her music on all music platforms under the name Vicki Lovelee. Check out her website at www.vickilovelee.com

On today's episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with actor, producer and 1st Degree Blackbelt Tea Nguyen! We got to talk about ways to improve your mental wellbeing, burning out as an artist, and what the future may hold for us resilient artists and creators.

 Tea Nguyen is an alumna of Niagara College's Acting for Film and Television Program, and a graduate of Second City's Improv Program. Since graduating, some of her credits include starring in No Visible Scars, a two hander off-off Broadway play in the New York International Fringe Festival. Tea performs as (and co-wrote for) Empress Wu Zetian in NASTY, which went on to win Patrons Pick in the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival, and remounted in the 2018 Feminist Fuck It Festival. Tea also embodies Lady Nijo in Alumnae Theatre's 2019 production of Top Girls, and is a lead in an ensemble cast in TV pilot My Spot. Tea is a 1st degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and her favourite weapon is the Bo Staff. Tea is the co-founder and lead Producer of Reverie Arts, an indie film company based in Toronto, and is an Executive Producer with the indie arts coalition, an arts service organization serving the indie artist community. "I want to empower BI-POC artists, LGBTQIA+ performers and women's voices through film and the arts".

In today's episode, we chat with Peter Kelly, founder and Artistic Director of New Blue Emerging Dance and company dancer with Toronto Dance Theatre about the ways in which the pandemic impacted New Blue's annual festival in June, as well as what his plans are for the future!  Born in Guelph ON, Peter Kelly is a Toronto based dancer, choreographer, artistic director, teacher, stage manager and producer. Peter is a graduate of the Dance Performance Studies program at George Brown College and is now in his fifth season as a company dancer with Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT). Beyond TDT, Peter has worked with Summerworks Performance Festival as the Patron Services Coordinator, with Dance Ontario as the Provincial Networks Coordinator, and is currently the Artistic Director of New Blue Emerging Dance. Under the banner of Suede & Company, Peter explores/creates interdisciplinary works that aim to tackle barriers associated with sexual identity and queer culture.

In today's episode, we sit down with the hilarious and fabulous Ryan G. Hinds to chat about his work during the pandemic, his recent experience gracing the cover of NOW Magazine, and the hilarious (albeit ridiculous) request he once received from an audience member mid-show! In this extended cut, we also hear Ryan talk about his experience working with Liza Minelli, having Chita Rivera as his mentor, and give his take on the now-infamous moment in which Patti LuPone stopped a performance of Gypsy over a ringing cellphone. To wrap it up, we play a Broadway-inspired lightning round game, and Ryan spills the beans on who made the better Norma Desmond - Patti LuPone or Glenn Close!