Sandra Shamas, performer, writer, impresario

Leave a reply

Sandra_Shamas_Nature

Sandra’s career began in Toronto on the stages of The Second City and the legendary night club The Rivoli where she shared the highs and lows of a struggling young performer with fellow entertainers including The Kids in the Hall.

But it was at the Edmonton Fringe Festival where Sandra first broke out with her hit show “My Boyfriend’s Back and There’s Going to be Laundry.”

A few years later she started a new life, moving from the city to a farm where she took a break from performing to traverse her internal landscape, surveying her life, and how it intersected with those around her.

And soon the former urban dweller found herself falling into the rhythms of the surrounding nature.

She’s performed at top theatres in Canada and is recognized, for not only her writing and performing, but also her work as an impresario.

In the interview we talk about food, her creative process, social media and the influence of Tinder on relationships.

Plus Sandra reveals her favourite vegetable to grow on the farm. It might surprise you.

SHOW NOTES
The Big What Now
Sandra Shamas website
Sandra Shamas on Facebook
– Fox Run Mini Mortar and Pestle, Porcelain.
– Sandra Shamas: A Trilogy of Performances, ( used book ).
– Gourmet Chesnok Red, Hard Neck garlic bulbs. Non-GMO, organic (not the one Sandra mentioned but the best I could find on Amazon).

Actor, director Joseph Ziegler

Leave a reply

Ziegler-+-Trust

Joseph Ziegler was born in Minneapolis and studied theatre at the University of Minnesota. He was accepted into the National Theatre School of Canada and graduated in 1979.

From 1980-82 he was a member of Christopher Newton’s first acting ensemble at The Shaw Festival. In the podcast he talks about performing with Nora McLellan in Brecht’s “A Respectable Wedding.”

As well as being part of the Stratford Festival company from 1984-87, Ziegler appeared in many TV shows including “Street Legal,” “North of 60” and “ENG.”

In 1990 Robin Phillips invited him to play Clarence opposite Denzel Washington in a New York production of “Richard III” in Central Park. Ziegler’s work with Philips, as well as other influential directors comes up in the podcast.

In 2010 Ziegler played Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” at Soulpepper opposite Nancy Palk his wife. He mentions that despite his love of Shakespeare it was his favourite role.

Ziegler is currently appearing as Timon in the Stratford Festival’s production of “Timon of Athens.”

At the time of recording Ziegler was playing Henry VIII in the Soulpepper production of “The Last Wife,” featuring Maeve Beatty and the original cast from The Stratford Festival. In response to a listener’s question from Facebook we briefly discuss the similarities between Donald Trump and Henry VIII.

Later in the interview Ziegler shares one of the greatest lessons he learned about acting. It happened at Stratford when he was the understudy for “Othello” and unexpectedly had to play the role with no rehearsal.

Listen

SHOW NOTES
“Timon of Athens” reviews
“Timon of Athens” tickets and more at the Stratford Festival
Soulpepper
The Stop

LISTEN TO MORE EPISODES