This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby welcomes annemieke wade, Executive Director of the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA). annemieke shares insights from her first six months in the role, her vision for TAPA’s future, and her deep commitment to building frameworks of care and collaboration in Toronto’s arts sector. From revitalizing artist support programs to reimagining rehearsal and performance norms, this conversation highlights the evolving landscape of Canadian theatre and the importance of intergenerational dialogue.

This episode explores:

 * The challenges and steep learning curve of succeeding a 21-year ED at TAPA
 * The role and scope of TAPA, from the Dora Awards to mentorship and training programs
 * The B Street Arts Hub and its community resources
 * annemieke's career journey from Vermont to Toronto and into arts leadership
 * The impact of her late ADHD diagnosis and the power of self-understanding
 * Her vision for more flexible, sustainable work practices in the arts
 * The importance of bridging generational divides in the theatre community

Guest: 🎭 annemieke wade annemieke wade (she/her) is the Executive Director at the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) and a dedicated advocate for inclusivity in the arts. Originally from St. Albans, Vermont, annemieke headed to Ontario for school in 1994 and graduated from the University of Toronto Mississauga/Sheridan College joint Theatre and Drama Studies program in 1998. Once on Canadian soil, she never really left! Despite a brief return home to complete an MBA from Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, annemieke had fallen shamelessly in love with Toronto and became a citizen in 2013.

With over 20 years of industry experience both on and off stage, annemieke champions strategically undervalued communities through programming and engagement that prioritizes diversity and active representation. She previously served on the TAPA Board of Directors (2016-22) and Eligibility Committee (2022-24), was a contributing member of the PGC/PACT contract negotiations working group (2022-23) and currently sits on the TAC Theatre Committee (2023-26). annemieke was recently honoured with a nomination as a Woman of Influence for the 32nd RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards.

Connect with Annemieke: 📸 Instagram: @miekechu11 [https://instagram.com/miekechu11] 🌐 Learn more about TAPA: tapa.ca [https://tapa.ca]

Support Stageworthy If you love the show, consider supporting on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy]

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] | iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1310-stageworthy-271061892/] 📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Stageworthy] – Like, subscribe & hit the notification bell!Bio, and socials go here

#420 –  annemieke wade

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby brings you a fourth and final Toronto Fringe Extra episode, featuring interviews with 4 Toronto Fringe Artists, in advance of the Toronto Fringe Festival, running July 2-13 at various locations around Toronto.

In this episode: Ronit Rubenstein, creator and performer of Things My Dad Kept SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/things-my-dad-kept

Alice Lundy, director and producer of The Adding Machine SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/adding-machine

Nam Nguyen one of the writers and performers of Q_uiz Icarus_ SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/quiz-icarus

Sara Mayfield, writer and performer of Who Drinks Mocktails on the Beach?! SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/who-drinks-mocktails-beach

If you value thoughtful conversations about Canadian theatre, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy] Backers get early access to episodes and help shape future roundtable discussions.

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] | iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1310-stageworthy-271061892/] 📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Stageworthy] – Like, subscribe & hit the notification bell!

#419 – Toronto Fringe Extra 4

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby welcomes Rachel Kennedy and Laura Paduch, the co-leads of the Toronto Fringe Festival. With the 2024 edition just days away, Rachel and Laura share insights into what makes this year’s festival unique, including the exciting new partnership with Soulpepper Theatre, the return of beloved venues, and the community-building magic that Fringe fosters year after year. They also reflect on their personal journeys with Fringe, the evolution of self-producing in theatre, and the vital role that Fringe plays in launching careers.

This episode explores:

 * What a Fringe Festival is and how the Toronto Fringe operates
 * The 2024 move to a central hub at Soulpepper in the Distillery District
 * The return and growth of unconventional venues across the city
 * The evolution and merging of the Next Stage Festival into Fringe
 * Peer mentorship and producer pods supporting first-time creators
 * Why Fringe is vital for risk-taking, experimentation, and community-building

Guests: 🎭 Rachel Kennedy – Executive Director, Toronto Fringe Rachel Kennedy (she/they) is the Executive Director & Co-Lead at the Toronto Fringe Festival. For the last decade, they have had the pleasure of supporting local indie theatre and dance productions as a producer, director and stage manager and arts administrator. Rachel’s love for the arts centres around a passion for advocacy, equity, and bringing communities together through storytelling. Thanks to wonderful collaborators throughout her career, Rachel has learned much about the unique needs of Toronto’s artists and how essential their impact is across the City and beyond. Rachel is thrilled to serve the Toronto Fringe community and can't wait for this summer's Festival (join us July 2-13th!).

🎭 Laura Paduch – Managing Director, Toronto Fringe Laura Paduch (she/her) is the Managing Director & Co-Lead of the Toronto Fringe Festival, a mid-size arts organization that has been a platform for independent performing arts for over 35 years. She is a producer, arts administrator, and advocate, and has had the privilege of serving the Toronto Fringe Festival community since 2018.  Before that, Laura was the General Manager of fu-GEN Theatre Company, and ARC, where she advanced the inaugural joint management initiative. Laura's additional professional experience has included extensive stage and production management, event production, theatre producing, and performance creation. The Toronto Fringe offers a community conduit that enables her to champion mentorship and resource sharing, and re-casting new norms and standards for arts sector workplace practices. She has sat on the TAPA Advocacy Committee, is on the ArtsVote Steering Committee, and the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals.

Connect with Toronto Fringe: 📸 Instagram: @toronto_fringe [https://www.instagram.com/toronto_fringe] 🌐 Website: fringetoronto.com [https://fringetoronto.com]

Support Stageworthy If you love the show, consider supporting on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy]

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] |

#418 – Laura Paduch & Rachel Kennedy

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby brings you a third Toronto Fringe Extra episode, featuring interviews with 4 Toronto Fringe Artists, in advance of the Toronto Fringe Festival, running July 2-13 at various locations around Toronto.

In this episode: Laura Piccinin, co-creator and producer of the new musical Apothecary SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/apothecary [https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/potato-potato]

From Regarding Antigone, Dramaturg esi calendar and Assistant Director, Sarah Larmony SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/regarding-antigone

Alicia Payne, playwright and co-prodcer of Justice for Maurice Henry Carter SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/justice-maurice-henry-carter [https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/canadian-explains-eurovision-other-canadians]

Writer and performer of Terrible Fish, Montreal’s Caitlin Murphy. SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/terrible-fish

Watch for another Toronto Fringe Extra on Thursday, Next week!

If you value thoughtful conversations about Canadian theatre, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy] Backers get early access to episodes and help shape future roundtable discussions.

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] | iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1310-stageworthy-271061892/] 📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Stageworthy] – Like, subscribe & hit the notification bell!

#417 – Toronto Fringe Extra 3

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby welcomes Ben Yoganathan, a Toronto-based actor, writer, and director whose latest work, Zeitgeist, will premiere at the 2024 Toronto Fringe Festival. In a lively and wide-ranging conversation, Ben shares the inspiration behind Zeitgeist, his theatre journey from Guelph to Toronto, his experience with unconventional venues, and his recent creation residency in Zurich. This episode dives into the highs and lows of making independent theatre and what it means to be a young artist in an overwhelming world. This episode explores:

 * The inspiration behind Zeitgeist and its cinematic influences
 * The creative process behind developing a play about navigating life in your 20s
 * The benefits and challenges of unconventional fringe venues
 * Ben’s experience at a creation residency in Zurich
 * Thoughts on the shifting pedagogy of theatre education
 * The value of Fringe festivals in building a theatre career

Guest: 🎭 Ben Yoganathan Ben Yoganthan is an actor, writer, composer, and director born in Sri Lanka and based in Toronto. Since graduating from Toronto Metropolitan University, he has performed as Hal/Henry V in Driftwood Theatre’s Henry V, Andrei in The Howland Company’s Three Sisters, and Todd Tweedle in Mixtape Project’s Dora-nominated musical Killing Time.

As a composer, Ben has contributed music to Kole Durnford's play ECHO (Edmonton Fringe Festival) and several dance works: Embrasement Synaptique by Zach Bastille (Festival Quartiers Danses), a subject by Alli Carry (Fall for Dance North), and The Skin by Emily Duckett (Kinetic Studio Open Series).

Ben has written two full-length plays: Hunger, which premiered at the Terra Firma Festival at the Theatre Centre, and ZEITGEIST, a workshop production he directed earlier this year and is set to premiere at the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival.

He recently completed a creation residency with Experi Theater in Zurich, Switzerland, where he developed and performed a one-person show. Ben was also selected for an international residency with the Odin Teatret in Ringkobing, Denmark.

Connect with Ben: 📸 Instagram: @off.the.nose [https://instagram.com/off.the.nose]

Support Stageworthy If you love the show, consider supporting on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy]

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] | iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1310-stageworthy-271061892/] 📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Stageworthy] – Like, subscribe & hit the notification bell!

#416 – Ben Yoganathan

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby brings you another special Toronto Fringe Extra episode, featuring interviews with 4 Toronto Fringe Artists, in advance of the Toronto Fringe Festival, running July 2-13 at various locations around Toronto.

In this episode: Emma Golden the writer and producer of the true Halifax story, Potato Potato SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/potato-potato

Laura Anne Harris the writer and performer of the raw, tender, and quietly radical, Have Fun Kids. SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/have-fun-kids

Matti Mclean, creator and performer of A Canadian Explains Eurovision to other Canadians SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/canadian-explains-eurovision-other-canadians 

Sashoya Simpson, writer of LULU takes us into a world of Afro-Caribbean folklore, legacy and ancestry. SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/lulu 

Watch for another Toronto Fringe Extra on Thursday, Next week!

If you value thoughtful conversations about Canadian theatre, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy] Backers get early access to episodes and help shape future roundtable discussions.

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] | iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1310-stageworthy-271061892/] | Your favourite podcast app 📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Stageworthy] – Like, subscribe & hit the notification bell!

#415 – Toronto Fringe Extra #2

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby assembles a who's who of Toronto theatre podcasters, to talk about Toronto Fringe, shows you should see, the Next Stage Festival, ticket prices and much more!

This episode features podcasters: Alison Mullings from Creative Full Time [https://www.instagram.com/creativefulltime/] Janine Marley from A View From the Box [https://www.instagram.com/avuefromthebox/] Alexandra Lean [https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualplaywright/] from Being Dramatic Ryan Borochovitz from Cup of Hemlock Theatre Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/cohtheatre/].

This episode was live streamed on youtube on July 17, 7:30pm.

Support Stageworthy If you value thoughtful conversations about Canadian theatre, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy] Backers get early access to episodes and help shape future roundtable discussions.

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] | iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1310-stageworthy-271061892/] 📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Stageworthy] – Like, subscribe & hit the notification bell!

#414 – Toronto Fringe Preview

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby brings you a special Toronto Fringe Extra episode, featuring interviews with 4 Toronto Fringe Artists, in advance of the Toronto Fringe Festival, running July 2-13 at various locations around Toronto.

In this episode: Dawna Wightman, playwright and performer in HOODY, an edgy retelling of Little Red Riding Hood for people who have kept their child soul. SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/hoody

Adam Bailey, creator and performer of Adam Bailey: My Three Deaths in which Adam learns that no matter how many times you die - you only live once. SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/adam-bailey-my-three-deaths

Composer and comedian Eli Pasic on Screamin in the Rain, in which he sings his tasteless, original ditties! SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/screamin-rain

Fuschia Boston talks about String of Pearls, an exploration of how a shift of power influences the lives of a theatre company shaping both their artistic journeys and their personal relationships. SHOW INFO AND TICKETS: https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/string-pearls

Watch for another Toronto Fringe Extra on Thursday, Next week!

Support Stageworthy If you value thoughtful conversations about Canadian theatre, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy] Backers get early access to episodes and help shape future roundtable discussions. Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] | iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1310-stageworthy-271061892/] 📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Stageworthy] – Like, subscribe & hit the notification bell!

#413 – Toronto Fringe Extra #1

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby presents a solo episode. With the Toronto Fringe Festival on the horizon and multiple episodes currently in production, Phil takes a moment to reflect on the state of Canadian theatre, the importance of building audiences, and the challenges facing the industry today.

In a passionate and thought-provoking monologue, he explores the need for better marketing in theatre, the limitations of current outreach strategies, and the urgency of cultivating a theatre-going audience that extends beyond industry insiders. Phil also shares his frustrations with streamer platforms and their limited contributions to Canadian content, as well as his deep belief in the value of Canadian stories.

Support Stageworthy If you value thoughtful conversations about Canadian theatre, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy] Backers get early access to episodes and help shape future roundtable discussions.

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] | iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1310-stageworthy-271061892/] 📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Stageworthy] – Like, subscribe & hit the notification bell!

#412 – Phil Rickaby: Solo

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby welcomes back actor, singer, playwright, and producer Rebecca Perry, marking a full-circle moment as Rebecca was Phil’s very first podcast guest nearly eight years ago. Rebecca shares the journey of her acclaimed solo show Confessions of a Redheaded Coffee Shop Girl, which debuted at the Toronto Fringe ten years ago and has since toured internationally, including a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Rebecca discusses the evolution of the show over the years, her preparation for returning to Edinburgh and Toronto Fringe for the show’s 10th anniversary, and the realities of crowdfunding and producing as an independent artist. She also reflects on the importance of adapting material in response to live audiences, the sense of community on the Canadian Fringe circuit, and the challenges and joys of international touring.

This episode explores:

 * How Confessions of a Redheaded Coffee Shop Girl has evolved over a decade
 * The distinct culture and audience vibe of different Fringe festivals (Toronto, Edinburgh, Winnipeg, Edmonton)
 * Preparing for the marathon that is Edinburgh Fringe
 * Navigating grants, crowdfunding, and financial challenges as an indie artist
 * Building an international touring career and the importance of networking
 * The excitement of bringing the show to a new generation of audiences

Guest: 🎭 Rebecca Perry Rebecca Perry is an actor, singer, playwright and producer based in Toronto. From Hallmark movies to The Handmaid's Tale, she has appeared in a wide variety of things on film and TV, most recently including Jazz Ramsey: K-9 Mystery and Bluegrass Christmas, and others across Netflix, Crave, Prime, Bell Fibe and more.

Rebecca has performed on stages all over the world. She was part of the international touring cast of Roseneath Theatre's The Money Tree, including a run at the prestigious Smith Centre in Las Vegas, NV. Her solo shows, the multiple award-winning Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl and its sequels, From Judy to Bette and Bond, James Bond: The Songs of 007 have played to sold out houses and audience acclaim wherever they go.

She is excited to celebrate the anniversary of Confessions of a Redheaded Coffeeshop Girl with a run at the Toronto Fringe (Alumnae Theatre) this July, and after beginning her Edinburgh Fringe journey 10 years ago with Confessions... at the Gilded Ballon Teviot, and bringing her last show From Judy to Bette in 2019 to the Gilded Balloon Patter House, it’s a thrill to return back to Gilded Ballon once again for its 40th Anniversary Season in August 2025.

Since that run in Edinburgh in 2015, Perry's shows have toured from top to bottom of the UK, all over Canada, and into both the US and Europe.

Connect with Rebecca: 📸 Instagram: @redheaded_coffeeshop_girl [https://www.instagram.com/redheaded_coffeeshop_girl] 🌐 Website: rebeccaperry.ca [https://www.rebeccaperry.ca]

Support Stageworthy If you love the show, consider supporting on Patreon: patreon.com/stageworthy [https://www.patreon.com/stageworthy]

Subscribe & Follow: 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stageworthy/id1071732834] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0b9Vl5lsMKqDc1UIYl5thh?si=216a7616653e42c4] | Podchaser [https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/stageworthy-416634] | Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ca3db4c6-c5b6-4791-b23f-2af83272ac85/stageworthy] | iHeart R [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1310-stageworthy-271061892/]

#411 – Rebecca Perry

Hosted by writer and performing, Phil Rickaby, Stageworthy is a weekly podcast about the performing arts in Canada. In each episode features intimate and knowledgeable discussions with artists from different disciplines, about creating and presenting work, the creative process, and more. Episodes arrive every Tuesday, with bonus episodes now and then.

Phil

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