PODCAST

tits + teeth

Who Are We?

Tits and Teeth Podcast is an all inclusive platform that aims to educate and inspire by highlighting stories from the world’s most prestigious creators, which is unveiled while sipping on their guests favourite cocktails! Performers, Jennifer Thiessen and Kyla Musselman, are the co-hosts and producers who are dedicated to breaking barriers, preserving and passing down the legacy of our predecessors, whilst sparking joy! Join these ladies for lots of laughs, endless banter, and an insight into the minds of some of North America's finest theatre workers, both on stage and off. Their highest ambition is to serve the theatre and dance community on their journey with the hopes of helping them thrive as both humans and artists, who, (after listening to this podcast, of course!) will go through their day with their tits up and those teeth out, ready to take on the world!

Cheers!!

Who Are We?

Kyla Musselman

Kyla is forever grateful to be growing alongside Jen as they continue this podcasting adventure! Hailing from Stratford Ontario, she now lives with her fiance on the east end of Toronto. Kyla is a multi talented actor who attended Sheridan College's Musical Theatre Performance program and has had the privilege of working all across this beautiful country since graduating. Some of her favourite credits to date include: Shout! (Magnus Theatre) Newsies, Snow White (Drayton Entertainment) Mamma Mia!, All Shook Up (Globe Theatre) Legally Blonde, Jersey Boys (Stage West) Saturday Night Fever (North American Tour) Mary Poppins, The Addams Family, Shrek, Beauty And The Beast (Neptune Theatre) Crazy For You (Capitol Theatre) and 3 seasons at the Charlottetown Festival performing in Anne of Green Gables, Evangeline, and Ring of Fire. Kyla has a passion for thrifting, bouldering, scotch, and The Office, has been told she's a pretty sassy lady, and is a professional ninja wanna-be. Come share a drink with us, and remember, keep those tits up, and your teeth out!

With a wink and a nod to the showgirls of musical theatre,

we welcome you to

tits + teeth!

Jen Thiessen

Jennifer Thiessen, originally from Sydney Australia, is an actor, dancer, choreographer, dance educator and podcast enthusiast living in New York City! Jen specializes in musical theatre, film and television, circus, and live events across North America. She was thrilled to meet her mate Kyla on the National Tour of Saturday Night Fever, where they dreamed of making this podcast!

Selected performance credits include Kitty in The Drowsy Chaperone, Throughly Modern Millie, Elf; The Musical, Rock of Ages, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid (Drayton Entertainment), Crazy for You, Singin’ in the Rain (Capitol Theatre), Guys and Dolls (The Rev), West Side Story (Original choreography, Rainbow Stage). Television: Masters Of Illusion (Season 2. ) Choreography: Joseph... (The LOT, BWW Nomination for Best Choreography), Aladdin (Mandat Theatre, Dubai), 2015 Pan Am Games (Assistant Choreographer/ Cirque Du Soleil), Disney's Newsies (Assistant Dir/Choreo, Forestburgh Playhouse). Jennifer is also the head choreographer for event entertainment companies in Toronto, New York and Lisbon. Jen is thrilled to continue this journey with Kyla and their awesome listeners, cause those legends always keep their tits up and their teeth out!

Episodes

Episdoes

Season 5

Episode #1 - Steve Cota

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), and West Side Story (Vancouver Opera).

Follow Steve on Instagram @cota7692 and In The Wings @inthewings.online

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

Episode #2 - Tracey Flye

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. 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.

Follow Tracey on Instagram @traceyflye

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

Episode #3 - Julie Tomaino

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. 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. 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.

Follow Julie on Instagram @julietomaino. Visit her website: JulieTomaino.com

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

Episode #4 - Stafford Arima

Stafford Arima is the artistic director of Theatre Calgary in Alberta Canada, a role that appeared on his path while thriving as a freelance director in New York City. 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.

Follow Stafford on Instagram @staffordarima. Visit his website: StaffordArima.com

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

Episode #5 - Katie German

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. 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)

Follow Katie on Instagram @katrinagerman

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

Episode #6 - Stephanie Graham

Stephanie Graham is a director, choreographer and producer. She encourages us all to sit in that producer seat at least once, but how do you do it? 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 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. 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, 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.

Follow Stephanie on Instagram @sgrahamchoreo. Visit her website: StephanieGraham.ca

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

Episode #7 - Debbie Patterson

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. 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.

Follow Debbie on Instagram @cripplethreat247

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