Listen
Listen to the Podcast
Find us on Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music / Audible, IHeart Radio App, Player FM, Podchaser and Apple Podcasts.
Listen
Find us on Podbean App, Spotify, Amazon Music / Audible, IHeart Radio App, Player FM, Podchaser and Apple Podcasts.
Follow
Be sure to follow us on Instagram for audio selections and a short summary of the conversation between our producer and each of the artists.
Read
For each artists, our Producer will post a short spotlight! This will include general thoughts on the conversation, topics covered and what we learned from the experience.
Rebecca Russell and I share a common background in acting and performing. I first met Rebecca during Guys & Dolls, and since that show, she has never stopped performing and directing in Ottawa.
It’s truly impressive to hear Rebecca discuss her history with theatre—her time in opera, singing, dancing, and performing in Toronto and other cities—all culminating in a Dora Award win.
We talked about directing, and I quickly realized how differently we approach it. Rebecca seems completely at ease discussing the craft, developing a vision for a show, and bringing it to life. It all seems to come naturally to her, more so than many of the other art forms she practices. I’d say she feels entirely at home as a director, whereas, for me, it has always felt like an uphill battle. That part of our conversation really stuck with me. Listening to another creative mind break down their process and reflect on past projects was incredibly insightful. I admire Rebecca’s passion and confidence in an area where I’ve often felt like I’m playing catch-up.
Rebecca is currently working with OrKidstra, an incredible organization that I highly recommend you learn more about and support. She is also directing One Small Misstep, a brand-new musical debuting at the Undercurrents Festival in Ottawa this February. Sol One is proud to support this project, and I can’t wait to see Rebecca’s direction come to life on stage.
I first met Kevin when he auditioned for Guys & Dolls, a show I directed with Lost Baggage Musical Theatre in Ottawa. It was a delightful surprise to learn that Kevin had only been performing on stage for the past two years. While Kevin discovered his love for musical theatre later in life, his journey as an artist began much earlier—in elementary school. He shared how it all started with his enthusiasm for singing the national anthem at school. From there, his artistic path expanded to music, improv, and eventually musical theatre.
For Kevin, theatre became a place where he could embrace a diverse range of art forms all in one space. Musical theatre, as he describes it, is a vibrant blend of music, dance, acting, and visual arts, often enriched by improv. It also provides opportunities to teach and learn, something Kevin is deeply passionate about. He has a genuine love for education and takes pride in sharing his knowledge with others, inspiring the next generation of performers.
Kevin’s journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to discover or reignite your artistic passions. His enthusiasm and dedication make him not only a remarkable performer but also a true advocate for the power of creative expression.
Thank you, Kevin, for sharing your story and reminding us of the beauty in lifelong learning and the many ways art can connect and inspire us all.