What happens when the star of the show is someone who’s never rehearsed a line? In this episode, director-performer Rebecca Northan and actor Kristopher Bowman take us inside Murder-on-the-Lake, a one-of-a-kind theatrical experiment at the Shaw Festival. Each performance of this improvised murder mystery features a different audience member in a central role, supported by a cast of quick-thinking actors who shape the story in real time.

Rebecca shares how her background in improv helped shape the show’s spontaneous, responsive structure, while Bowman reflects on the vulnerability and excitement of performing in a world where anything might happen. It’s a conversation about trust, craft, and the joy of letting go of the script.

Rebecca Northan is an award-winning director and improviser whose hit show Blind Date has toured Canada, the UK, and the US, including an off-Broadway run. At Shaw, she’s been seen in The Game of Love and Chance and The Apple Cart, and created the hit shows Goblin: Macbeth and Undercover.

Kristopher Bowman is an actor and improviser known for roles in Witness for the Prosecution, Desire Under the Elms, and The Devil’s Disciple. A member of Shaw’s ensemble since 2017, this season appears in both Wait Until Dark and Murder-on-the-Lake.

Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.

Hosted by Alexis Milligan
Produced by Kelly Wong
Original Music by Travis Seetoo

We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

What does it mean to rehearse with care, rigour, and trust? Director Kimberley Rampersad and actor Virgilia Griffith join us for a deep and moving conversation about Blues for an Alabama Sky at the Shaw Festival, from its political weight to its lyrical beauty.

They talk about how Pearl Cleage’s 1995 play resonates today, how costumes and choreography influence character, and how actors and directors find each other through shared values and ambition. It's a conversation about legacy, joy, and the sacredness of the rehearsal room.

We are also joined by Jeff Irving who tells us all about Shaw Cricket!

Kimberley Rampersad is the Associate Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival and an award-winning director and choreographer whose work spans Shaw, Stratford, and stages across Canada. Last fall, she made her UK debut directing and choreographing The Red Shoes for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Virgilia Griffith is making her Shaw Festival debut in Blues for an Alabama Sky and Murder on the Lake. An acclaimed performer, she won a Dora Award for Harlem Duet and has appeared with Obsidian, Soulpepper, Canadian Stage, and the Stratford Festival.

Jeff Irving is a longtime Shaw performer known for his versatility in roles in Sweeney Todd to Cyrano de Bergerac. He’s appeared in Prince Caspian, White Christmas, and The Light in the Piazza, among many others. Offstage, he’s worked across the country and appeared on screen in Fargo, When Hope Calls, and Murdoch Mysteries.

Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.

Hosted by Alexis Milligan
Produced by Kelly Wong
Original Music by Travis Seetoo

We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com

How do you honour two of the greatest voices in jazz history? Ella & Louis creators and performers Alana Bridgewater and Jeremiah Sparks join us to talk about the personal stories, musical research, and collaborative energy behind their new show at the Shaw Festival.

From scatting origins to Oscar Peterson’s early recordings, this episode covers the legacy of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, and what it means to bring their joy, humour, and political weight into a contemporary performance. We also hear about how Alana ended up touring with Corey Hart.

Alana Bridgewater is a powerhouse performer and vocalist who has appeared across Canada in roles from Ma Rainey to Wiletta Mayer in Trouble in Mind. At Shaw, she’s known for My Fair Lady, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Amen Corner.

Jeremiah Sparks is a beloved Shaw Festival ensemble member and music director of The Shaw’s Gospel Choir. A celebrated actor and musician, he’s played Louis Armstrong in Satchmo Suite and Mufasa in The Lion King, with a deep legacy rooted in Nova Scotia’s gospel and jazz traditions.

Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.

Hosted by Alexis Milligan
Produced by Kelly Wong
Original Music by Travis Seetoo

We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com