Inclusive STAGES: Building Healthy Arts Spaces

Being a theater costume designer is about so much more than creating an outfit someone will wear for a performance. It’s about seeing that person, collaborating with them, and empowering them to bring this character to life night after night! Raquel Adorno began as a stage performer and, over time, transitioned into her most impactful role—theater costume designer. She shares about her entire jour...

There are so many other talented, dedicated, and caring folks out here supporting everyone who brings a production to life. And this conversation is actually the very first time I met Alexa Smith! She’s had a very similar journey to me with acting, motherhood, and EDI consulting. Alexa shares about her early acting career, what led her to become a consultant, and (possibly my favorite topic) how s...

I'm making good on a promise from my last solo episode—I’m talking about one of the most important and underrated skills that is missing from the theater industry. We haven't been educated about it, and yet it’s at the heart of all our creative work. Have you guessed what it is yet? When I say the word, it typically elicits groans—so get ready to groan. It's feedback and feedback re...

It’s hard to know how much of yourself to bring to a character as an actor. There’s also the question of which roles to even audition for? It can be absolutely exhausting trying to figure out which boxes to put yourself in and what to do with your talents in this industry. Which is why I’m grateful Jennifer Apple is here with me for this conversation! She shares how actors can take back their agen...

Politics is a part of not only the musical “Hamilton” but also the theater industry itself. From theater governance to policies that affect parents to actor taxation, there’s a whole section of theater that you may not be aware of—yet! If we hope to see change, we must take action. And that’s one major theme of this episode with Jared Dixon. Jared joins me for an incredible conversation! He shares...

One easy way to show that you value black actors and members of your production team is to have thought things through ahead of time. Another is to ask for and actually act on feedback. There is so much I want to share on this topic, so what better way than to record a podcast and share that with you? Today’s solo episode—and season 2 opener for the Inclusive Stages Podcast—is centered around my t...

At work, Jared and I try to stay as far apart as possible because he’s the actor and I’m the EDI consultant. This is Jared, as in Troilo—my husband and father to our son, Levi! This conversation is a huge treat for us! Join us as we discuss Jared’s 20+ year acting career, parenting in the theater industry, relationship building, the importance of curiosity, and the behind-the-scenes of starting my...

There are many conversations happening about mental health and the arts—but not much is being done about it. Art is a powerful medium for change, yet education is being minimized and artists aren’t being handled with care. Which is why it fills me with such joy to introduce you to these two incredible powerhouses who are in fact doing this work alongside me! Please meet Zena Collins and Dr. Charma...

Today, I want to talk about something I’ve wanted to share for a while—why I decided to retire from acting. On this podcast, I ask other actors and artists to come on and be vulnerable. I invite them to share their stories and dig deep with me. So it’s only fair that I do that myself. In this episode, I’m sharing my experiences as a commercial and theater actor—as a mom and an actress—and what ult...

When discussing inclusion in musical theater and the arts, body diversity must be a part of that conversation. Actors come in all shapes and sizes—with all of the lived experiences that go along with their bodies. The audition process can be a source of trauma—or inspiration! The performances themselves can be hurtful—or empowering! My guest today, Katy Geraghty, is a New York-based actor, perform...

Telling stories in the theater is evolving. There are intimacy coordinators and EDI consultants like me. But the real change is happening by the real people having real conversations and real growth with each other in real time. These productions aren’t just opportunities for the audience to grow and gain a different perspective—we, as actors, get to do this as well! And when I collaborated with C...

Creating inclusive spaces in rehearsal rooms is just one piece of the puzzle. But it has a huge ripple effect! Who wouldn’t want to feel heard, seen, and valued, right? (And this doesn’t just go for the actors, friends…) Part of my mission with this podcast is to share what I’ve learned—and continue to learn—on my journey as an EDI consultant. So today, I’m walking you through my CULTURE Roadmap....

Disability representation in theater is still a misunderstood and even avoided topic. But I’m hoping to change that with today’s conversation. Meet Brennan Srisirikul, a talented disabled actor, producer, and advocate! We bonded over coffee and the fact that, while progress has been made when it comes to disability and theater, there’s still work to do. We discuss everything from how we can tell d...

Being a “consent-forward artist” or birthing a “care-forward creative space” sounds lovely, but it’s a BIG job. The theater industry has historically had a “just push through” mentality. Thankfully, we’ve seen that begin to shift in the last few years, but not without some damage being done. Leigh Barrett is a beloved Boston-based actor, singer, and director, and she knows all too well the labor o...

How often do you get asked about your lived experiences? All those moments added up to create the person you are today, yet not all of us are fortunate enough to have people in our world willing to ask questions and listen to what we have to share. But Aaron Michael Ray saw a way to encourage, facilitate, and help all of us heal from conversations just like that. I’m so excited to bring you this i...

In order to tell a story, we need all aspects of the story. And that includes the difficult and tricky parts, the villains, the hurt. This conversation is real. It’s raw. It’s incredibly vulnerable. I’m joined by Victoria Omeregie and Jon Vellante in this first roundtable episode. I can’t think of two better actors for this conversation. I had the pleasure of working with them for Fairview at Spea...

Welcome to my first solo podcast episode! I’m discussing DEI work gone wrong and why I prefer to say EDI work. Words matter and there’s a very subtle difference between the two acronyms. I’ll share about the unique considerations for EDI work for the arts. But this episode is mostly focused on the 5 signs of bad DEI work we should all be aware of and my 5 commitments to you for the work we’re goin...

Have you ever stopped to think about the people—the actual humans—whose bodies are telling stories on stage? Or about the history of musical theater? How about the implicit bias that goes into what we see on stage? When I began doing EDI work for theater and the arts, I couldn’t find many resources about the topic of inclusion and Broadway musicals. That is… until I found the book called Broadway...

Being a multiracial actor is a unique experience. You feel pulled in several directions quite often and don’t always see a spot for someone like you on the screen or stage. I’m so grateful to have Corbin Bleu joining me for this conversation about this very topic! Not only am I a fan, we recently had the chance to work together on the world premiere of Summer Stock at the Goodspeed Opera House. Co...

Other industries have people who can help employees and employers navigate conflict or difficult conversations, so why doesn’t the theater industry? Inclusion consultants (or EDI consultants) aren’t new, but it’s a newer role in theaters and the arts. Today, I’m sharing more about my work in this industry, how I got here, and what I’m doing to further this work and help even more people! Inclusive...

This is your host, Kira Troilo, and today I’m joining you from the guest seat! In this podcast, I speak with theater makers, artists, directors, actors, and lovers and I ask them to share and be vulnerable. So, it only feels right for me to kick off the podcast by doing the same. You’ll hear about my childhood, life in the theater, who I am, the work I’m doing, and how exactly I got to this place....

Welcome to 'Inclusive Stages' -- the go-to weekly podcast for theater makers, theater artists and theater lovers who want to make our industry a better place for everyone. We'll chat with actors, directors, designers, scholars and more about the current landscape of the theater scene, and get their thoughts on how we can do better.  Host Kira Troilo will also give you a sneak peak i...