Life in Stages with Joel Greenberg

David has spent as much of his career onstage as he has in front of cameras. Stage credits include “The Nether” (Studio 180 theatre/Coalmine), “The Boy in the Moon” (Crows), “Noises Off” (Soulpepper), “Doubt” (Canadian Stage), “Frost/Nixon” (Vancouver Playhouse/ Canadian Stage), “Amadeus” (Citadel Theatre), “The Trials of Ezra Pound” (Stratford Festival) and “Nothing Sacred” (Winter Garden Theatre). Film and television roles have included “Burden of Truth”, “Designated Survivor”, “Saving Hope”, “Flashpoint”, “Republic of Doyle”, “The is Wonderland”, “Cold Squad”, “The Spiral Staircase” and “Street Legal”. Far too many credits to include them all here – best way forward: listen to my conversation with David and you’ll learn far more than any list of credits can provide.

Linda began her professional career at Second City (Toronto) where she performed, directed and conducted workshops. She has appeared in and directed many plays, films and television shows throughout Canada, the US, Europe, Russia and New Zealand.Stage credits include her work with the Stratford Festival, Tarragon Theatre, Canadian Stage, Theatre Aquarius, Studio 180 Theatre and Theatre Calgary, among many others.Television includes “Seinfeld”, “Fargo”, “Third Rock from the Sun”, “Everyone Loves Raymond”, “Monk”, “Degrassi”, “Sweet Z” and “Sisters”.Film credits include “Waiting for Guffman”, “Best in Show”, “Cinderella Man”, and 3 “Ernest” movies.Animation credits include “Paw Patrol”, “Thomas the Tank, “Cat in the Hat”, “Madeline” and “Fugged About “It”.Directing credits include Colin Mochrie in “HYPROV” (Just for Laughs and the Edinburgh Festival) and a season of “Love It or Lose It”.Linda is probably best known as the Philadelphia Cream Cheese Angel (a campaign that ran for over 26 years) – and for all this (and more) her proudest work-to-date is her fabulous, blended family.

Tom has been a member of the Stratford Company for 12 seasons. Additionally, he has performed in “Someone Else”, “The Seagull” and “The Wedding Party”, at Crows Theatre, Hairspray, both in Toronto and on Broadway, “Hamlet” at the National Arts Centre, Robert Lepage’s “Romeo et Juliette”, “I Am My Own Wife”, at the Vancouver Playhouse, and “Tartuffe”, at Canadian Stage. On television and in film, Tom can be seen in “This is Wonderland”, The Day After Tomorrow”, “Under the Banner of Heaven” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Cabinet of Curiosities”.Tom has just completed a highly successful run in Michael Healey’s new play. “Rogers V. Rogers” and in the 2026 summer season at the Shaw Festival, “Amadeus” and “Heartbreak House” will be added to his considerable resume.

Bringing this season to a close, Mike becomes host to Joel -- and this is their 3rd conversation, which makes sense since we are in Season 3 -- how the podcast has developed, is developing, will continue to evolve PLUS the reality of stepping down from Studio 180 Theatre after 20 years as Artistic Director and, altogether, 50 years in the professional theatre world. Regrets? Triumphs? Dreams? Tune in and listen to Mike and Joel jostle, challenge and underline the pure pleasure of podcasting.

Judith is the author of more than a dozen plays, all produced in Canada and many  translated and produced internationally. She has written two produced films and  two television films, plus many radio plays. Judith lists among her many awards two Governor General Awards, a Toronto Arts  Award, a Dora Award and a Chalmers Award, The Epilepsy Ontario Award, the  Susan Smith Blackburn Award and The Amnesty International Freedom of  Expressions Award  In addition, she is an Officer of the Order of Canada as well as a member of the  Royal Society. For over 30 years, Judith has taught theatre at the University of Guelph.

A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Susan has appeared in  leading roles in theatres across the country, including The Royal Manitoba Theatre  centre, The Citadel, The Banff Centre, The Stratford Festival, The Shaw Festival. As a founding member of Soulpepper Theatre Company, she appeared in Don  Carlos during the company’s inaugural season. Among other Soulpepper  productions were her own adaptations of Platonov, Betrayal, A Chorus of  Disapproval and The Winter’s Tale. On the small screen, Susan has appeared in such series as Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle, CBS’s Ransom, HBO Canada’s Less than Kind, and recurring roles on  CTV/Hulu’s Cardinal and Global TV’s Departure. As though this isn’t enough, and it isn’t, Susan is the renowned co-creator and co-writer of the internationally-acclaimed mini-series Slings and  Arrows. In 2017, Susan was awarded the Order of Canada. (And there’s a lot more to add, so please check out Susan’s professional history.)

Evan has been a leading player across various stages and screens in Canada and  the United States for 30 years.  As a longtime member of both the Stratford and Shaw festivals, he has played ‘Sky  Masterson’ in Guys & Dolls, ‘Mercutio’ in Romeo and Juliet, the title role in  Pericles, ‘Stanhope’ in Journey’s End, ‘Jack” in The Importance of Being Earnest.  Musical theatre credits include his Dora Award-winning performance in Fun  Home, as well as starring roles in We Will Rock You and Dear Evan Hansen. In film and television, Evan has been seen in Under the Banner of Heaven,  Murdoch Mysteries, Holly Hobbie, and his Canadian Screen nominated  performance in Departure.

I first saw Barbara in a Toronto production of The Dining Room. I was completely  taken with her performance, her warmth, her clarity. I hoped that I would have  the opportunity of working with her, and in 2006 we finally did get to work  together — The Arab-Israeli Cookbook provided the opportunity. And I’ve  followed her career since then. Theatre audiences will know Barbara from her performances in A Doll’s House  (Belfry Theatre, Victoria), Calendar Girls (Royal Alex, Toronto/MTC, Winnipeg),  Half Life (Tarragon Theatre, Toronto), Criminals in Love/Escape from Happiness  (Factory Theatre, Toronto). Film and Television audiences will recognize Barbara from Learning to Love Again,  Skinwalkers, Hyper Cube, The Boys, Murdoch Mysteries, Best Laid Plans, Little  Mosque on the Prairie and Wonderland. 

Brad is among the most produced and prolific Canadian playwrights. Born in  Edmonton, he won his first playwriting competition at the age of 17. He hasn’t  stopped writing since. Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, which premiered at  Alberta Theatre projects PlayRites in 1989, after being developed by Workshop  West (Edmonton), launched an international career with productions that  followed in Toronto, New York, Chicago, Milan and London. The play has been  translated into many languages and has recently been produced in Athens, Sao  Paulo and Buenos Aires. The film version, Love and Human Remains, won Brad a  Genie Award in 1994 for Best Adapted Screenplay. Poor Superman, Martin Yesterday, Snake in Fridge, Cold Meat Party, True Love Lies  and 5 @ 50 followed – as have many, many more. Brad’s two musicals are Outrageous (composed by Joey Miller) and Prom Night of  the Living Dead (composed by Darrin Hagen).Do yourselves a favour and check out Brad’s complete professional history - you  can find him at www.Bradfraser.net.

Drew’s tally of theatre, film and television credits is daunting, and this thumbnail  sketch barely scratches the surface. Fourteen seasons at the Shaw Festival include roles in The Devil’s Disciple, The  Playboy of the Western World, Cavalcade, The Front Page and Cyrano de Bergerac.  Elsewhere, and right across the country, Andrew has performed in Cymbeline and  Richard III (Stratford Festival), Blithe Spirit (Neptune Theatre, Halifax), Stuff  Happens (Studio 180 Theatre/Mirvish Productions), The Philadelphia Story (MTC,  Winnipeg) and Travesties (Vancouver Playhouse). Andrew’s film and television appearances include Fahrenheit 451, Lizzie Borden,  Untitled History Project, Virgin Suicides, Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Night Before,  The Morning After, Anne with an E, Designated Survivor, 12 Monkeys, Orphan  Black, Trailer Park Boys, Missing, Degrassi: the Next Generation and The  Associates. 

Many of my guests have discussed the paths they followed through careers both  linear and pin-ball like. Allan Stratton begins by stating that he was raised by a  single mom in Bruce County, Sarnia and London. He has lived in Manhattan, Montreal, Vancouver and Switzerland — but mostly in  Toronto. Allan began his professional life as an actor, moved on to playwriting (I ‘met’ Allan  by directing his very successful play, Nurse Jane Goes to Hawaii — we didn’t meet  at the time, and it’s likely that until reading this, if he does read it, he won’t have  known that our separate paths crossed), and then he spent a few years as head of  an arts school. Since 2000, Allan has been a novelist. His books have won awards and have been  published in over 20 countries — look him up to get the full picture.

Ben is in his 50th year as a professional actor. And as weighty as this is, his family  history that is equally striking. To take nothing away from Ben, himself, his lineage traces back to his maternal  grandparents, Sir Lewis Casson and Dame Sybil Thorndike. Ann Casson and Douglas Campbell are his parents. And his ‘inheritance’ extends to his siblings, of  course. Back to Ben: his career began in England, where he trained at the Bristol Old Vic  Theatre School. He returned to Canada to play Troilus at the National Arts Centre.  Thereafter, Ben spent 14 seasons at the Shaw Festival, 10 seasons at Stratford, 4  with the National Arts Centre and 2 with Theatre Plus, in Toronto. In addition, Ben  has played in theatres across the country, and he has appeared in various  Canadian television series and TV film specials. 

Jon and I met in the early 90’s at the University of Waterloo where he was among  the students who, years later, performed in The Laramie Project, the play that  launched Studio 180 Theatre. Following his training at the National Theatre School of Canada, we worked  together again on Our Class. Many seasons followed at the Stratford Festival,  where he continues to perform. Among his many festival credits are Henry VIII,  The Music Man, Orpheus Descending and Hamlet. Elsewhere, Jon has worked at the Blyth Festival, Canadian Stage and Soulpepper. Law and Order: Toronto, Republic of Doyle, Murdoch Mysteries and Nikita  represent some of Jon’s tv and film work.

Paul juggles a career as playwright and actor with effortless dexterity. Having  trained at the National Theatre School, Paul understands the value of being both  on and offstage, although as a playwright it can be fairly argued that he is as  present as anyone, maybe even more so. Paul’s capacity to move between classical and new work is further proof of a  natural affinity for stages of all kinds. Many seasons at Stratford have included  roles such as Bottom, Lancelot Gobbo and Donalbain. Elsewhere, Paul has worked  with Factory Theatre (Toronto), National Arts Centre, Centaur Theatre (Montreal),  Tarragon Theatre and the Citadel Theatre (Edmonton). Playwright credits include The Gay Heritage Project, High Gravel Blind and  Offensive Shadows. 

Among the country’s most versatile actors, Nora has performed in every style, just  about everywhere in Canada.  Listing many of her theatre credits will illustrate her range: Measure for Measure  (Arts Club, Vancouver), John (Company Theatre, Toronto), For the Pleasure of  Seeing Her Again (Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon), The Matchmaker (Stratford  Festival), The Heiress (Shaw Festival), The Stone Angel (Canadian Stage), Hello,  Dolly (Citadel Theatre, Edmonton). Nora’s work in film and television has included Son of a Critch, Cardinal, Saving  Hope, Orphan Black and The Associates.

Matthew has worked in both opera and theatre for the past 20 years. Born in  Canada, Matthew has spent much of his professional life in Europe, where his  theatrical work includes the French-language premieres of Dancing at Lughnasa,  by Brian Friel, Nightingale and Our country’s Good, by Timberlake Wertenbaker.  His translation of Fernando Krapp Wrote Me This Letter, by Tankred Dorst, was  among his first projects as Artistic Director at Canadian Stage. (He continued as  Artistic and General Director until June 2018.) After spending 3 seasons as Resident Director at the opera studio of the Paris  Opera-La Bastille, he was appointed Director of the Atelier du Chin, in Colmar,  France. Numerous opera productions include Larmes de Couteau and Alexandre  Bis by Bohuslav Martinu, Lucia di Lammermoor (Oper Frankfurt), and Die Trilogie  dee Frauen (Staatsoper Hamburg). Matthew was named Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French  Ministry of Culture in July 2008.

Multi award-winning actor, Rosemary’s resume is its own mini-series. The range of  her theatre, television and film credits is more than this brief snapshot can fairly  provide. I first saw Rosemary at the Centaur Theatre, in Montreal, where her performance  in Wit stays with me still. Raw, uncompromising, visceral — all these words barely  convey the power she brought to the stage. Additionally, she has performed in  Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Tartuffe, King Charles III, Fallen Angels and A  Streetcar Named Desire. Television performances include Fellow Travellers, Street Legal, Orphan Black, This  is Wonderland and The Road to Avonlea. Total Recall, Twins and Dreamcatcher are  but a few of the many films in which Rosemary has performed.

Ronnie is one of Canada’s foremost theatre artists, credited with creating some of  the world’s most elaborate and provocative puppetry. Ronnie Burkett Theatre of  Marionettes was formed in 1986, continuously playing to great critical and public  acclaim on Canada’s major stages, and as a guest company on numerous  international tours abroad. Among Ronnie’s many awards as playwright, actor and designer, are the 2009  Siminovitch Prize in Theatre and The Herbert Whittaker Drama Bench Award for  outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre.  International acclaim has included the Village Voice Obie Award, the GLAAD  Award for Outstanding Theater, four Citations of Excellence in the Arts of Puppetry  from the American Center of the Union Internationale de la Marionette. In 2019 Ronnie was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2024  he received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime  Achievement in Theatre. He is the recipient of the Emmy Award for Excellence in  Puppetry. To learn more and to discover Ronnie’s full professional biography, check him out  at johnlambert.ca. 

Currently Co-Artistic Director of Harold Green Jewish Theatre, Avery has an  extensive resume as an actor both in Canada and beyond. In Canada, Avery’s performed in Guys & Dolls, Annie Get Your Gun, Hairspray,  Sunset Boulevard and Little Shop of Horrors.  Internationally, Avery was seen in Man of La Mancha, Candide, Pirates of  Penzance and The Pajama Game among many others.

Thanks to Zieglerwealth.com -- and continued thanks to all those who help, and have helped, to keep Life in Stages moving forward since our launch exactly one year ago, I'm thrilled to introduce you to this season's sponsor -- and Life in Stage's first season sponsor, in fact: http://Zieglerwealth.com, owned by Tim Zeigler, contacted me during Season 2 with his generous offer to support the podcast. That he found me without my having to figure out how/where sponsors hide out, is all the more delightful.