167. The Journey to Success as a Performer Finding Comfort in Memories and Music with Illeana Kirven

Illeana Kirven is a powerhouse vocalist and balladeer. She comes from an extensive theatrical and dance background and has performed coast to coast entertaining audiences of all sizes. Along with recording and performing LIVE, Illeana continues to maintain a career onstage. In 2007, she was awarded the prestigious Ostrander Award for Best Actor in a Musical for her portrayal of Caroline in Tony Kushner's Caroline, or Change in Memphis, TN.In 2023, Illeana teamed up with Horace Smith for Songs In The Key of Love for Valentines Day in St. Louis. She is currently on hiatus from the international tour of CHICAGO. Summary: In this conversation, Alicia and Illeana Kirven discuss their experiences as performers and the journey that led them to pursue a career in the arts. They talk about the joy of connecting with audiences and the importance of bringing joy to people through their performances. They also touch on the challenges of typecasting and the need for more diversity and equality in the industry. The conversation highlights the shared experiences and struggles of being performers and the determination to break free from stereotypes and pursue their passions. Illeana talks about her new show, 'Songs in the Key of Love,' which she wrote and performs with her friend Horace. The show features love songs, Motown, funk, and blues, and can be customized for different events and occasions. Keywords: performers, performing, career, arts, joy, connection, typecasting, diversity, equality, authenticity, entertainment industry, aspiring performers, loss, healing, music, show, love songs, Motown, funk, blues Takeaways: Typecasting can be a challenge for performers, especially when it limits their opportunities There is a need for more diversity and equality in the performing arts industry The journey to success as a performer requires determination and perseverance Maintaining authenticity in the entertainment industry can be challenging, but it is important to stay true to oneself. Illeana's new show, 'Songs in the Key of Love,' is a versatile performance featuring love songs, Motown, funk, and blues that can be customized for different events. Sound Bites: "If I can bring some joy to somebody, that's one of my biggest things with performing." "I don't always want to just be the black woman. I don't always want to be looked at and thought, oh, you would be great for this role because you're black and you're this age." "Maintaining who you are in this business can be really difficult." Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Excitement 04:01 Choosing Performing Over Other Careers 08:24 The Influence of Mentors and Teachers 13:16 Surprising Parallels in Their Lives 20:10 Compromising Themselves in the Industry 23:10 The Need for More Openness and Equality 25:15 Connecting with Audiences and Breaking Stereotypes 29:10 Putting in the Time and Effort 31:22 The Joy of Touring and Creating Memorable Moments 36:21 Maintaining Connections and Being Kind 39:19 Navigating Grief and Finding Comfort in Memories 43:32 Introducing 'Songs in the Key of Love' Tour To You: https://www.instagram.com/tours_to_you/ Stay connected with Illeana! Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.321illy.com/ Songs In the Key of Love Website: https://songsinthekeyoflove.com/ Chicago the Musical: ⁠https://www.chicagoontour.com/home Subscribe to The Eating Me Podcast on YouTube!! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@aliciachristian9226?si=lndTSV7K9miNuetj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stay in contact with Alicia! Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.aliciachristian.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/Divaleesh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thealiciachristian/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thealiciachristian?lang=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠