The StageLync Podcast

Erica McCalman (she/her) is a creative director, speaker and convenor working at the intersection of experimental art, climate and systems change. She is interested in regenerative economies, opening opportunities for collaboration between different lived experiences, connecting people to deeper conversations and uplifting new models and narratives in service of people and planet. Her producing credits include Darwin Festival, Sydney Festival, Next Wave, Performance Space, APAM, Melbourne Fringe and Sydney WorldPride. She has mentored and facilitated for organisations including A Climate for Art (ACFA), Vitalstatistix, Hyphenated Projects, Creative Australia, Performing Lines, Darwin Fringe and Artback NT. For more than a decade Erica has been an advocate for the arts through grassroots efforts driven by the sector and her association with Theatre Network Australia. She has served on the boards of Theatre Network Australia, ILBIJERRI, La Mama Theatre Company and on the advisory group for the Arts Wellbeing Collective. As a speaker she is known for balancing warmth and good humour with unflinching insight into the complexities we navigate in turbulent times. A Ballardong Noongar woman with Irish convict, Scottish and Cornish heritage, she is also neurodivergent. Erica is a graduate of Small Giants Academy’s Mastery of Business and Empathy and Climate Leadership Accelerator programs. In 2008 Erica attained her Bachelor of Fine Art (Production) from the University of Melbourne, Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Roselle Bernardo Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo and Alexandra Baxter Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Erica McCalman (she/her) is a creative director, speaker and convenor working at the intersection of experimental art, climate and systems change. She is interested in regenerative economies, opening opportunities for collaboration between different lived experiences, connecting people to deeper conversations and uplifting new models and narratives in service of people and planet. Her producing credits include Darwin Festival, Sydney Festival, Next Wave, Performance Space, APAM, Melbourne Fringe and Sydney WorldPride. She has mentored and facilitated for organisations including A Climate for Art (ACFA), Vitalstatistix, Hyphenated Projects, Creative Australia, Performing Lines, Darwin Fringe and Artback NT. For more than a decade Erica has been an advocate for the arts through grassroots efforts driven by the sector and her association with Theatre Network Australia. She has served on the boards of Theatre Network Australia, ILBIJERRI, La Mama Theatre Company and on the advisory group for the Arts Wellbeing Collective. As a speaker she is known for balancing warmth and good humour with unflinching insight into the complexities we navigate in turbulent times. A Ballardong Noongar woman with Irish convict, Scottish and Cornish heritage, she is also neurodivergent. Erica is a graduate of Small Giants Academy’s Mastery of Business and Empathy and Climate Leadership Accelerator programs. In 2008 Erica attained her Bachelor of Fine Art (Production) from the University of Melbourne, Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Roselle Bernardo Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo and Alexandra Baxter Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Donna is an award winning thought leader, writer and strategist for community engagement, audience development and social justice. She is President of Walker International Communications Group, Inc., a 40 year old boutique marketing and audience development consulting agency for arts and culture. Her client base is global and she is an Adjunct Professor at New York University and Columbia University.       “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Donna is an award winning thought leader, writer and strategist for community engagement, audience development and social justice. She is President of Walker International Communications Group, Inc., a 40 year old boutique marketing and audience development consulting agency for arts and culture. Her client base is global and she is an Adjunct Professor at New York University and Columbia University.       @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Aby Cohen is a Brazilian designer, curator, and educator working across theatre, exhibitions, cinema, and other live events. PhD in Theatre Practice and Theory. Awarded the Prague Quadrennial 2011 Golden Triga as curator and designer of the Brazil National Exhibition. Active member of OISTAT since 2003, currently serving as President, re-elected for a second term: 2015–2029. Shaped by a multicultural, multilingual, and religiously diverse family of immigrants from Europe and the Middle East who rebuilt their lives in Brazil in the 1950s, Aby has long explored the themes of borders and territories—both geographic and symbolic—through her artistic practice and personal journey.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Aby Cohen is a Brazilian designer, curator, and educator working across theatre, exhibitions, cinema, and other live events. PhD in Theatre Practice and Theory. Awarded the Prague Quadrennial 2011 Golden Triga as curator and designer of the Brazil National Exhibition. Active member of OISTAT since 2003, currently serving as President, re-elected for a second term: 2015–2029. Shaped by a multicultural, multilingual, and religiously diverse family of immigrants from Europe and the Middle East who rebuilt their lives in Brazil in the 1950s, Aby has long explored the themes of borders and territories—both geographic and symbolic—through her artistic practice and personal journey.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis  

Imogen Ross is an Australian freelance theatre designer, researcher and maker whose practice spans over three decades of scenographic work for stage and site-specific performance.    She writes and researches APDGreen Conversations, a national online platform to promote ecological approaches in Australian performance design for the Australian Production Design Guild, and in 2022 was appointed Sustainability Manager at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (N.I.D.A.). There she works closely with course leaders to embed eco-creative sustainable thinking processes and the Theatre Green Book into the curriculum, as well as helping the entire institution achieve its Net Zero de-carbonisation targets.   In 2025, Imogen presented her design-led research on SCOBY as a living material for ecoscenography at World Stage Design in Sharjah, UAE, where she also initiated and then hosted the Green Conversation Café - an opportunity for designers and performance makers to sit together and share ideas on the impact of climate change, and greener practices in their work. She has published on scenography, co writing Performance Design in Australia in 2001 with fellow designer Kristen Anderson, as well as contributing to international discourse on Australian performance practices with Dr Tanja Beer, the author of Ecoscenography.   She is currently studying at Griffith University, with previous degrees awarded by U.N.E.(Drama and Psychology) and W.A.A.P.A. ( Production Design). Her research and design projects focus on sustainability and material innovation, often incorporating upcycled, found and nature-sourced elements.   You can read more about Imogen’s work and research in this recent Arts Hub feature: https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/from-set-design-to-touring-how-can-we-make-theatre-more-environmentally-sustainable-2851622/ Additional resources and writing on sustainable theatre and filmmaking can also be found via her APDG page: https://apdg.org.au/resources/apdgreen     “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Imogen Ross is an Australian freelance theatre designer, researcher and maker whose practice spans over three decades of scenographic work for stage and site-specific performance.    She writes and researches APDGreen Conversations, a national online platform to promote ecological approaches in Australian performance design for the Australian Production Design Guild, and in 2022 was appointed Sustainability Manager at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (N.I.D.A.). There she works closely with course leaders to embed eco-creative sustainable thinking processes and the Theatre Green Book into the curriculum, as well as helping the entire institution achieve its Net Zero de-carbonisation targets.   In 2025, Imogen presented her design-led research on SCOBY as a living material for ecoscenography at World Stage Design in Sharjah, UAE, where she also initiated and then hosted the Green Conversation Café - an opportunity for designers and performance makers to sit together and share ideas on the impact of climate change, and greener practices in their work. She has published on scenography, co writing Performance Design in Australia in 2001 with fellow designer Kristen Anderson, as well as contributing to international discourse on Australian performance practices with Dr Tanja Beer, the author of Ecoscenography.   She is currently studying at Griffith University, with previous degrees awarded by U.N.E.(Drama and Psychology) and W.A.A.P.A. ( Production Design). Her research and design projects focus on sustainability and material innovation, often incorporating upcycled, found and nature-sourced elements.   You can read more about Imogen’s work and research in this recent Arts Hub feature: https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/from-set-design-to-touring-how-can-we-make-theatre-more-environmentally-sustainable-2851622/ Additional resources and writing on sustainable theatre and filmmaking can also be found via her APDG page: https://apdg.org.au/resources/apdgreen   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Zoie Golding MBE is a critically acclaimed dance pioneer and social innovator with over 25 years of impact across the UK and international dance and culture scene. An Artistic Director, Executive Producer, and CEO. She is the Founder of ZoieLogic, one of the UK’s leading companies challenging perceptions of who dance is for and how it is experienced. From powerful touring productions and unforgettable mass dance events and opening ceremonies to grassroots social empowerment and getting hundreds of boys and men dancing, Zoie’s work is driven by one belief: human connection through movement matters and anywhere can be a dance floor. [email protected]     “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Zoie Golding MBE is a critically acclaimed dance pioneer and social innovator with over 25 years of impact across the UK and international dance and culture scene. An Artistic Director, Executive Producer, and CEO. She is the Founder of ZoieLogic, one of the UK’s leading companies challenging perceptions of who dance is for and how it is experienced. From powerful touring productions and unforgettable mass dance events and opening ceremonies to grassroots social empowerment and getting hundreds of boys and men dancing, Zoie’s work is driven by one belief: human connection through movement matters and anywhere can be a dance floor. [email protected]   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Ryan Saab, Executive Vice President of Talent & Creative Casting for RWS Global, oversees recruitment for all live entertainment experiences within the company’s dynamic portfolio of large-scale entertainment operations. Ryan has nearly two decades of expertise in entertainment operations, casting, and creative development. His profound understanding of assembling incredible internal and external teams is evident in his extensive network of relationships, including celebrity talent, managers, publicists, trade organizations and talent agencies within the industry. Under the RWS Global umbrella, Ryan orchestrated the formation of ARC, a global theatrical and commercial casting powerhouse, contributing to over 1,000 notable films, television and commercial projects, more than 150 Broadway productions, and various national and international touring shows. ARC’s impressive roster includes major corporations such as Apple and Netflix, acclaimed Broadway and National tour productions like Othello, Life of Pi, Chicago the Musical, and Disney’s The Lion King, and iconic entertainment brands including the Radio City Rockettes.In his role at RWS Global, Ryan spearheads the entertainment operations, talent casting, creative development, and brand strategy for an extensive portfolio of live event experiences, spanning Broadway and cruise line productions, corporate events, as well as immersive installations and pop-ups across 150 venues. Notably, Ryan manages over 100 productions and turn-key entertainment operations for many of the world’s leading cruise lines, including Holland America Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Cunard, Marella Cruises, Azamara Cruises, P+O Cruises and MSC Cruises. His leadership has been instrumental in successfully assembling and managing a robust internal entertainment team that manages over 8,000 singers, dancers, actors, musicians, technicians, creative team members, producers, and designers for all projects within the RWS Group with annual operating and developmental budgets exceeding $75M. Prior to joining RWS Global, Ryan served as the Head of Casting for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. As a key member of the Executive Producing Team, he played a pivotal role in the operations of existing shows and the full-scale execution of new productions, including a Broadway portfolio of shows. Ryan's dedication and exceptional contributions were formally recognized when he received Royal Caribbean's coveted 'Employee of the Year' award in 2018, a testament to his excellence in the cruise entertainment industry.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Ryan Saab, Executive Vice President of Talent & Creative Casting for RWS Global, oversees recruitment for all live entertainment experiences within the company’s dynamic portfolio of large-scale entertainment operations. Ryan has nearly two decades of expertise in entertainment operations, casting, and creative development. His profound understanding of assembling incredible internal and external teams is evident in his extensive network of relationships, including celebrity talent, managers, publicists, trade organizations and talent agencies within the industry. Under the RWS Global umbrella, Ryan orchestrated the formation of ARC, a global theatrical and commercial casting powerhouse, contributing to over 1,000 notable films, television and commercial projects, more than 150 Broadway productions, and various national and international touring shows. ARC’s impressive roster includes major corporations such as Apple and Netflix, acclaimed Broadway and National tour productions like Othello, Life of Pi, Chicago the Musical, and Disney’s The Lion King, and iconic entertainment brands including the Radio City Rockettes.In his role at RWS Global, Ryan spearheads the entertainment operations, talent casting, creative development, and brand strategy for an extensive portfolio of live event experiences, spanning Broadway and cruise line productions, corporate events, as well as immersive installations and pop-ups across 150 venues. Notably, Ryan manages over 100 productions and turn-key entertainment operations for many of the world’s leading cruise lines, including Holland America Line, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Cunard, Marella Cruises, Azamara Cruises, P+O Cruises and MSC Cruises. His leadership has been instrumental in successfully assembling and managing a robust internal entertainment team that manages over 8,000 singers, dancers, actors, musicians, technicians, creative team members, producers, and designers for all projects within the RWS Group with annual operating and developmental budgets exceeding $75M. Prior to joining RWS Global, Ryan served as the Head of Casting for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. As a key member of the Executive Producing Team, he played a pivotal role in the operations of existing shows and the full-scale execution of new productions, including a Broadway portfolio of shows. Ryan's dedication and exceptional contributions were formally recognized when he received Royal Caribbean's coveted 'Employee of the Year' award in 2018, a testament to his excellence in the cruise entertainment industry.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Tekya “Abramz” Abraham is a Ugandan creative facilitator, veteran Hip Hop artist, B-boy (breakdancer),  and educator who uses his talents, skills, and influence to drive personal and community  transformation. He is one half of Uganda’s veteran Hiphop duo, Sylvester & Abramz, and the founder  and director of Breakdance Project Uganda, a voluntary non-profit organization promoting education,  empowerment, and social change through dance, creative expression and life skills training. Featured in  the award-winning documentary Bouncing Cats, Abramz works globally as a performer, teacher, facilitator and mentor committed to growth, leadership, wellness, critical thinking, and community  building. www.abramztekya.com   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Tekya “Abramz” Abraham is a Ugandan creative facilitator, veteran Hip Hop artist, B-boy (breakdancer),  and educator who uses his talents, skills, and influence to drive personal and community  transformation. He is one half of Uganda’s veteran Hiphop duo, Sylvester & Abramz, and the founder  and director of Breakdance Project Uganda, a voluntary non-profit organization promoting education,  empowerment, and social change through dance, creative expression and life skills training. Featured in  the award-winning documentary Bouncing Cats, Abramz works globally as a performer, teacher, facilitator and mentor committed to growth, leadership, wellness, critical thinking, and community  building. www.abramztekya.com   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Dr Dorita Hannah is an independent academic and trans-disciplinary designer based in Aotearoa / New Zealand whose expertise lies in shaping contemporary cultural environments: particularly theatre architecture, public space and urban scenography. She has published on Performance Design and Event-Space with her latest co-authored book Perform_Design_Act coming out in the new year. Hannah’s ‘critical spatial practice’ involves devising and directing exhibitions, installations, performances, feasts, symposia and workshops. These have gained design awards and been regularly published and internationally exhibited.  Her current research engages with decolonial theories and ‘performative spacing’ to acknowledge diverse communities and challenge familiar Western models of public architecture. https://doritahannah.academia.edu         “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis  

Dr Dorita Hannah is an independent academic and trans-disciplinary designer based in Aotearoa / New Zealand whose expertise lies in shaping contemporary cultural environments: particularly theatre architecture, public space and urban scenography. She has published on Performance Design and Event-Space with her latest co-authored book Perform_Design_Act coming out in the new year. Hannah’s ‘critical spatial practice’ involves devising and directing exhibitions, installations, performances, feasts, symposia and workshops. These have gained design awards and been regularly published and internationally exhibited.  Her current research engages with decolonial theories and ‘performative spacing’ to acknowledge diverse communities and challenge familiar Western models of public architecture. https://doritahannah.academia.edu       @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Roger Melvin is a versatile Director and Stage Manager who began his journey in the film industry in 2006 as an Assistant Director. Over the years he has steadily worked his way up to the Director's chair as well as the lead stage manager for Dancing With The Stars and American Idol. This unique blend of experience has shaped him into a creative leader capable of delivering captivating and cohesive productions across a wide range of mediums.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis  

Roger Melvin is a versatile Director and Stage Manager who began his journey in the film industry in 2006 as an Assistant Director. Over the years he has steadily worked his way up to the Director's chair as well as the lead stage manager for Dancing With The Stars and American Idol. This unique blend of experience has shaped him into a creative leader capable of delivering captivating and cohesive productions across a wide range of mediums.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Tamara L Honesty is an Associate Professor of Scenic Design at West Virginia University’s School of Theatre & Dance. Her work has been featured in the World Stage Design digital gallery, the USA-USITT Prague Quadrennial Gallery Exhibit (alongside her students’ work), and USITT. Her notable scenic designs include An Evening with Groucho for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (broadcast on PBS), Merchant of Venice at Cleveland Play House, and the world premieres of This is Tom Jones! and Family Ties at the Human Race Theatre Company. In 2022, she designed the set for the Off-Broadway world premiere of The Memory Exam at 59E59 Theatres with Oberon Theatre Ensemble. Tammy currently serves as Treasurer for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and is a proud member of USA Local 829 as a scenic designer. In 2019, she led a Kent State student team painting a nearly full-scale, 3D-printed replica of Pio Fedi’s Liberty of Poetry, exhibited at the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum. Tammy also co-authored The Fake Food Cookbook: Props You Can’t Eat for Theatre, Film, and TV. Her second book, The Fake Food Cookbook Volume 2: Props You Can Eat for Theatre, Film and TV, is now available.     “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Tamara L Honesty is an Associate Professor of Scenic Design at West Virginia University’s School of Theatre & Dance. Her work has been featured in the World Stage Design digital gallery, the USA-USITT Prague Quadrennial Gallery Exhibit (alongside her students’ work), and USITT. Her notable scenic designs include An Evening with Groucho for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (broadcast on PBS), Merchant of Venice at Cleveland Play House, and the world premieres of This is Tom Jones! and Family Ties at the Human Race Theatre Company. In 2022, she designed the set for the Off-Broadway world premiere of The Memory Exam at 59E59 Theatres with Oberon Theatre Ensemble. Tammy currently serves as Treasurer for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and is a proud member of USA Local 829 as a scenic designer. In 2019, she led a Kent State student team painting a nearly full-scale, 3D-printed replica of Pio Fedi’s Liberty of Poetry, exhibited at the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum. Tammy also co-authored The Fake Food Cookbook: Props You Can’t Eat for Theatre, Film, and TV. Her second book, The Fake Food Cookbook Volume 2: Props You Can Eat for Theatre, Film and TV, is now available.     @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Lisa Richards Toney became President and CEO of APAP (association of performing arts professionals) on July 1, 2020, bringing more than 25 years of experience leading a range of small and large arts and humanities organizations, managing change, and building stability. Since 2020, Lisa has led APAP through the challenging pandemic years in which sustainability and strengthening the organization’s business model became a core focus. Lisa’s vision for APAP and the field is simple – to provide members with the critical information and services needed to thrive as professionals in the North American presenting, booking and touring industry—now and in the future, as well as to affirm APAP’s role as a national leading member organization and to strengthen its purpose to the field, ensuring its lasting impact within the performing arts ecosystem. Prior to APAP, Lisa has served the field in a variety of leadership positions at organizations such as the Abramson Scholarship Foundation, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Pen/Faulkner Foundation, The American Place Theatre, and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis  

Lisa Richards Toney became President and CEO of APAP (association of performing arts professionals) on July 1, 2020, bringing more than 25 years of experience leading a range of small and large arts and humanities organizations, managing change, and building stability. Since 2020, Lisa has led APAP through the challenging pandemic years in which sustainability and strengthening the organization’s business model became a core focus. Lisa’s vision for APAP and the field is simple – to provide members with the critical information and services needed to thrive as professionals in the North American presenting, booking and touring industry—now and in the future, as well as to affirm APAP’s role as a national leading member organization and to strengthen its purpose to the field, ensuring its lasting impact within the performing arts ecosystem. Prior to APAP, Lisa has served the field in a variety of leadership positions at organizations such as the Abramson Scholarship Foundation, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Pen/Faulkner Foundation, The American Place Theatre, and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Luke has a 1st Class Honors Degree in Jacques Lecoq based physical theatre. He competed as a gymnast and trampolinist becoming zonal and national champion in the uk. Luke has been touring for the past 20 years across the world performing as an actor, Stunt, Circus, Acrobatics and Theatre practitioner with companies such as Cirque Du Soleil, Netflix, the BBC, universal studios and currently playing the lead in the new creation of house of dancing water.      “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Luke has a 1st Class Honors Degree in Jacques Lecoq based physical theatre. He competed as a gymnast and trampolinist becoming zonal and national champion in the uk. Luke has been touring for the past 20 years across the world performing as an actor, Stunt, Circus, Acrobatics and Theatre practitioner with companies such as Cirque Du Soleil, Netflix, the BBC, universal studios and currently playing the lead in the new creation of house of dancing water.    @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Catherine Hartfield is Head of Immersive Experiences at Wētā Workshop, bringing 30 years’ experience across film, live entertainment, and large-scale attractions. Known for impeccable relationship management and customer experience, she partners with leading studios, government agencies, and world-renowned brands to shape cross-disciplinary teams and deliver bold, audience-first work. Catherine blends clear strategy with crisp communication, building durable partner networks across cultures and time zones. She’s skilled at balancing Wētā Workshop’s creative ambition with clients’ commercial objectives—turning complex ideas into signature, world-class experiences for global audiences.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Catherine Hartfield is Head of Immersive Experiences at Wētā Workshop, bringing 30 years’ experience across film, live entertainment, and large-scale attractions. Known for impeccable relationship management and customer experience, she partners with leading studios, government agencies, and world-renowned brands to shape cross-disciplinary teams and deliver bold, audience-first work. Catherine blends clear strategy with crisp communication, building durable partner networks across cultures and time zones. She’s skilled at balancing Wētā Workshop’s creative ambition with clients’ commercial objectives—turning complex ideas into signature, world-class experiences for global audiences.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Dr. Paolo Petrocelli (PhD, EMBA, FRSA) is an internationally recognized cultural leader, academic, and author. He is Head of Dubai Opera, one of the Middle East’s most prestigious performing arts institutions, and was recently knighted with Italy’s highest honor, the Order of Merit, for his contributions to culture and international cooperation. Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and a European Young Leader by Friends of Europe, he has also been recognized by Fortune, Fast Company, and Arabian Business as one of the most influential cultural voices of his generation. With over 15 years of leadership experience across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the US, Paolo is Founder of EMMA for Peace, a leading nonprofit using music diplomacy to promote dialogue. He also serves as Cultural Advisor to Coldplay, lectures at universities including Yale, MIT, and the Sorbonne, and is a TEDx Speaker, Forbes contributor, and LinkedIn Top Voice.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Dr. Paolo Petrocelli (PhD, EMBA, FRSA) is an internationally recognized cultural leader, academic, and author. He is Head of Dubai Opera, one of the Middle East’s most prestigious performing arts institutions, and was recently knighted with Italy’s highest honor, the Order of Merit, for his contributions to culture and international cooperation. Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and a European Young Leader by Friends of Europe, he has also been recognized by Fortune, Fast Company, and Arabian Business as one of the most influential cultural voices of his generation. With over 15 years of leadership experience across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the US, Paolo is Founder of EMMA for Peace, a leading nonprofit using music diplomacy to promote dialogue. He also serves as Cultural Advisor to Coldplay, lectures at universities including Yale, MIT, and the Sorbonne, and is a TEDx Speaker, Forbes contributor, and LinkedIn Top Voice.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Tom is a neurodivergent actor who can be seen in Dept Q on Netflix alongside Matthew Goode and Kelly McDonald. Previous credits include narration for the BBC, Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds Immersive Experience and several Project GameBox titles. His previous credits for stage and screen include The Play That Goes Wrong (West End), Father Brown (BBC), Quiz (ITV) and The Mummy (Universal Pictures).   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Tom is a neurodivergent actor who can be seen in Dept Q on Netflix alongside Matthew Goode and Kelly McDonald. Previous credits include narration for the BBC, Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds Immersive Experience and several Project GameBox titles. His previous credits for stage and screen include The Play That Goes Wrong (West End), Father Brown (BBC), Quiz (ITV) and The Mummy (Universal Pictures).   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Bence Vági, founder and artistic director of Recirquel Company. With a background in modern and classical dance, Bence Vági is a director-choreographer whose innovative approach to performing arts redefines the magic of theatre and circus in an original way for the contemporary audience. He has by now become one of the most defining figures of the international performing arts scene and the acclaimed representative of Hungarian circus and performing arts.     “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Bence Vági, founder and artistic director of Recirquel Company. With a background in modern and classical dance, Bence Vági is a director-choreographer whose innovative approach to performing arts redefines the magic of theatre and circus in an original way for the contemporary audience. He has by now become one of the most defining figures of the international performing arts scene and the acclaimed representative of Hungarian circus and performing arts.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Fanny Coindet is a choreographer and stage director with international experience, notably as a performer for Franco Dragone’s The House of Dancing Water. She has directed students from the National Circus School of Rosny‑sous‑Bois and is associate director of Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show since 2019. In 2021, she earned her State Diploma in Contemporary Dance. In 2023, she founded her own dance company and recently completed her first piece, Ecchymoses.     “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Fanny Coindet is a choreographer and stage director with international experience, notably as a performer for Franco Dragone’s The House of Dancing Water. She has directed students from the National Circus School of Rosny‑sous‑Bois and is associate director of Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show since 2019. In 2021, she earned her State Diploma in Contemporary Dance. In 2023, she founded her own dance company and recently completed her first piece, Ecchymoses.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Sora (they/she) is a writer, speaker, model, face equity activist, producer, and circus performer whose work centers on challenging norms and celebrating difference. Living at the intersection of many identities—Japanese American, neurodivergent, queer, and facially different—Sora brings a unique and powerful perspective to every space they enter. As a career circus artist, Sora has navigated the complexities of race, gender, disability, and inclusion in a global industry that hasn’t always embraced difference. Despite facing discrimination—including being asked to cover their face or removed from shows—Sora continues to perform and speak on stages around the world, reminding us that difference is not just valuable—it’s essential. Their core belief in the wholeness of every human being shapes everything they do. Through storytelling, performance, and advocacy, Sora invites audiences to question the status quo, embrace nuance, and find community in unexpected places. They are passionate about shifting societal narratives and celebrating the deep wisdom that emerges when we live beyond binaries. Sora is the proud recipient of the 2024 David Roche Award for Excellence in Advocacy. When not speaking truth on stage or defying gravity in circus shows, they can be found hunting down the best snacks and reminiscing about that one time they ate dumplings in a circus costume on the streets of Shanghai with 50 international performers.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Sora (they/she) is a writer, speaker, model, face equity activist, producer, and circus performer whose work centers on challenging norms and celebrating difference. Living at the intersection of many identities—Japanese American, neurodivergent, queer, and facially different—Sora brings a unique and powerful perspective to every space they enter. As a career circus artist, Sora has navigated the complexities of race, gender, disability, and inclusion in a global industry that hasn’t always embraced difference. Despite facing discrimination—including being asked to cover their face or removed from shows—Sora continues to perform and speak on stages around the world, reminding us that difference is not just valuable—it’s essential. Their core belief in the wholeness of every human being shapes everything they do. Through storytelling, performance, and advocacy, Sora invites audiences to question the status quo, embrace nuance, and find community in unexpected places. They are passionate about shifting societal narratives and celebrating the deep wisdom that emerges when we live beyond binaries. Sora is the proud recipient of the 2024 David Roche Award for Excellence in Advocacy. When not speaking truth on stage or defying gravity in circus shows, they can be found hunting down the best snacks and reminiscing about that one time they ate dumplings in a circus costume on the streets of Shanghai with 50 international performers.     @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Jorge Crecis has a degree in Sport Sciences, trained at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid, holds a PhD from Goldsmiths University and a Master’s in Elite Athletes Coaching. Former professional dancer and university lecturer, Jorge is an award-winning choreographer commissioned by companies including Birmingham Royal Ballet and Acosta Danza. He now coaches dancers and elite athletes worldwide through Fullness, a cognitive training method for peak performance and presence. He is the author of Designing Presence: Entering Towards Vivencia, and was featured in Fifty Contemporary Choreographers.     “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Jorge Crecis has a degree in Sport Sciences, trained at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid, holds a PhD from Goldsmiths University and a Master’s in Elite Athletes Coaching. Former professional dancer and university lecturer, Jorge is an award-winning choreographer commissioned by companies including Birmingham Royal Ballet and Acosta Danza. He now coaches dancers and elite athletes worldwide through Fullness, a cognitive training method for peak performance and presence. He is the author of Designing Presence: Entering Towards Vivencia, and was featured in Fifty Contemporary Choreographers.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Sophie Duncan is an award-winning creative director, choreographer, and performer, excelling in theatre, circus, radio, TV, film, and special events. Specializing in Aerial Pole and Pole Dance, she has performed with Cirque du Soleil, Bebe Rexha, and at Glastonbury’s Opening Ceremony. Since 2021, she has toured globally with Florentina Holzinger’s productions, showcasing skills in stunts, harness work, and operatic vocals, while serving as associate choreographer for The Year Without Summer. Holding 11 pole dance titles, she is regarded as one of the UK’s top artists, particularly ifor her expressive storytelling, and dynamic routines. Sophie teaches at the National Centre for Circus Arts and hosts the Public Showering Podcast. Her choreography and direction span contemporary theatre, circus, and short films, with notable collaborations like ‘Columbinus', winner of Best Show at Bucharest’s Teen Theatre Festival. A skilled DJ and radio presenter, Sophie’s versatility and creativity make her a valuable asset to any production.     “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis  

Sophie Duncan is an award-winning creative director, choreographer, and performer, excelling in theatre, circus, radio, TV, film, and special events. Specializing in Aerial Pole and Pole Dance, she has performed with Cirque du Soleil, Bebe Rexha, and at Glastonbury’s Opening Ceremony. Since 2021, she has toured globally with Florentina Holzinger’s productions, showcasing skills in stunts, harness work, and operatic vocals, while serving as associate choreographer for The Year Without Summer. Holding 11 pole dance titles, she is regarded as one of the UK’s top artists, particularly ifor her expressive storytelling, and dynamic routines. Sophie teaches at the National Centre for Circus Arts and hosts the Public Showering Podcast. Her choreography and direction span contemporary theatre, circus, and short films, with notable collaborations like ‘Columbinus', winner of Best Show at Bucharest’s Teen Theatre Festival. A skilled DJ and radio presenter, Sophie’s versatility and creativity make her a valuable asset to any production.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis  

Emile Saba is a Palestinian theater director and actor, born in September 1989 in Ramallah, originally from Jaffa. He is the Artistic Director of ASHTAR Theatre, where he began his theatrical training before earning an MFA in Stage Performance from the University of Connecticut. Saba has worked extensively across Palestinian and international productions as an actor, director, and festival manager, co-organizing six editions of the ASHTAR Theatre International Youth Festival. His artistic style often explores themes through magical realism. His notable acting roles include 2077, Who Wants to Survive (Bridgeworks Theatre), which toured several countries and won the Jury Award at the 2023 Cairo International Monodrama Festival. Additional credits include First Class, By the Sea, Between Heaven and Earth, and The Logic of Birds. Directorial works include Cosmos, Free Play, Love on the Shelf, People by the Sea, and Taming of the Shrew. His latest work, Guernica Gaza, premiered in Ramallah in July 2023.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Emile Saba is a Palestinian theater director and actor, born in September 1989 in Ramallah, originally from Jaffa. He is the Artistic Director of ASHTAR Theatre, where he began his theatrical training before earning an MFA in Stage Performance from the University of Connecticut. Saba has worked extensively across Palestinian and international productions as an actor, director, and festival manager, co-organizing six editions of the ASHTAR Theatre International Youth Festival. His artistic style often explores themes through magical realism. His notable acting roles include 2077, Who Wants to Survive (Bridgeworks Theatre), which toured several countries and won the Jury Award at the 2023 Cairo International Monodrama Festival. Additional credits include First Class, By the Sea, Between Heaven and Earth, and The Logic of Birds. Directorial works include Cosmos, Free Play, Love on the Shelf, People by the Sea, and Taming of the Shrew. His latest work, Guernica Gaza, premiered in Ramallah in July 2023.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Natasha Tsakos is an award-winning showmaker at the nexus of theatrical adventure, technology, and impact, now expanding her practice into space. A creator, director, performer, and producer, she has electrified audiences and performed for global institutions including TED, the UN, G20 Summit, Discovery Channel, Tribeca Film Festival and Cirque du Soleil. With experience at NASA, MIT, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Tsakos is developing “PARABOLES”, the first research-based multimedia performance in microgravity. Her mission: to develop utterly original theatrical experiences for space environments. www.NatashaTsakos.com     “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Natasha Tsakos is an award-winning showmaker at the nexus of theatrical adventure, technology, and impact, now expanding her practice into space. A creator, director, performer, and producer, she has electrified audiences and performed for global institutions including TED, the UN, G20 Summit, Discovery Channel, Tribeca Film Festival and Cirque du Soleil. With experience at NASA, MIT, and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Tsakos is developing “PARABOLES”, the first research-based multimedia performance in microgravity. Her mission: to develop utterly original theatrical experiences for space environments. www.NatashaTsakos.com   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Tania Ordonez Prieto is the Senior Manager for Entertainment Technical Operations at Celebrity Cruises.  Tania  has always had a passion for technical theatre. She moved from her hometown Chihuahua, Mexico to Mexico City, where she began as a production assistant in Teatro Telcel. She rose quickly through the ranks, bringing Broadway shows like Mary Poppins and Wicked to Mexico. Over the past 15 years, She has worked for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Dragone and Disney, and has experience in developing, supporting,and operating all aspects of theatre, concerts, circus and spectacle on land and at sea. After joining Celebrity in 2019 as Technical director on Edge,  Tania has been the inaugural technical director for Apex, and has been the technical director in the shipyard in Saint Nazaire for new builds Beyond and Ascent.    “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Tania Ordonez Prieto is the Senior Manager for Entertainment Technical Operations at Celebrity Cruises.  Tania  has always had a passion for technical theatre. She moved from her hometown Chihuahua, Mexico to Mexico City, where she began as a production assistant in Teatro Telcel. She rose quickly through the ranks, bringing Broadway shows like Mary Poppins and Wicked to Mexico. Over the past 15 years, She has worked for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Dragone and Disney, and has experience in developing, supporting,and operating all aspects of theatre, concerts, circus and spectacle on land and at sea. After joining Celebrity in 2019 as Technical director on Edge,  Tania has been the inaugural technical director for Apex, and has been the technical director in the shipyard in Saint Nazaire for new builds Beyond and Ascent.    @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

A former ballet dancer turned journalist, scholar, and organizational consultant, Theresa  Ruth Howard is the founder of MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet) and has been recognized by The New York Times as a “force for change” in the dance world. Her visionary work in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (IDEA) has catalyzed institutional change across the industry, advancing cultural reform in ballet and increasing representation. As President of From Here to Diversity, Inc., she has worked as an organizational consultant with companies including Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet, and the National Ballet of Canada. Since curating Reframing the Narrative at the Kennedy Center in 2022, she has continued her curatorial work there with Pathways to Performance (2024), the choreographic initiative she developed to platform Black choreographers. Her latest initiative, The Oasis Dance Journal: A Home for Conscious Critique and Ethical Commentary, addresses the critical need for culturally competent writing in the dance ecosystem. Merging artistry and advocacy, Howard continues to reshape the cultural landscape of ballet, fostering systemic accountability and inclusive dialogue across the field.      “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

A former ballet dancer turned journalist, scholar, and organizational consultant, Theresa  Ruth Howard is the founder of MoBBallet (Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet) and has been recognized by The New York Times as a “force for change” in the dance world. Her visionary work in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Antiracism (IDEA) has catalyzed institutional change across the industry, advancing cultural reform in ballet and increasing representation. As President of From Here to Diversity, Inc., she has worked as an organizational consultant with companies including Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, English National Ballet, and the National Ballet of Canada. Since curating Reframing the Narrative at the Kennedy Center in 2022, she has continued her curatorial work there with Pathways to Performance (2024), the choreographic initiative she developed to platform Black choreographers. Her latest initiative, The Oasis Dance Journal: A Home for Conscious Critique and Ethical Commentary, addresses the critical need for culturally competent writing in the dance ecosystem. Merging artistry and advocacy, Howard continues to reshape the cultural landscape of ballet, fostering systemic accountability and inclusive dialogue across the field.      @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis     

Craig Laurie, Chief Creative Officer at RWS Global, is the driving force behind the company’s powerhouse team of world-class creatives, designers and casting directors who deliver extraordinary experiences worldwide. Laurie excels at developing talent, aligning creative vision and fostering collaboration across various specialties to bring bold, innovative ideas to life. With a foundation in diverse artistic practices, he approaches every project with visionary leadership, cultural sensitivity and a commitment to storytelling that is deeply attuned to the unique nuances of each destination. Laurie’s impact at RWS Global is defined by his ability to unite teams around a shared creative vision, ensuring that every project resonates with each unique audience, whether inside a resort, aboard a luxury vessel, onstage or in a custom-designed venue. Under his guidance, the creative team continually seeks new ways to “Raise the Experience” for live moments throughout the world. Since joining RWS Global, Laurie has spearheaded creative development for numerous award-winning productions and immersive experiences. From groundbreaking chamber music experiences to opening ceremonies for the world’s largest sporting events, major stage productions and more, he prioritizes meeting clients’ needs and exceeding guests' expectations. In addition, Laurie oversees the creative development of branded activations for well-known IPs such as Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Netflix, Mattel, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rolling Stone Magazine, Feinstein's/54 Below and more. Outside of RWS Global, Laurie serves as the Chair on the Board of Directors for Decoda, the affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall dedicated to bringing virtuosic performance and meaningful community engagement to stages around the world. With a steadfast dedication to creativity, teamwork and quality, Laurie is redefining what live experiences can be, delivering unforgettable moments that leave a lasting impact.   “ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version: https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396” @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis

Craig Laurie, Chief Creative Officer at RWS Global, is the driving force behind the company’s powerhouse team of world-class creatives, designers and casting directors who deliver extraordinary experiences worldwide. Laurie excels at developing talent, aligning creative vision and fostering collaboration across various specialties to bring bold, innovative ideas to life. With a foundation in diverse artistic practices, he approaches every project with visionary leadership, cultural sensitivity and a commitment to storytelling that is deeply attuned to the unique nuances of each destination. Laurie’s impact at RWS Global is defined by his ability to unite teams around a shared creative vision, ensuring that every project resonates with each unique audience, whether inside a resort, aboard a luxury vessel, onstage or in a custom-designed venue. Under his guidance, the creative team continually seeks new ways to “Raise the Experience” for live moments throughout the world. Since joining RWS Global, Laurie has spearheaded creative development for numerous award-winning productions and immersive experiences. From groundbreaking chamber music experiences to opening ceremonies for the world’s largest sporting events, major stage productions and more, he prioritizes meeting clients’ needs and exceeding guests' expectations. In addition, Laurie oversees the creative development of branded activations for well-known IPs such as Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Netflix, Mattel, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rolling Stone Magazine, Feinstein's/54 Below and more. Outside of RWS Global, Laurie serves as the Chair on the Board of Directors for Decoda, the affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall dedicated to bringing virtuosic performance and meaningful community engagement to stages around the world. With a steadfast dedication to creativity, teamwork and quality, Laurie is redefining what live experiences can be, delivering unforgettable moments that leave a lasting impact.   @stagelync The StageLync Podcast is a branch of our larger StageLync Community. Come visit us at www.stagelync.com   Credits for the StageLync Podcast Hosts: Anna Robb Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil Music: Jeremy Willi Design: Em Holt Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis