Host 0:03

Hello, welcome to Her Canuck Voice, where we are talking about all things, performing arts, and the power of connection. My name is Lindsay Anne Dow. I am the Her in Her Canuck Voice, and this season I'm taking you behind the scenes of my first ever professional production, Dear Evan Hansen. A multi-fully award-winning musical debuting for the first time in Kelowna BC Canada, this is great. So, ladies and gentlemen, take your seats and enjoy the show.

Host 0:36

Welcome to another interview episode of the Her canuck Voice Podcast. I'm on another set of dark days, so scrambling away to get these final interviews edited and out to you all before this show ends. Yes, we are now six shows away from closing night. Saying that out loud gives me the biggest pit in my stomach. I had hoped I'd be ready to be done. I figured I'd be ready for things to go back to normal at this point. Well, I'm not. And I'm currently extremely concerned about adjusting back into my other world. I'm beginning to wonder if I can or if I've been changed so significantly that things will look a little different now. What does that mean? How does that look? I will keep you posted on how that goes. But let's get right into this double interview with besties, Jaxsen, and Cate, who played Jared and Alana in the show. This was recorded a while ago, earlier in the rehearsal process, and I can hear in our voices that we're not as familiar with each other as we are now. But that being said, I can also hear the effect of their infectious energy on this podcast host, even having known them for just a couple weeks at the time of this interview. After editing a few of these interviews together, I'm familiar with my conversation style. I regularly have to edit out my ums and likes from my stuttered anxious speech. What can I say? I'm excitable. And that can cause stumbling over my words or starting and stopping and restarting. With these two though, I hardly edited a thing. There's a calm, smooth, thoughtful authenticity about these two that totally dropped my energy down. I was relaxed. And guess what? They're 16 and 17 years old, people. I hope you as a listening audience feel that too. They are simply gems, and I'm honored to be involved in their lives. So without further ado, I bring you my Zen coaches, Jaxsen and Cate. Jaxsen! Cate! Hello. Thanks for being here with me today.

Jaxsen 2:58

Of course, it's our pleasure. Yes, thanks for having us.

Host 3:01

We are currently sitting in the dressing room at the actor studio. You guys have a rehearsal after this, so I was able to catch you before the rehearsal. Thanks for joining me. Um, before we get to some of the deeper questions about Dear Evan Hansen, let's just start off the icebreakers that I ask everybody. So, Jaxsen, why don't you go first? Your favorite live music experience.

Jaxsen 3:24

My favorite live music experience. I definitely such a good question. I think I'm gonna have to go with just a good Broadway show. That's so basic and that's so cliche coming from a theater kid. But there's something so magical about seeing a Broadway show. I saw Six when I was in New York about two years ago, and it's so cool seeing people live the dream that like you wanted to live, you know, like that is everything I want, and like especially knowing like my little things about theater and stuff, and watching it like happen on a professional degree is so satisfying, and there's something so magical about it.

Host 4:06

Like what? What little things about theater?

Jaxsen 4:08

Just you know, like how backstage works, and I'm like, oh, the SM is like calling the next cue, and I'm like, heh, I know a secret, you know.

Host 4:16

I feel like I learned SM the other day, stage manager. I didn't know that before. So someone said SM. I was like sorry, what is that? What's that? Yeah, okay, stage manager. So you're like, okay, so you do it here and they're doing it there too. Yeah, so cool. You guys are all just doing the same thing, they're just on a different stage. Exactly.

Jaxsen 4:38

Are we on Broadway? Is that what that means?

Host 4:42

Basically, you know, I have to say, you guys and your talent, the actor studio has had my eye for a long time because the talent is insane. It's incredible. And to think that you guys are you're how old?

Jaxsen 4:58

16 and 17.

Host 5:01

Little babies. Um, you're growing up in this is uh it's unreal that you get to do it and that you bring the talent level that you bring. I'm very honored to be with you. Let's just say that. And you're you're not even done growing. That's so kind. Thank you. We're lucky to be with you.

Jaxsen 5:23

We're just lucky to have grown up in a place that even though it's small here, like we've got a pretty good arts scene. That's true.

Host 5:28

Yeah, and that's kind of why I'm doing this too, is to expose people to I think like people my age get kind of stuck in the suburbs and maybe have an idea about this town that it's not as artsy as it is. And I feel like I'm late to the game on this as well with the actor studio, and they're even later, and I'm trying to get that out there because anyone who has come, like any of people in my world, in my age group, they're amazed and blown away and so impressed that this little town has it. Okay, back to the question. Cate, your favorite show.

Cate 6:14

I think it would also be a Broadway show. Specifically this past summer, I saw Book of Mormon on Broadway, and that one was just so good. Not only because the show was amazing, I mean they're all amazing, it was hilarious too, but it was mostly that afterward. Me and my friend just had a really good like stage door experience.

Host 6:34

That's where the actors come out after.

Cate 6:36

Yeah, the whole cast came out, I think. Like maybe spare a few people, but we had like good, meaningful conversations with probably every single person in the cast, and there were a lot of understudies on that night, too. Like, I think Elder Price was an understudy, so it's just super nice. Like, we got a photo with everyone, and they were all so charismatic and so willing to chat, and that was lovely. And then I think just every like kids' class here that I've helped out with, it's just really nice to see the kids perform after you've been with them for like a whole year watching them grow, and it actually just makes me cry every time. So it's that or the professionals, very big span, but yeah, and that's big of you to say. I mean, working with kids is no joke, but they're all just so good, and you can just tell how happy they are to be up there. Yeah, it's heartwarming.

Host 7:24

Were you both involved in the YPC trip to New York a couple years ago? Okay, so you're like interview three and four, and everybody so far has brought up that trip.

Jaxsen 7:36

Yeah, that was my first and only like Broadway experience, and it was perfect, 10 out of 10. Yeah, I can't top that, hey.

Cate 7:45

It's so true.

Host 7:47

I went to New York in 2011 and we saw Phantom of the Opera. And I regret not seeing anything else because I'd already seen Phantom when it came to Vancouver years before, and it was great to see, but I was there and I didn't see all the other things, so good for you.

Jaxsen 8:06

Everything you think it's gonna be, it's like multiply that by a thousand. It's even better, it's insane.

Host 8:12

It's like the theater that you're in is beautiful and huge, and then what gets me is always the orchestra.

Cate 8:21

Yes, yeah, live orchestra just so nice.

Host 8:24

You see the conductor, and you're like, oh yeah, there's like actually musicians here. We're at the actor studio, we we're with tracks, yeah. And that's great, that's great too, but that's just a whole other world.

Cate 8:35

So cool.

Host 8:36

Okay, moving on. My next question is okay. So triple threat is described as acting, singing, dancing. Jaxsen, which is your most talented um trait and your the one you feel you have to work on the most.

Jaxsen 8:54

Okay, so I will start by saying I think I am definitely not a dancer. That is one of them. I I wouldn't say I'm horrible. I think I know how my body moves, but I move in my own unique way, and I think it doesn't always translate, but that's okay. Um, as far as my strongest, I feel like possibly acting, especially when it goes somewhere like a comedic route. I feel like I have a good knack for comedic timing and kind of finding the pace of a scene, especially once we're physically doing it and there's blocking added, and I'm on stage in my costume and I fully understand the character, I feel like that's where I really come alive. Yeah.

Speaker 3 9:44

We were getting our costumes fitted the other day, and you said to me um something that stuck with me that as soon as you get the clothes from Lori who does our costumes, even though they're like maybe the your clothes, or maybe they're something like what you would wear, as soon as you're in them, you feel like the character, you feel like you're somebody else.

Speaker 1 10:08

Yeah. It's it was pants I've worn a thousand times, but like the con like wearing them in the context of being Jared, it just felt so real. I was like, oh, I'm so connected to this character right now, as silly as he is, like I feel like so connected with him, you know?

Speaker 2 10:25

Cate? Yeah, I definitely also think dance is my weakest, which is too bad. Like, I really try, it's so much fun, but it there's just so much technique to it, and I feel like it takes years and years of training that I just don't have. I have so much respect for dancers. Um, and then I guess my strongest would be singing. I've been in lessons for the longest, I love it, but I think it's interesting being like a teenager and trying to train your voice when it's just so it just fluctuates so much. Yeah, until you're like what, like 30 is when it finally stables.

Speaker 4 11:01

Yeah, I don't know.

Speaker 2 11:03

It just I it always depends, like, because I used to really only want to like sing in my chess voice, whereas now it's kind of transitioned where I'm like head mixed is where I'm the most comfortable. It's all about the mixed voice these days. Yeah, I love mixing, it's just so hard, and you're just always like doing something a little different with singing, which I think is why it's my favorite, too, is because there's so many different placements, different ways you can sing depending on the song.

Speaker 3 11:29

So and it's so great that you're doing this when you're young too and you're still growing. I grew up singing classical, so I developed my like soprano head voice really well. It's not as strong anymore, but um, that's kind of where I go. So I have a really hard time with like chest and mix, yeah. Um, because it was it's just totally foreign. And as I was growing up and developing, that's what I was that was the muscle I was flexing in a way, like that's how I developed my voice. So if I can give any advice as the elder in the room, just play, play around and do as much as you can, because then when everything settles down, you'll have all of those different ranges.

Speaker 2 12:16

Totally. I just started like a few, like a year and a bit ago, doing classical, and it's so different. Like you would think it's having been singing for like so many years prior that it wouldn't have been as hard, it's just so different, and all the things that I just keep coming back to like all notice. I'm singing a song like fully in Italian, but I'm singing it so theater-y, I'm like, oh, like I really have to like tap into that mindset, which is why I think the languages work really well for that. Yeah, it's totally different.

Speaker 3 12:46

Where you're singing in a different language, yeah, yeah. Then you can just focus on the vowel and yeah, stay out of the consonants, which is maybe what makes it more theater-like. Okay, final question. Jaxsen, you just landed the gig of your life. What is it?

Speaker 1 13:04

Okay, originally I thought my answer was gonna be something like a cruise ship. I love a cruise ship. Like, I I mean, I've never been on one, but the concept of being on a cruise ship sounds so cool, like performing on a cruise ship. You get to go everywhere, get to do everything. But then I was like, oh, I am scared of the ocean, so that wouldn't work well. And then I was thinking, like, going on like the Jimmy Fallon show, like, okay, hear me out. I'm like a Broadway performer or something, and Jimmy Fallon calls me up and he says, I'd like you to come to my show. Like, I would love to do a talk show. That sounds so fun to me.

Speaker 3 13:42

Well, um, that's amazing. I love that answer. Um, you are you excited about like answering his questions coming at you?

Speaker 1 13:51

I think so. Yeah, I would love to just I he seems so fun and genuine. Like, I feel like it would just be like talking with like an uncle you haven't seen for a while. Like it it would just be fun, and I just love the thought of it.

Speaker 3 14:04

He'd probably want to sing with you too, because he's a singer, isn't he? Of course, yeah, and I'd be so down.

Speaker 1 14:08

I'd pack a microphone with me, I'd be ready.

Speaker 3 14:13

Okay, Cate, how about you?

Speaker 2 14:15

I think I've thought about this one. It would be like a national tour because I think that'd be super fun to be traveling around and doing a show. And I'm feeling like I love Lay Miz. So I think Lay Miz, and hear me out. Like, Cosette's such a dream role of mine. Love Cosette, but I'd also love to be in the ensemble, so maybe like an understudy for Cosette. Oh, so you can like pop in sometimes. That'd be really fun.

Speaker 3 14:42

You guys have very humble answers. Like cruise ship. I mean, Jimmy Fallon, that's you have to be a bit of a star to be on Jimmy Fallon. But like cruise ship, totally attainable. Yours was understudy for or ensemble in Lay Mids.

Speaker 1 14:59

I just love Lay Mits. Love Lay Mids.

Speaker 3 15:02

Did you guys do it here?

Speaker 1 15:03

We did, we did, yeah. I would do anything to do it again. I I would play any role. Like, I love anything. It that includes crew. I would I would do anything. I'd be a bear. Oh, maybe that's my dream.

Speaker 3 15:16

Yeah. I just want to crew every show. Like ever.

Speaker 1 15:19

Anything, yeah.

Speaker 3 15:20

So you guys just really like theater. That's that's amazing. I love it. Okay. Let's um move over into a little bit of a background. I don't want to spend too long here, but I because you don't have a that long of a life behind you. Um, but I just want to know kind of like how you got into theater. So, how long have you guys known each other, first of all?

Speaker 1 15:41

Oh, we met. Well, our first show together was Adam's Family. We were in grade six. So five years ago. Five years. We're in grade we're entering grade 12 in the next few months. So we're approaching six years. That's pretty crazy. Oh, lucky us. Look at us now. Um, that was our first show together. That's how long we've known each other. But she's been doing theater longer than me. Way longer.

Speaker 3 16:03

And so are you both from Kelowna? Yep.

Speaker 1 16:08

I was born in Maple Ridge and I grew up in Surrey. Moved here when I was six.

Speaker 3 16:14

Okay. Yeah. So before you met, did you do any theater there? That would be pretty young. No, yeah.

Speaker 1 16:19

I was always I was doing dance classes and like doing little school performances and things like that. Okay.

Speaker 2 16:26

I was born in Ontario. Okay. So like Waterloo area, and then I lived there till I was about five. So I don't really remember much. And then we moved here, and that was when I like started getting into theater just after I moved.

Speaker 3 16:39

And through school?

Speaker 2 16:40

It was actually through here. I didn't do a lot of school theater and such. I mean, we had like our Christmas concerts and I loved those. But yeah, it was just one of the summer camps here. I didn't even know what I was signing up for. My mom just was like, Do you want to do soccer or like this theater thing? So I just picked one. Yeah, I think it was I must have been six or seven.

Speaker 3 17:00

Yeah, Aria was seven. When she started, yeah.

Speaker 2 17:03

So I just kept going from there, honestly.

Speaker 3 17:06

Um, and do you have theater or musical background in your family?

Speaker 1 17:13

I don't have anyone who takes it as seriously as me. My dad did like some high school productions growing up. He likes to talk about it a lot. Like it was like the glory days, the golden years. He he loved it. He's very artsy, and I love that about him. I definitely get my artsy aspect from him. My mom would rather like cut her foot off than go on stage. She is very shy in that aspect. Um, yeah, so no one in my family really did performing except for me.

Speaker 3 17:45

There's always one parent that has it, and the other one's like the opposite. Yeah, no, and that's why they're together.

unknown 17:51

Yeah.

Speaker 3 17:52

How about you, Cate?

Speaker 2 17:53

Mine are the exact same way. My dad likes to sing, and my mom is terrified. I've never seen that woman dance. It's so sad. But yeah, and then we have like a few of my siblings, like, I think my sister plays some guitar and they know like a song on the piano, but I definitely annoy them with my singing. I feel bad, but take it.

Speaker 3 18:13

Okay, so both of you got involved with the actor studio early on. Um, and so theater in school wasn't really a thing, it was more just here. I mean, why would you really when you have this place? It is like Disneyland for uh young musical theater artists. Oh, for sure. Um, how has high school been for you? We're about to do a play, a musical, about some pretty tumultuous high school times. Um, can you relate to any of those times? Just yeah, take it over from here.

Speaker 1 18:48

High school nowadays, I mean, especially living in a time with such social media, it is it's a different experience. Like, kids are definitely scared, as most teens are, to break out of the status quo and you know, be their own person, I guess. There's a lot of like toxic masculinity and like you know, things like that. So it high school in itself is it's a struggle, but it's also such a great thing, and you're surrounded by people finding their way in life. I enjoy going to school, um, but me and Cate definitely like I feel like we have different experiences with school.

Speaker 2 19:34

I think it's just nowadays like a matter of finding your people. Like we have such a big school too, where our grad class is probably like 400 kids. So it's a lot of people, and you just have to have like your solid group, and then I feel like you'll never feel out of place, if that makes sense, because I think it's so easy to, even when you're surrounded by people and social media, but that's part of it, is like you see people posting online that they're hanging out with their friends, and that it's like the FOMO that comes from that. So I think it adds a whole new layer.

Speaker 3 20:07

Yeah, you guys, um you're not you're not the first generation to grow up with social media. I can't remember how the Gen Z and all different things work, but um at least compared to like your parents, it you're your guinea pigs for this whole world that didn't exist at all when when we were going through it. Um and it's crazy that you know your young, your young brains, and even us as fully formed adults are having a hard time with it as well. So to put these, you know, these devices in the hands of of young people and just kind of let them go with it is uh it's a little scary. Um, how have you monitored yourself in that way?

Speaker 1 20:56

Have you had to like just have some boundaries around it for yourself, just for mental health, or um, I definitely, as a teenager, I am a victim of doom scrolling and things like that. I try not to let it get in the way of my education. I don't find myself going on my phone too much in class. But for this is so random, but like Snapchat, like that's never been something. Me and Cate both we don't really go on Snapchat, but definitely in our school at least, that is such a huge app. And it's like you look at someone's phone and they're just like they can spend hours on Snap, and it just doesn't make sense to me, you know. It's like what are you doing?

Speaker 3 21:41

Yeah, it's so odd to me. Just taking pictures and communicating. I think I and and this is something that ties into DRM and Hansen as well is this like this kind of false sense of connection that we can feel, you know. Maybe we feel connected online, but we don't necessarily feel connected person to person. Um, and I Think we're learning that it's not the same surprise. We're social, yeah. Shocker, we're social people, and sitting across from one another and going to a play and experiencing art together, for example, is really healthy for us and the best form of connection.

Speaker 2 22:20

Exactly.

Speaker 3 22:21

Um, do you relate to any of the characters in the show in terms of how you've gone through high school?

Speaker 2 22:30

Um, I definitely relate to Alana, to my character, the most out of all of them. I think she's one of those people who is kind of insecure and kind of feels a need to like prove herself. And so she's doing all these things and like trying to get all these internships and internships, sorry, and like activities and sports and all these things under her belt. Cause I mean, it's stressful with you know university coming up, like we'll have to apply to those things soon, and it's that feeling of like you're never really doing enough, and I think it's compensating for something. So it's just yeah, I relate to her in that if I have like a night off at home, I go crazy. I'm so antsy, I don't know what I'm doing. It freaks me out, which is why rehearsals here are nice because it it does take a lot of your time, but it doesn't really feel like work, yeah.

Speaker 3 23:19

And there's a lot of downtime built in too, right?

Speaker 2 23:22

So I always just feel like I need to be doing something like her and just trying really, really hard when you don't really need to.

Speaker 3 23:29

And rest is important. Um, that's so amazing that you're even noticing that at this point. Like, I think um even just being aware of it, like, oh, I just can't relax. I'm I'm just trying to do too much. Even even just being aware of that as being like a this doesn't feel right to me is huge. Um, and I didn't want to turn this into like a therapy session or like me giving you guys advice, but it's so hard. I said to Arya the other day, because she was she her whole thing lately is like, Mom, it's turning into a lecture. And I'm like, I just I have so much good stuff to impart. Like, I've been around this world longer, I need to share it with you, and you're finally at an age where I can like talk to you about big things, like what you just said, and um so when I hear it like coming out of a young person, I'm like, yes, yes, you guys are awesome, anyways. Um, that's great. And I'm not surprised to hear you relate to Alana either, because it seems we all many of us so far who I've interviewed have related to their characters.

Speaker 2 24:44

Yeah, which I think is really special.

Speaker 3 24:46

So that's how did that happen? And we'll I'll ask you, Jaxsen, in a second, but how is it that we all relate to our characters?

Speaker 2 24:55

I mean, good casting on their part. I think they knew a lot of us going into it too. But I think it is a very relatable cast, like there's a lot of struggles that you can see in every character. Like, I think insecurity is a theme all throughout the show, and like feeling disconnected, or like we were talking about the other day, like feeling like you don't have it all together when you feel like you should. I think that kind of holds true for almost every character, so it's easy to relate as well.

Speaker 3 25:26

We're all kind of doing, doing, doing as many actions as we can, looking for that belonging feeling, and we're just not quite getting there.

Speaker 2 25:39

Yeah.

Speaker 3 25:39

But we're we're trying, we're just we keep doing, doing, doing. Um Jaxsen, how about you?

Speaker 1 25:46

I uh I truly feel like each one of these characters represent a small part of us. I think regardless of the character, I think everyone can see a bit of themselves in that character. Each character is so unique in their own sense, and I think they each represent something along the path of life, specifically high school. Like Connor, he represents the people who are misunderstood and alone, and we've all felt that way. Like we did during our exercise and rehearsal the other day, and the way I see Jared is like he uses comedy to mask his feelings. He doesn't he builds a wall, he doesn't want people to see the vulnerability that he truly has. And I think we've all been there before. So I feel like it's inevitable to just not relate to the characters, they're so real, it's it's just natural, you know. Tell me about Jared. Yeah, Jared he he's so like he's the comedic character for sure. Um, he provides a lot of comedic relief, which I love, but I think he gets overlooked in the sense that he has a lot of depth, you know? He his scenes are used as a way to kind of comfort the audience after some pretty severe scenes. But I feel like in those scenes where people are laughing, it's honestly doing a lot of storytelling, and I think it's not talked about as much as some of the other characters. Obviously, he's not going through as much as some of the characters, as far as we know from the plot, but I truly think there is a person down there, and we see it kind of before Good For You, where he is letting his own insecurities, his own emotions get the best of him because he was protecting them from Evan for so long that they came out in an unhealthy manner. And I find that so relatable, honestly, with Jared.

Speaker 3 28:02

Yeah, I it's funny. I was thinking about this interview and and just preparing for it a little bit and thinking about your characters, and I feel like they are similar in that they both kind of say what the audience is thinking in a way. Like maybe a little bit less so on Alana's side, but it is really Jared and Cate who are like Evan's sidekicks in a way. Yeah. Um, you're also the people that get him in and out of his troublesome situation. You help him get into it, Jared, and you kind of force him out of it, Alana. Not knowing, but um that's how it happens. So it's almost like you're the audience's right-hand man, in a way. You're the audience's sidekick, and and like, yeah, like you said, anytime there's a big dramatic scene, you're kind of there to be like, what the heck just happened? Yeah. You did what? Yeah, let's unpack that. Yeah. Um, and kind of, I think the audience will breathe a little sigh of relief when they see your character show up. Just like, yeah, what was that? Please tell me. Um, how did you hear about Dear Evan Hansen and what made you want to be part of it?

Speaker 2 29:25

Oh, yeah, I saw it with their season announcement, and I think the reason that I really wanted to be in this show was because I love Alana so much. I think it's a great part. She's got some fun little ditties throughout the show, like her short little bits. They're just I really like them. Um, and I think the reason I wanted to be in this show with this cast is because I've never been in a show with such a small cast. We have eight people.

Speaker 3 29:50

Yeah.

Speaker 2 29:51

I think it's usually for me like like 20 and above. So it's nice to be in a cast where it's so intimate and that's so different from what I've done before. And I think it's gonna be really nice to get to connect with everyone, and it'll just build a new sense of togetherness on stage. It'll be so different because in a cast of that many people, like sometimes there's people I don't even know, like it's awkward saying hi to them, but I think we're just kind of forced to all be friends because there's so few of us. And I guess the meaning of the show I think is really great with this one. Like, it could, we were talking about it the other day, it could touch people and it really could change someone's perspective, and I think that's really cool, and that's what theater's all about, and that's you know, why we get into it and why we do this stuff. So I think that's really special too.

Speaker 3 30:38

Jaxsen, how about you?

Speaker 1 30:39

Yeah, what I first heard of the show, it's kind of followed me around for a while. In grade eight, we had this little performance where we sang waving through a window. And ever since then, just progressing through theater, I've found myself singing a lot of the songs. So I was already drawn to the music and the message behind it. When they announced that they were doing the show, I immediately that was the one I knew I was going to audition for because I felt I almost needed to do a show coming from a high school perspective. As a high school student, I was really drawn to that because that was a foreign experience for me. I don't think I've ever done a show other than Heather's when I was like 11, where it was high school, and I was really eager to hopefully be able to be a part of that and put my own perspective on that. And like Cate said, the message so drew me in because this show can change lives, like we talked about. Someone coming to the show who's struggling and having a hard time might leave reconsidering something they might have considered before, and I think that's so powerful, and it feels it's like a very pride proud moment to be able to be a part of a production this big in the scheme of what it can do.

Speaker 3 32:11

Totally. I am so happy to hear that because I feel exactly the same. I think um we all kind of came into this. I think we're all performers because it lights us up, not just because we like being in the lights, it's because we like bringing the art to the people. You know, it is about that connection. Um and this one just kind of turns it up a notch in that it's the message is so uh deep and dramatic. Um centers around suicide, which is a terrible, tragic thing that is all too real, um, that has been real in this city. As of, you know, in the past six months, year, there's been there have been kids who have passed from suicide. And not to glorify it, but I think there's enough kids who are hurting, there's enough kids who are going through shitty times in school that even if they're not thinking about committing suicide, they can relate to the stories that are happening in this show.

Speaker 4 33:30

Yeah.

Speaker 3 33:31

Um everybody can, whether it's you've experienced something yourself or you know somebody who has. So yeah, how cool that we can put the show on and like hopefully move people. Um, you know, my whole theme of the podcast is to like break down walls through connecting to others because I feel like we have a bit of a connection crisis going on in the world right now. You know, like it's here we are wanting to be in this show and excited to not only perform, but be in a small cast and connect with our castmates and be in a room. Um, both of you mentioned Randy's exercise the other night, so I feel like I should say it. We had to do, we didn't have to, he asked us to do um an exercise where we expressed something that we hoped people didn't know about us. We wished people didn't know about us. So basically, like sharing some inner thoughts that we'd had about ourselves. Um, and he said it could be either from the perspective of us or our character, and we didn't have to reveal what it was. So it just kind of forced us all to go deep, and I imagine there'll be more exercises like that in the future, but I think it's good. It helps us to go there as a cast and connect with each other and then ultimately to bring it to other people. I'm just gonna ask you, what does that theme mean to you? Dear Ivan Hansen, the central theme is connection. What does that mean to you?

Speaker 1 35:14

I think what this show does is it shows us how powerful it is by showing us kind of a reality without connection. A lot of the conflict and the issues that occur kind of stem from disconnection, whether that's through social media and like Alana and Evan talking and both their feelings not being reciprocated, or Evan and his mom not being able to communicate their feelings. That connection is gone and it it it kind of is the main point of the conflict and the problems and the issues that arise.

Speaker 2 35:56

I think, yeah, the show totally is a cautionary tale because I mean Connor was someone who wasn't feeling connected at all, and it led him to some really dark places, and that's awful. And I think it shows you how lucky you are. Like, I'm someone who I have a really great family, like, and that's a connection, and that really keeps me going. And I don't think about that all the time, but it's like, oh, what would it be like without that? And I haven't even had to think about that.

Speaker 3 36:22

I'm just very And you shouldn't have to, yeah. I mean, obviously in a perfect world, everyone's connected to their families because that's the first connection that you make. And I'd love to see, I wish sometimes I'm like, but I want to see Alana's family and Jared's family. I want to know more about how their connections are with their parents because yeah, totally. I think you know, both Evan and Connor are lacking connection with their families first.

Speaker 2 36:47

Yeah, it has such a huge impact.

Speaker 3 36:49

Oh yeah.

Speaker 2 36:50

But I think the show can also show us how easy connection can be. Oh yeah. Like it's so much as just like a eye contact or smiling at someone, it's free and we can all do it, and that could like make someone's day. You never know how much they're lacking in that. And so it's lovely to see with the internet. I know it has so many bad things about it, don't get me wrong, but social media is so good because there's millions and millions of people on there, and there's always going to be someone who is like you and is going through the same thing as you, and you can find them online and you can talk about that. So that's what's great about it. Yeah, there will always be an opportunity for connection, yeah.

Speaker 3 37:34

Whereas maybe you're not connected as much to your families, but you're able to find it some online in a healthy way.

Speaker 2 37:42

Yeah.

Speaker 3 37:43

It it totally exists, and it's funny how the you know, the double-edged sword of the internet and social media is that it is meant to connect ultimately, but it's kind of this like it can be this cheap form of connection that's just not quite the same as human-to-human contact. And I also think there's a lot to be said for vulnerability and crying. You know, we were all listening to Delphine sing Um So Big, So Small last night. Every time she sings it around us, I'm a bit, I have to say, I'm a bit numb to that song because I had to sing it for auditions, and I have sung it so many times that I'm just like I can now listen to it and not cry.

Speaker 1 38:26

Oh, yeah.

Speaker 3 38:26

But it is so beautiful and it comes right at the end of the show. It's like if you haven't cried up until this point, you're about to you're screwed.

Speaker 1 38:35

It's like the robot test.

Speaker 3 38:38

It's totally the robot test. So yeah.

Speaker 2 38:41

Yeah, I think that theater is the perfect medium for this show because it is all about connection and it is all about vulnerability, and where better to do that in a room where you're seeing these people face to face and it's all happening right in front of you. I think that's great. And I think it will be fueled to our fire because we were talking about how it's gonna be hard to keep up the vulnerability with this show, doing it 18 times over, it's gonna be hard to make it authentic every single time. But I think having the audience right there is gonna help with that because I mean seeing people right in front of you crying at this message will be helpful in reminding us, like, oh wow, okay, this is very deep. This does mean a lot to people, and they're seeing it for the first time. And I think, yeah, it's really, really lovely that we get this opportunity to let out all these emotions because I'm sure a lot of us will come out in our characters to the audience, and I hope that they can see that, and I hope that I mean still in the story, but you know, I hope that it it's gonna come from a place of realness, and that'll be super great.

Speaker 3 39:47

It's hard not to bring your you into your roles when you're playing a teenager. It's hard not for me to bring me as a mom into my role because I'm a mom.

Speaker 39:58

Yeah.

Speaker 3 39:59

So there will be those little bits of us even playing the part, but yeah, it's gonna be a fun ride. I am I am waiting for that moment where there's some breakdowns. Like personally, I'm like, it's gonna come. I'm gonna like make a fool out of myself or something at some point for sure.

Speaker 2 40:21

Oh, me too.

Speaker 1 40:23

Easily, yeah.

Speaker 2 40:24

Which is the good thing about this cast is everyone, I was honestly, we're only in the third rehearsal, and I'm still like very nervous. I get very shaky, but seeing everyone being so nice and every single person in the cast is just like lovely, that'll really help. And knowing it's a supportive team.

Speaker 1 40:41

I already feel so connected to everyone. It's and I think that comes from the vulnerability that we shared. Because once you show people the hardest moments or the ugly side that you maybe don't like to project, like I think that is such a real connection and it allows people to see all the beauty. And this show has already it's already creating an impact on us. I mean, we're sitting right here in front of these microphones, like getting vulnerable and talking about subjects that don't go said that much. And in our workshop before rehearsal yesterday, we got so vulnerable, and I think that's so powerful.

Speaker 3 41:25

I think crying and vulnerability and just showing weakness in front of other humans is actually one of the strongest things you can do because you share it with somebody else and you allow them to maybe do the same. It's amazing how when one person starts it, it makes it really easy for others to follow.

unknown 41:48

Yeah.

Speaker 2 41:48

Oh yeah. Because it can be so scary, but then when someone else does it, it seems a little less scary because you see that no one's judging you. I mean, unless they are, but then we don't need to know about that. But yesterday, when we're all coming forward and saying these things, it's like, oh, it's just so respectful, it's such a peaceful environment, and it makes you feel really safe, which is what we need more of.

Speaker 1 42:11

Especially knowing everyone had something to share, it makes you realize that it's okay to feel that way, and we're humans, and emotions are natural, and mistakes can happen. It was such a cool feeling.

Speaker 3 42:29

Well, I think you guys are great. I think you are making the world a better place, and I think people like you are the future, and there's a lot of people my age who like to say, mmm, kids these days, and mr mr. Um, but I don't feel that way at all. I think you guys are shining lights, and I'm so excited to be in this with you as your peer. So, cast of eight. Me, you, you, plus five others. Math. 18 shows over three weeks.

Speaker 43:03

Whoa.

Speaker 3 43:04

Holy shit, how are we gonna do that?

Speaker 43:07

We'll see.

Speaker 3 43:09

Sky says Alanis.

Speaker 2 43:10

I was actually just about to say it with a good energy drink. Alanis and food.

Speaker 3 43:16

Food. Oh, yes. Well, we already know that I like food all the time. Yes. There'll be lots of food.

Speaker 1 43:21

I'll eat when I'm bored. I don't eat what I'm like. Yeah.

Speaker 3 43:27

June 10th to 28th, Wednesday. It shows Wednesday through Sunday. Matinee is on the weekend, and tickets are available at clonaactorstudio.com.