Inclusive STAGES: Building Healthy Arts Spaces

What if your biggest barrier to belonging in a theater space was the hair that grows naturally out of your head?In this candid and eye-opening conversation, Jade Buffong-Phillips of Mane Hook-Up shares why textured hair in theater is more than a beauty concern. It’s an issue of equity, access, and care. From backstage realities to industry-wide gaps, Jade unpacks the overlooked details that define whether artists truly feel seen and supported.This one’s honest, affirming, and full of real-world insight.Enjoy the episode, friends!Check out the show notes and other resources at https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/why-we-still-cant-find-a-stylist-who-gets-our-hair-with-jade-buffong-phillipsConnect with Kira:@kiratroilo @artandsoulconsulting @inclusivestages"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide WebsiteJoin our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the pageThanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

What if the most important thing a leader brings into the room… isn’t a resume, but a sense of culture?In this thoughtful and timely conversation, Melory Mirashrafi shares why they consider themselves a culture worker first, and how that lens transforms the way we create theater. From Persian epics to Pulitzer-winning plays, Melory unpacks what it takes to build spaces rooted in trust, agency, and care.This one’s wise, grounded, and full of quiet fire.Enjoy the episode, friends!Check out the full show notes and more resources at https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/making-culture-not-just-theater-with-melory-mirashrafiConnect with Kira:@kiratroilo @artandsoulconsulting @inclusivestages"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide WebsiteJoin our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the pageThanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

What if the stories you’re most connected to… are the ones you're being excluded from?In this important conversation, Mara Jill Herman shares what it means to be a Jewish artist and “artivist” in today’s theater world. From casting bias to creative resistance, she demonstrates how identity, advocacy, and art can intersect powerfully.This one’s bold, layered, and full of heart.Enjoy the episode, friends!Check out the show notes and resources at https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/jewish-joy-and-artivism-with-mara-jill-hermanConnect with Kira:@kiratroilo @artandsoulconsulting @inclusivestages"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide WebsiteJoin our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the pageThanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

What if the future of theatre isn’t just about new work, but about new leadership to support it?In this episode, I sit down with Emily Carewe of Theatre503 in London to explore what inclusive theatre leadership really looks like across the pond, and what we can learn from it. From championing debut playwrights to navigating UK arts funding challenges, Emily offers a refreshingly honest take on how small theatres can lead big change.We talk about what it means to stay mission-driven when resources are tight, how to center care without bureaucracy, and why investing in early career artists is a radical act of leadership.🎉 And…we’re officially bringing Inclusive Stages to London this fall for our first international residency! You’ll hear how this collaboration came to life and why this kind of global dialogue is essential to the future of our field.This episode is generous, grounded, and full of insight, reminding us that innovation in leadership often starts at the margins.Enjoy the episode, friends!Check out the show notes and resources at https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/new-work-needs-new-leadership-what-we-can-learn-from-across-the-pondConnect with Kira:@kiratroilo @artandsoulconsulting @inclusivestages"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide WebsiteJoin our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the pageThanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

What if the tension you’re feeling in the rehearsal room isn’t just about the work, but about how we define harm and discomfort?In this solo episode, I explore the growing disconnect in creative spaces and share a practical tool, the Stoplight System, to help you tune into your body, name what’s really happening, and respond with care. From personal stories to questions that can shift entire conversations, this episode invites you to lead with more clarity, courage, and compassion.This one’s tender, honest, and so needed right now.Enjoy the episode, friends!Check out the show notes and resources at https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/harm-or-discomfort-how-artists-tell-the-differenceConnect with Kira:@kiratroilo @artandsoulconsulting @inclusivestages"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide WebsiteJoin our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the pageThanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

Most artists crave authenticity, but what happens when the systems we’re trained in ask us to perform instead of feel?Sound healing artist and singer Davin Youngs joins me to discuss reclaiming one's voice, unlearning perfectionism, and reimagining performance as a space for healing, presence, and transformation. We talk about the ways formal training can limit creative freedom—and how Davin found his way back to joy. This episode is a bold invitation to rethink what performance can be.Enjoy the episode, friends!Check out the full show notes and resources at https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/freeing-your-voice-reimagining-traditional-arts-spacesConnect with Kira:@kiratroilo @artandsoulconsulting @inclusivestages"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide WebsiteJoin our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the pageThanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

Most theatermakers care about inclusion, but what does it really take to build spaces that center healing, agency, and belonging?Educator and consultant Maati Wafford joins me to explore how the Montessori method, mental health, and DEI work intersect, and what the arts can learn from this powerful approach. We explore the role of adult accountability, the power of prepared environments, and why curiosity (not control) is the key to real change.With a sweet cameo from my son Levi, this episode is both practical and deeply personal.Enjoy the episode, friends!Grab resources, see the full show notes, and more at https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/what-can-we-learn-from-the-montessori-wayConnect with Kira:@kiratroilo @artandsoulconsulting @inclusivestages"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide WebsiteJoin our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the pageThanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

What really happens in a Broadway audition room, and how do you get remembered down the line, even if you don’t land the role?Broadway casting director Peter Van Dam joins me to discuss what really goes into casting a show, from open calls that launch careers to the quiet instinct it takes to build a cast that feels right. We explore his journey from a shy kid with a VHS of Mary Poppins to helping shape productions like SIX and Dead Outlaw. Peter shares what casting directors do, how to stand out in auditions, and why inclusive casting is about more than checking boxes; it’s about creating rooms where people belong.This one’s for the artists, the dreamers, and anyone navigating the long game of a career in theater.Enjoy the episode, friends!Check out the full show notes and other resources at https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/can-casting-directors-be-inclusive-with-peter-van-damConnect with Kira:@kiratroilo @artandsoulconsulting @inclusivestages"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide WebsiteJoin our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the pageThanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

Most artists are experts at expressing emotions, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been taught how to navigate them offstage.What does it really mean to build emotionally intelligent spaces in the arts?Zena Collins, one-third of the Inclusive STAGES team, joins me to unpack emotional intelligence as a powerful tool for creative leaders. We discuss how emotions function as data, why most of us aren’t as self-aware as we think, and how assessments like the MSCEIT can reveal surprising insights into how we present ourselves in our work.From navigating hypervigilance and burnout to rewriting the stories we tell ourselves, this episode is full of practical takeaways and powerful reflections on what it takes to lead with empathy, clarity, and courage.Enjoy the conversation, friends!Check out the show notes and resources mentioned at https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/what-are-emotionally-intelligent-creative-spaces-with-zena-collinsConnect with Kira:@kiratroilo @artandsoulconsulting @inclusivestages"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide WebsiteJoin our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the pageThanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

Discover how to transform creative environments with the innovative STAGES Framework. This six-step method promotes psychological safety and collaboration, allowing artists to thrive. Learn how to tackle challenges such as burnout and anxiety within the theater community. Real-life applications, like its use in a production of The Full Monty, showcase the framework's impact in addressing vulnerability and storytelling. Dive into creating rehearsal spaces that truly support risk-taking and foster inclusive artistry.