Inclusive STAGES: Building Healthy Arts Spaces

One easy way to show that you value black actors and members of your production team is to have thought things through ahead of time. Another is to ask for and actually act on feedback. There is so much I want to share on this topic, so what better way than to record a podcast and share that with you? Today’s solo episode—and season 2 opener for the Inclusive Stages Podcast—is centered around my top 5 points all theaters and leaders should consider before hiring folks of color. This is, of course, a shame-free zone and I share these insights with love in the hope for more inclusive stages in the future!Grab the links and mentioned resources athttps://inclusivestages.com/post/hiring-black-artists-consider-these-5-key-things-firstConnect 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.

At work, Jared and I try to stay as far apart as possible because he’s the actor and I’m the EDI consultant. This is Jared, as in Troilo—my husband and father to our son, Levi! This conversation is a huge treat for us! Join us as we discuss Jared’s 20+ year acting career, parenting in the theater industry, relationship building, the importance of curiosity, and the behind-the-scenes of starting my company and this podcast! It’s been quite a wild ride, and as we close out Season 1 of Inclusive Stages, I’m so thrilled to be able to have this open, honest, and vulnerable conversation with Jared. You definitely won’t want to miss this episode—especially the personal life update we share! Enjoy the show!Grab the links and mentioned resources athttps://inclusivestages.com/post/relationships-race-and-parenting-with-jared-troiloConnect with Jared:WebsiteInstagramConnect 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.

There are many conversations happening about mental health and the arts—but not much is being done about it. Art is a powerful medium for change, yet education is being minimized and artists aren’t being handled with care. Which is why it fills me with such joy to introduce you to these two incredible powerhouses who are in fact doing this work alongside me! Please meet Zena Collins and Dr. Charmain Jackman. In this roundtable discussion, you’ll hear more about how we connected with each other, the inclusion work we’ve each been doing, and how we’ve been ideating ways to work together to create even bigger change for the stage!Grab the links and mentioned resources athttps://inclusivestages.com/post/we-know-how-to-fix-the-entertainment-industryConnect with Zena:WebsiteLinkedInTheatre503Connect with Dr. Charmain:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInConnect 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.

Today, I want to talk about something I’ve wanted to share for a while—why I decided to retire from acting. On this podcast, I ask other actors and artists to come on and be vulnerable. I invite them to share their stories and dig deep with me. So it’s only fair that I do that myself. In this episode, I’m sharing my experiences as a commercial and theater actor—as a mom and an actress—and what ultimately led me to retire from the stage. Join me for this raw solo conversation, and please let me know if there’s anything from my story you can relate to. I’d love to hear from you!Grab the links and mentioned resources athttps://inclusivestages.com/post/why-i-needed-to-retire-from-acting-for-nowConnect 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.

When discussing inclusion in musical theater and the arts, body diversity must be a part of that conversation. Actors come in all shapes and sizes—with all of the lived experiences that go along with their bodies. The audition process can be a source of trauma—or inspiration! The performances themselves can be hurtful—or empowering! My guest today, Katy Geraghty, is a New York-based actor, performer, and teacher. And as a self-proclaimed fat woman she’s on a mission to take back the power of words and highlight the talent that is within each one of us! Katy and I chat about everything from Broadway auditions and acting alongside a star-studded cast to life on tour and her scariest performance. Press play and enjoy the show, theater friend!Grab the links and mentioned resources athttps://inclusivestages.com/post/ups-downs-of-b-way-behind-the-scenes-reclaiming-fat-with-katy-geraghtyConnect with Katy:InstagramTikTokConnect 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.

Telling stories in the theater is evolving. There are intimacy coordinators and EDI consultants like me. But the real change is happening by the real people having real conversations and real growth with each other in real time. These productions aren’t just opportunities for the audience to grow and gain a different perspective—we, as actors, get to do this as well! And when I collaborated with Carlee Fallon and Carolyn Saxon, I just knew I wanted to be able to share their story. Today I’m talking with these two amazing women about all things inclusion, the theater, and bravely having those uncomfortable conversations to grow as humans. I know you’ll love these two—so please, enjoy the show!Grab the links and mentioned resources athttps://inclusivestages.com/post/transitioning-type-casting-learning-from-each-other-offstageConnect with Carlee:InstagramConnect with Carolyn:Lyric StageGreater Boston StageFacebookConnect 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.

Creating inclusive spaces in rehearsal rooms is just one piece of the puzzle. But it has a huge ripple effect! Who wouldn’t want to feel heard, seen, and valued, right? (And this doesn’t just go for the actors, friends…) Part of my mission with this podcast is to share what I’ve learned—and continue to learn—on my journey as an EDI consultant. So today, I’m walking you through my CULTURE Roadmap. This roadmap helps establish the culture of the rehearsal and performance spaces for every single show I work with. I hope you find this helpful and I cannot wait to connect after the show!Grab the links and mentioned resources athttps://www.inclusivestages.com/post/how-to-create-an-inclusive-rehearsal-room-cultureConnect 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.

Disability representation in theater is still a misunderstood and even avoided topic. But I’m hoping to change that with today’s conversation. Meet Brennan Srisirikul, a talented disabled actor, producer, and advocate! We bonded over coffee and the fact that, while progress has been made when it comes to disability and theater, there’s still work to do. We discuss everything from how we can tell disabled stories better, auditioning as a disabled person, and how to navigate the topic of disability with kindness. In this vulnerable interview, Brennan makes a beautiful point—disability breeds so much creativity. I know you’re going to love Brennan and this interview, so please—press play and enjoy the show!Grab the links and mentioned resources athttps://www.inclusivestages.com/post/beyond-accessibility-disability-representation-in-theater-with-brennan-srisirikulConnect with Brennan:WebsiteTikTokTwitter/XConnect 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.

Being a “consent-forward artist” or birthing a “care-forward creative space” sounds lovely, but it’s a BIG job. The theater industry has historically had a “just push through” mentality. Thankfully, we’ve seen that begin to shift in the last few years, but not without some damage being done. Leigh Barrett is a beloved Boston-based actor, singer, and director, and she knows all too well the labor of changing what leadership looks like. In this episode, Leigh and I discuss how we (as actors, directors, and theater lovers) can bring more connection and conversation to a production—or even simply bring balance into our own lives. Leigh and I get into all this and more. Press play and enjoy the show!In this episode, you will:Discover how Leigh has taken her experiences as an actor and used them to be an incredible leader and director.Uncover the freedom Leigh discovered in being her FULL, authentic self!Learn what it’s like to balance being a mother and an actor.Full show notes here!Mentioned ResourcesThe Last Five YearsConnect with Leigh:WebsiteConnect 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.

How often do you get asked about your lived experiences? All those moments added up to create the person you are today, yet not all of us are fortunate enough to have people in our world willing to ask questions and listen to what we have to share. But Aaron Michael Ray saw a way to encourage, facilitate, and help all of us heal from conversations just like that.I’m so excited to bring you this interview with my friend Aaron. He’s just coming off of the Come From Away Tour, which much of our conversation centers around. It was a call with that entire production that initially sparked the Conversations From Away podcast. The podcast was created to highlight the theater industry's social injustices and bring people together to fight for necessary change. Please enjoy this conversation with Aaron Michael Ray, and stay until the end to see where you can see him on stage next!Grab the links and mentioned resources athttps://inclusivestages.com/post/tour-life-edi-conversations-with-aaron-michael-rayConnect with Aaron:Conversations From Away PodcastA Strange LoopA Wonderful WorldConnect 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.