Art is Life

This weeks episode Russell finally gets a chance to chat with fellow UNCG acting cohort class member Jessica Hirsh on the importance of staying prepared and not waiting for the moment to be seen pass you by. Brought to you by Real Creative Heart. Like, Review, Share, & Subscribe. Jess is the Head of Musical Theatre at the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts in Salt Lake City Utah. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Thesis: Fabiana Aziza Cunningham in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot), a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Youngstown State University (Magna Cum Laude, Senior Project: The Witch in Into The Woods), a Shakespeare Certificate from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and a Musical Theatre Certificate from the Open Jar Institute in New York City. Jess was a two-time Irene Ryan Acting Competition nominee and was a semi-finalist for Musical Theatre Initiative in 2017 at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

In Russell's very first dual interview he talks with two friends and fellow artists in the acting & directing space & husband and wife pair Chris Gilly-Forrer & Tiffany Gilly-Forrer as they discuss the importance of supporting each others artistic endeavors as well as finding their own way artistically. Brought to you by Real Creative Heart. Like, Review, Share, & Subscribe. Tiffany Gilly-Forrer (she/her) is an actor, acting instructor, and playwright with an MFA from Louisiana State University. She is certified in Seven Pillars Acting and will be leading three workshops at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in March 2023, as well as producing a two-person cabaret in NYC. Check out more of her work at www.tiffanygillyforrer.com [http://www.tiffanygillyforrer.com/] and stay tuned for upcoming performances! Chris Gilly-Forrer is a director and theatre educator currently teaching at Utah Tech University. He received his MFA from UNC Greensboro and is a proud alumnus of the PCPA—Pacific Conservatory Theatre directing internship. Chris firmly believes in the transformative power of theatre and seeks to produce work in conversation with current socio-economic and political events. Favorite credits include Macbeth, Peter and the Starcatcher, Dealer’s Choice, and The World on a Hill. --

Today's episode Russell speaks with fellow cohort class member from UNCG and Theatre for Young Audiences Directing student Hayley Greenstreet on the importance of impacting young people in theatre in a positive way. Brought to you by Real Creative Heart. Like, Review, Share, & Subscribe. Hayley Greenstreet comes from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She earned her BA in Theatre with Honors from Wake Forest University in 2015. After graduating, she worked as a year-long Education Resident Professional Intern at Lexington Children's Theater in Kentucky. In 2016, she moved to Omaha Nebraska to work as a Teaching Artist Fellow at The Rose Theater. After her fellowship year, Hayley continued working at The Rose as a full time Teaching Artist! In this role, Hayley wore many hats; she served the children and families of Omaha as a teacher, performer, director, and mentor. Starting in fall 2020, Hayley attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for her MFA in Theatre for Youth. While at UNCG, she directed The Arkansaw Bear by Aurand Harris and Round Pegs, Square Pegs by Mary Hall Surface, and the North Carolina Theatre for Young People’s first ever TVY piece: Wake Up, Brother Bear! Since graduating, she has been teaching in the School of Theatre at UNCG, as well as a Teaching Artist for Drama Kids of The Triad. Throughout all of her endeavors, Hayley strives to work with young people as collaborators, using their voices and ideas to fuel the work that will ultimately be shared with other young minds.

This weeks episode Russell sits down with Wing Chun Grandmaster Sifu Steve of Cloud Forest Martial Arts Greensboro and they talk about the importance of martial arts in not only a use of defending oneself but also the benefits of using the skills learned in everyday life as well as other art forms such as acting. Brought to you by Real Creative Heart. Like, Review, Share, & Subscribe. Sifu Steve McGowan-is the founder and head instructor of Golden Harvest Wing Chun (CFMAG). He began his study of martial arts with Japanese Go Jyu Ryu Karate at the age of eight. A year later, when his new neighbor, Chan Kau Mo moved in next door, he was introduced to Wing Chun. From the Age of nine to 18 Steve intensively training under Sigung Chan.  After graduating high school, Steve enlisted in the US Army and became a special force operative. He carried combat missions in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world. After serving for seven years,  he decided to join the Honolulu police force. Steve served as an officer for 3 years, and then moved to Kansai, Japan. After moving to Japan in the mid 1990s, he decided to open one of Japans first Wing Chun  Kung Fu schools in the heart of Osaka, in 2007.  As the leading instructor of Golden Harvest,  Steve McGowan has taught over one hundred students  the art of Wing Chun, self defense techniques, weapons  techniques and competitive fighting techniques.  Since his childhood encounter with Sigung Chan,  Steve McGowan has had an undying passion for martial  arts.  In addition to Wing Chun, he has also studied  and practiced many styles of Chinese, Filipino,  and Japanese martial arts. He has 42 years of experience  in Wing Chun and has trained hundreds of students.  He is a dedicated teacher and mentor who focuses  on the art of simplicity.

In the Season 3 Premeire Russell sits down with UNCG's musical theatre professor and director Erin Speer as they discuss the similarities as well as differences between directing musical theatre compared to theatre itself and the impact it has on artists and audiences alike. Brought to you by Real Creative Heart. Like, Review, Share & Subscribe. Erin Farrell Speer – Erin is a musical theatre director, educator and filmmaker. She serves as an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre and Director of Undergraduate Studies – School of Theatre at UNC Greensboro. She earned her MFA in Directing for the Musical Theatre from Penn State where she studied under the mentorship of veteran Broadway director, Susan H. Schulman. Erin is also a proud graduate of The University of Michigan, holding a BFA in Acting.  Erin made her Broadway debut in 2018 serving as the Assistant to Tony winning director Christopher Ashley on Escape to Margaritaville, the Jimmy Buffett musical. She also served in that capacity on the pre-Broadway tour. She made her off-Broadway debut in 2022 as the Associate Director for Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust Road at the York Theatre.  Originally from Los Angeles, California, Erin’s creative work has taken her all around the United States. Regionally, Erin has worked at Center Theatre Group/the Mark Taper Forum, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Heritage Repertory Theatre, Sierra Repertory Theatre and the North Carolina Theatre among others.  In 2022, Erin directed both The Spongebob Musical and The Scarlet Pimpernel. In Spring of 2023, she will direct The Bridges of Madison County at Elon University and Rock of Ages at UNCG. Favorite Direction credits include: The Spongebob Musical, Pippin, American Idiot, Sweet Charity, and many, many more.