About This Episode: This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby is joined by Michelle Langille, an actor, director, and burlesque performer whose journey has taken her from Toronto to Cape Breton. In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Michelle talks about her roots in musical theatre, what it means to redefine success on your own terms, and how returning to a smaller community reignited her creative spark. From lessons in understudy generosity to creating her burlesque persona "Honey de Mele," Michelle shares insights about art, sustainability, and joyful reinvention. This episode explores:
- Michelle’s early inspirations and love of musical theatre
- The journey through multiple theatre schools and cities
- How a move to Nova Scotia shifted her career trajectory
- Her experience as a burlesque performer and fundraiser producer
- Making theatre in small communities and the power of local talent
- Lessons in kindness, mentorship, and the importance of joy in the rehearsal room
- Her directorial journey leading to upcoming work at Neptune Theatre
- Thoughts on work-life balance and the future of Canadian theatre
Guest: 🎭 Michelle Langille Michelle Langille is an actor/director born in Antigonish, who currently lives in Sydney Cape Breton Nova Scotia. Michelle studied Musical Theatre at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria BC and Classical Theatre at George Brown College in Toronto.
As a director Michelle just completed directing The Producers (Highland Arts Theatre) and Annie (Savoy Theatre). She is about to start rehearsals for Come From Away as a Diane (Savoy Theatre) then she heads to Halifax to direct her first show for Neptune Theatre, the Wizard of Oz then immediately heads back home to direct Frozen at the Savoy. Michelle was a member of Neptune Theatre’s Chrysalis project working on The Last Wife and Peter Pan. She assisted on the world premiere of Lo (or Dear Mr. Wells) a Nightwood Theatre production at Crows Theatre. Her first directing opportunity came with The Penelopiad at Hart House Theatre which garnered a number of Subscriber Choice awards including awards for lighting, set, overall design, favourite supporting actor and favourite director. She was a member of Nightwood Theatre’s Write from the Hip Playwright’s unit (2016/2017) with her play Ten Days which received a second workshop with PARC in 2019.
Favourite performing credits include Mary’s Wedding, Saltwater Moon (Single Thread) A Man Walks Into a Bar (Amblemore) Clique Claque (Pea Green/Next Stage Festival) Gray (Theatre Inamorata) Mamma Mia (The Savoy Theatre), The Sound of Music, Oliver!, Evita, The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast and most recently as Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show (Neptune Theatre).
Michelle is also a burlesque performer who appears as Honey De Mele and is the current and first chair of the Atlantic Burlesque Festival , the first festival east of Montreal which just finished its second sold out year.
Connect with Michelle: 📸 Instagram: @michelle_langille
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