Breaking the Fourth Wall

Breaking the Fourth Wall

Today’s theatre must strive for greater diversity, representation and inclusion. Every Monday, join Ashlee and Tim Espinosa, accomplished musical theatre teaching artists, as they engage in stimulating conversations on the current state of musical theatre and how they are advocating for positive change. Whether you are a musical theatre performer, actor, educator, student or patron who either wants to stay current with musical theatre news, expand your knowledge of the history of musical theatre, or gain insight on the changing landscape of today’s musical theatre, this podcast is for you.

Episodes

July 12, 2021 20 mins

Artistic directors and season selection committees should consider these 7 factors when determining their upcoming season programming.

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Visit the podcast website that includes a full transcript.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

You...

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Consider these 7 steps when entering the rehearsal and production process to support and advocate for greater diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Visit the podcast website that includes a full transcript.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosao...

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Ashlee and Tim discuss actionable steps that program heads and faculty can immediately implement into their curriculum and teaching practices in order to affect the much needed positive change moving forward.

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Visit the podcast website that includes a full transcript.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

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Mark as Played

Are theatre programs adequately preparing students to meet the demands of the professional arena of theatre after graduation?

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Visit the podcast website that includes a full transcript.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
...

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June 14, 2021 22 mins

Does working on Broadway and New York City serve as the  sole definition of success in the theatre industry?

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Visit the podcast website that includes a full transcript.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espin...

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Watch
Mark as Played
June 7, 2021 21 mins

How to avoid burnout in an industry built on more work and less pay. 

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Visit the podcast website that includes a full transcript.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
...

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How are self tape submissions evolving and creating equitable opportunities in musical theatre. Tim and Ashlee also discuss how self promotion is linked to your process and ways you can maximum your online presence.

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Show Notes:
Essential Guide to Creating Musical Theatre Self-Tapes
YouTube for Artists + Educators Online Course

Read the blog post ...

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May 17, 2021 23 mins

How we can begin to honor and acknowledge the benefits of creating a career in musical theatre that includes multiple steams of income, passion and value.  

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Read the blog post of this episode that includes additional photos, videos and resources.

Visit the podcast website that includes a full transcript.

New episodes every Monday morning.

We...

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It's time to reframe the narrative that surrounds cruise ship and theme park entertainment. Ashlee and Tim Espinosa talk about their experience meeting on a cruise ship as performers, how it enabled them to explore the world and multitudes of cultures, work with multi million dollar sets and costume, and why theme park are a valuable means of income within the entrainment industry.

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzz...

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Korrie Yamaoka, host of the podcast Studying the Song, joins us as we talk about changing the way we train singers, creating healthy boundaries, and audition thoughts from her perspective as a vocal coach and music director.

Read the blog post of this episode that includes additional photos, videos and resources.

Visit the podcast website that includes a full transcript.

Korrie Yamaoka is a musical theatre vocal coach...

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The history of American acting methodologies and ways that we can eliminate trauma when teaching acting fundamentals.

Reflecting on American Acting Training in 2021

  1. What is the history of teaching acting in musical theatre?
  2. How has it affected actors negatively?
  3. What can we do to better train actors without using trauma?

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

Read the blog post of this episod...

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In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) interview Leo Yu-Ning Chang about his thoughts on the current state of musical theatre.

Visit the podcast website.

Leo Yu-Ning Chang is a bilingual performer and educator born and raised in Taiwan, where he co-founded an award-winning A Cappella Band-Guess What. Upon earning his M.F.A. degree in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University, Leo...

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April 12, 2021 31 mins

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) discuss the challenges associated with the role of the stage director.

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly puzzler is included!

podcast website

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espi...

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Mark as Played

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee and Tim interview JoJo Siu and Sarah Timm about their thoughts on the current state of musical theatre through the lens of a costume designer. We also talk about their successful podcast The Costume Plot.

Join us on Clubhouse for our weekly podcast encore event with JoJo and Sarah on Thursday at 4pm PT.

JoJo Siu graduated from UCIrvine with her M.F.A. in Costume Des...

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March 29, 2021 24 mins

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) discuss the problematic nature of, what is considered to be, the Golden Age of musical theatre.

Reflecting on the term “Golden Age” in 2021

  1. What is the Golden Age?
  2. Why have we put so much emphasis on it?
  3. What are the problematic concepts with these musicals?
  4. How do we approach these musicals now?

Plus, as always, your favorite weekly ...

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March 22, 2021 25 mins

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) interview Gwendolyn Walker (she/her) about her thoughts on the current state of musical theatre.

Join us on Clubhouse for our weekly podcast encore event with Gwen.

Gwendolyn Walker is an Assistant Professor of Voice and Alexander Technique in Penn State’s BFA Musical Theatre program. She is also a graduate of the Contemporary Alexander Sc...

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March 15, 2021 24 mins

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him) discuss their lessons learned in both the educational and professional arena of musical theatre during 2020 and the early part of 2021. 

  • Will academia change course?
  • How have we evolved as artists? 
  • Are we optimistic about the future of the craft? 
  • What actions are + can we continue to take as a community to make change happen?
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March 8, 2021 1 min

Ashlee (she/her) and Tim (he/him)  introduce Season 2 of their podcast, Breaking the Fourth Wall.

Podcast Encore Event in Clubhouse

New episodes every Monday morning.

Websites:
AshleeEspinosa.com
TimEspinosa.com

Instagram:
@ashleelynnespinosa
@timespinosaofficial

Youtube:
Ashlee Espinosa
Tim Espinosa

Twitter:
@AshleeLEspinosa

Email us at: team@Ashl...

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Mark as Played
April 27, 2020 19 mins

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Tim and Ashlee Espinosa discuss the upcoming Broadway revival of 1776 directed by Diane Paulus with a focus on inclusive casting. How do we continue the movement of casting folx in a more inclusive and supportive way just like Diane is doing right now?

This is the final episode of Season 1. We will be taking a break and seeing everyone back again in July with a new seaso...

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April 20, 2020 23 mins

In this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall, Tim and Ashlee Espinosa discuss their favorite resources right now for creative outlets in quarantine isolation to further their creative outlets. The topic this week is focused on online teaching and how we can use distance education to continue to grow and learn as artists and educators. We share the tools we have found helpful when teaching online class and also coaching or c...

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Mark as Played

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