June 3, 2022 • 27 mins
In this episode, I chat with Carly Neis about the importance of finding your own path in life. We also discuss what accessibility truly means, dream roles and most importantly heart nuggets!
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THEME: (00:01):
Oh Imma trust the whole damn process, for the record,
till we breaking records!
Reminiscing about the past days now werise and fly, journeys to the sky, Azimuth
inside my grip, always know the way now!
Beauty fill my days now takeit day by day sound couldn't be
prouder cause y'know we alive!
ANDRÉS: (00:25):
Hi, everyone.
And welcome back to in processAzimuth Theatre's podcast, celebrating
and uplifting the community.
Today I'm very excited towelcome into this space.
Carly Neis Hi, Carly.
CARLY: (00:39):
Hi Thank you for having me.
ANDRÉS: (00:41):
Thank you for being here.
Oh my gosh.
I already love the energyyou're bringing in.
Oh, this is going to bea great conversation.
CARLY: (00:46):
Excellent
ANDRÉS: (00:47):
How are you Carly
CARLY: (00:48):
I am so good.
It's been such a great day.
ANDRÉS: (00:51):
I'm glad you're having a wonderful day!
So Carly for, some of the folks athome who don't know your story, do
you want to share it a little bitabout your journey and what led you
to theater and feel free to shareas much or as little as you'd like?
CARLY: (01:02):
Sure.
So I started out in theater actuallysemi-professionally in Toronto when
I was eight, somewhere around there.
And got my start there andhad a good- had steady work.
And then we moved a million times and I.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to doTheatre for fun or, you know,
(01:25):
I was a, I was a child, so Iexperimented with other things.
And then when, when moved here, Iwas like, I need to get back into
theater because it's really where.
I belong because my parents usedto put me in like dance classes
cause I hated physiotherapy.
And they put me in voice lessonsto help with diction because you
(01:46):
know, I was a stubborn child.
So when I finally decided Iactually wanted to go into theater
for fun and eventually for work.
I started working with a wonderfulcommunity organization over the years that
does reviews, which are like basicallythemed shows with a bunch of, with a bunch
(02:07):
of songs and a little bit of a script.
And, you know, I could get awaywith doing songs like "Chorus
line" or something like that.
Which is great.
It's great to put on your resume thatyou've done weird stuff that people in
wheelchair should never be able to do.
It's great.
I love freaking people out like that.
And then just in the last Three...
(02:28):
four years.
I actually, I was doing a a fringeproduction and had a really hard
time when it came, to peoplemeeting my access needs, like
within the company I was hired with.
And so I had randomly posted on myfacebook one day, that like, I wish
(02:48):
I could fight the inaccessibility ofart with art and write my own show
and I really wasn't expecting much outof it and one of my best friends came
up to me and was like, you want towrite a show, write a show with you.
I was like, oh, okay.
I was, I was expecting it to be maybea year long journey and maybe you
(03:10):
know, we just do it, do a couple ofworkshops, do it at Fringe and be done.
And now we're looking we're fouryears into it and have had like
five different workshops of it.
And it's about to debut itexpanse, which is amazing.
But through that whole process, Ihave officially decided that like
(03:31):
professional theater and professionalarts is where my heart lies and the way
the art scene is changing over the lastyear or so, you know, it's easier for
me to see myself as a disabled actorand creator, onstage and offstage,
and in every role that I possibly can.
(03:52):
So luckily enough doors have openedand I've been able to kind of
shift over into professional world.
I I'm so glad that the universeheard you at that moment.
And I went , "oh, you want to do this?
I'll send you the pals you need!"
Right.
Like my family and some of my friendsare still like, what are you doing?
And I'm like, I'm getting paid to do whatI love for the first time in a long time.
ANDRÉS: (04:16):
Ah, and that's what I want to hear.
CARLY: (04:17):
Right.
ANDRÉS: (04:18):
For everyone, you know, I just want everyone to be
doing what they love, you know?
And so the show that you're,debuting is "Tune To A", correct.
CARLY: (04:26):
Yeah.
ANDRÉS: (04:26):
How has that process been?
Especially preparing itto what you call debut?
Cause I mean, it's obviously had liketons of iterations in the last four,
four years, but what's what makes this,what you would consider like a debut
CARLY: (04:37):
It's been so amazing because again, because I haven't
been in the professional worldfor long enough, I had no idea.
I knew what a workshop was, but I hadno idea how much effort and planning
and like the purpose of workshopsactually was, so every time we've
taken it and done a workshop, we'vekind of dismantled it for a reason.
(04:58):
Like in December of last year, weactually got the opportunity to do a
workshop with Judith Thompson and we-like every single actor was disabled.
And I got to sit back andbe a writer in the room.
So I got to actually see theshow from a birds eye view.
(05:19):
And like just having that andthe conversation that came with
it was like one of the mostpowerful experiences of my life.
So every single workshop thatwe've done, we've kind of broken
it down for different reasons.
Like we've had a music workshop and astaging workshop, and then in July was
the first time thanks to COVID that wewere able to have a workshop in, in space
(05:44):
and like start working with designersand figuring out, you know what it
actually means to have it on its feet.
Cause that's, that's another weirdworld I'm used to being in everyone
else's show and I'm like, great.
A costume won't fit orit's not accessible.
I'll make it work.
But you know, having peoplearound me there'll be like,
no, no, no, what do you need?
(06:05):
I'll build it for you was areally amazing opportunity.
ANDRÉS: (06:09):
Oh my gosh.
That's so exciting.
I'm so excited to see it!
CARLY: (06:12):
And so like we start rehearsals in February and I'm so looking forward
to actually getting, to spend time withit as an actor and not as a producer
and a writer, I just get to sit withit as an an actor, so it's amazing.
ANDRÉS: (06:26):
And you've had enough time to play with it ,as a writer.
So you wanna get inthere and play, you know?
Yeah.
And that's kind of your vibe.
Like, I, I feel like a lot of yourvibe is I would just want to play.
You know, I just want to do it.
Let's see what comes out.
Where do you think that that comes from?
CARLY: (06:42):
I think that comes from honestly being a disabled crater because you
don't get a lot of opportunities to play.
You have to fit intoeveryone else's boxes right?
So when I get the opportunity to sit downand just be a, be an actor, put one hat
(07:02):
on and be in a room where I don't haveto do a lot of homework for other people
and explain everything that's going on.
I, I just soak it up foreverything that it's worth.
Cause I know that, you know, everyopportunity I get from this point
forward, it will be a differentopportunity and that's great.
ANDRÉS: (07:20):
That's such a beautiful outlook to have So you're doing this show
for, for expanse, but you're also a partof the Az-Map program here at Azimuth.
Do you want to tell us a littlebit about what you, what you
see the Az-Map program as being
CARLY: (07:34):
Sure!
I think it's like the best program tocome out of the theater world for lots
of different reasons, but like, to justbe able to bridge that gap for folks
that have never been able to have thatbridge kind of open to them is amazing.
Like I went to, I went to theaterschool cause I originally wanted to be
(07:56):
a drama teacher and I got told one toomany times that there was no point.
Like that either I was supposedto be in technical leader.
Or that I just wasn't supposedto show up every day, you know,
just stupid excuses like that.
So everyone else might have a BFA behindthere, behind their name and might have
(08:17):
the experience, but I don't even havethe opportunity to build my resume.
Right.
So this, and that's part of the reasonwhy I went into arts admin as well as
a kind of a supplement was that I knewI could build the producer side of
my brain and then eventually wheeledmyself back into the artists part of it.
(08:39):
So I think this is a wonderful programin the sense of, we do get classes
like, like musical theater, voice orclowning or, or whatever, like whatever
depths we haven't had the opportunityto explore yet, but then we also
get to sit beside Morgan and Sue andfigure out how to like, be artists.
(09:00):
Whether it be things like how to do socialmedia or how to build a website, I finally
figured out that I probably should havea website, you know, like, and that's
the beauty of being an artist in 2021is that there's, there's so much that
comes with your name that you can, like,you can market yourself as an artist,
(09:20):
but then I also do consultation for thearts community in disability awareness.
I also do public speaking.
I also am a playwright.
I'm also a producer.
So like finding a way to kind ofmeld all of that and figuring out how
to sell yourself as a human in theself-employed world is a weird world,
(09:41):
but I'm so glad I have the opportunityto, and the, the level of instructors
that are coming out of this program.
I I'm stoked to learn everysingle thing that I can.
ANDRÉS: (09:52):
Was there something in specific that you were like,
this is why I want to apply.
CARLY: (09:56):
I, some of it was because I just, I just wanted to network.
Like I just I've been so fortunateto be around my "Tune To A" team
for the last, however many years.
But having people outside of my usualteam and kind of pushing me outside of
my comfort zone to was important to me.
(10:17):
Cause like generals stillscare the crap out of me.
Cause I'm not used to like beingable to be welcomed into a room yet.
So I'm hoping that by the endof the program I'll have enough
material behind me, whether itbe, you know, musical theater.
Or, or straight stuff or Shakespearethat I can like walk into a room
and confidently not be seen as thedisabled one to just be cast as like.
(10:43):
I don't know, whatever the,whatever the lead might be.
And it won't matter thatI sit instead of stand.
Right.
ANDRÉS: (10:48):
where do you draw your inspiration from?
Like when you start to work on ascript or when you start to work on
a piece that you're You've mentionedit a couple times already, but
are you a musical theater person?
CARLY: (10:58):
I am!
(laughs) I grew up in musical theatre.
ANDRÉS: (11:03):
Yeah?
CARLY: (11:03):
Yeah Yeah.
ANDRÉS: (11:04):
Do you have a role that you're like, this is the role for
CARLY: (11:07):
me.
I love to play.
This is gonna sound really weird,but I would love to play Ms.
Stacy and "Anne of Green Gables."
ANDRÉS: (11:15):
All right!
(Laughter)
A) Because it's a really longcontract, but B) I feel like Ms.
Stacy is like a part of me in thesense of like that strong woman
that like gets things done, butalso has like the heart of gold.
I feel like if anyone wasto put a stereotype on me,
(11:37):
that that wouldn't be me.
That's the one that you'relike," I'll wear it proudly!
CARLY: (11:41):
Yes I will!
(Laughter)
ANDRÉS: (11:44):
"That's awesome.
And where do you drawyour inspiration from?
Like when you start to work on ascript or when you start to work
on a piece that you're creating.
CARLY: (11:52):
A lot of it comes from like realizing what doesn't exist in the world
right now and, and realizing that it'sokay to create things and it's okay to
take up space and it's okay to just exist.
Like I remember "Tune To A" goingfrom, like, let's put a montage about
being in band class to let's make hershow about being in band class to.
(12:18):
No, let's deal with like allyship andfriendship, but also have it based in
band world, you know, like the, andthat's the beauty of creating your
own work is that it can, it can sitin a place for awhile and then you
can look back at it and be like, yeah,I kind of like where this is going.
So I'm going to draw onit more in this direction.
(12:39):
Right.
ANDRÉS: (12:39):
Totally.
Yeah.
And, and I think that's somethingthat's so beautiful that isnt it really
talked about because sometimes thearts can be so focused on product, but
the process and how a piece can growand evolve, it can be so beautiful.
It can start from one thing andcompletely evolve to something so
different, but it's still that same piece,
CARLY: (13:01):
You've still got the little, you know, heart nuggets is what I
like to call it or the heart center.
Right.
ANDRÉS: (13:08):
I'm totally stealing the word heart nuggets.
CARLY: (13:11):
You're welcome!
We should start a list of Carly-isms.
ANDRÉS: (13:16):
We should!
And like get them on a t-shirt.
CARLY: (13:19):
That's what I want by the end of Az-Map its just a t-shirt.
" ANDRÉS: (13:25):
That's it.
I just want t-shirts with my -isms"
Okay.
So since you brought it up, I mean,obviously we're going to get you
the shirts with the -isms, butbesides that, like what, what do
you want to get out of this program?
CARLY: (13:38):
A big thing for me is, is confidence in the sense of like, Again,
that I can walk into a room becauseI've never been given that opportunity.
And that's what I love aboutwhere this program sits .Is it's
kind of like a workshop in thesense of it's never been done.
This is the first year, so we cantruly tailor it to what both Bret
(14:01):
and I need to be able to existand flourish and, and just be
successful after the program is done.
So, you know, I.
I would like things like, you know, anaudition book that's, that's done and
complete that I can pull out at any time.
And I would like maybe to start on adifferent adventure and do my own cabaret.
(14:24):
Cause I would like something likethat is super exciting for me.
And I would just love theopportunity to like learn from
people that I haven't learnt from.
Cause really, I've only had that onecommunity theater organization that's
like, and even then there's only been oneor two people within that organization.
(14:46):
That's been like, "nah, wellyou can do do whatever you want.
We'll make it work."
My music director, one ofmy favorite stories is that.
A couple years ago for fringe,he was like, I'm going to
give you a dance number.
I was like, you're gonna do what now?
We've known each other for 10 yearsand he's like, I'm going to give you,
(15:09):
"I Can't Do It Alone" from Chicago.
And I was like oh, you know.
Okay, great.
And then like a day later, he cameback and was like, so the dog's going
to dance and you're going to sing.
I was like, "w-what?"
He's like, just do it.
You'll be fine.
And it's seriously the best numberthat I walked into an audition and I
(15:31):
use it to break the ice because peoplejust don't know what to do with me.
So I love surrounding myselfwith people like that.
And you know, that particular personwill always be in my corner, but I'm
looking forward to finding those few otherpeople that will also be in my corner.
And that can also canbuild off of my strengths.
ANDRÉS: (15:51):
I got to say like I know, we haven't spent a lot of time together.
CARLY: (15:55):
Not yet, no!
ANDRÉS: (15:56):
But there is something so wonderful about like this bravery you
have that you're like, "I'm just gonnado this thing and can't nobody stop me!"
where does that come from?
CARLY: (16:07):
I, You know, it's gonna sound cheesy, but like my parents were.
One of the best, you know, people tolike, I was born into the right family
in the sense of like they never- they'renot the biggest fan of me going into
the arts yet, but I think everyone'severyone's parents was like that.
(16:29):
"You want to do what?
And be self-employed?"
Yeah.
But they're like, "Sure!
You want to go pretend you can bea figure skater, but really we know
you'll never be a figure skater.
Okay.
Well do that."
Right.
And I think it can be a blessing andcurse because eventually you're going
to figure out that you're differentthan everyone else, but you've
still got to have that like attitudethat lets you get through the day.
(16:54):
And, and you've also got to giveyourself permission to have those
really crappy days too, to let yourcircumstances win but that doesn't
mean they need to win everyday.
ANDRÉS: (17:05):
That's beautiful.
Yeah, you do.
Oh my God.
This is speaking to my soul becauselike sometimes the crappy circumstances
definitely win, but I love the ideaof like, well, okay, so they won today,
tomorrow shall be different, you know?
Ah, beautiful.
So do you remember the first pieceof theater that inspired you?
CARLY: (17:25):
The first piece of theater that inspired me was actually "Lion King" I
saw it in Toronto in the big theater.
And it was the first show that mygrandma ever took me to like, my
grandma was a big theater fan andstill is like, had, had season tickets
for the Persephone Theatre for years.
And she took me to "Lion King"and I walked out of there at
(17:49):
intermission the theater is puppets.
I can do theater!
I don't even have to do anything else!
So I thought ,every pieceof theater was puppets.
And I felt like I could get away with it.
And little like six year old Carly wasn'tlooking at who was on the stage I was just
like, I want to do something with puppets.
(18:09):
That was my life goal.
Little did I know that perhaps itwasn't always puppets and then there
was a lot of work behind it, butthat's been one of my favorites stories
to tell and pretty great from thefirst show that you've ever go see.
ANDRÉS: (18:24):
Yeah.
Have you done anything with puppets?
CARLY: (18:26):
No, I like, my fine motor and puppets scare me, but like, I
am also not afraid to learn things.
So if you have a way for me to doit and successfully let's do it
ANDRÉS: (18:40):
By no means am I a puppeteer!
Let that be said.
However, I started working with puppetsin May and it has changed my life.
Really?
If you want to talk puppetry,we'll talk puppetry.
CARLY: (18:53):
We'll make it a date then!
ANDRÉS: (18:54):
Oh.
Yes!
we are gonna chat puppetry.
CARLY: (18:56):
The joys of this Az-Map program you can decide, you know, in the middle of
the podcast that you want to do puppetry!
AD: (19:12):
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It is our aim to continue to introduceand deepen the relationships between
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To keep this podcast going, go toAzimuththeatre.com/donate to help
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ANDRÉS: (19:47):
So besides theater, what's something else that brings you joy?
Or something that you use on thosedays where you're having stressful
time in you're like I just wanta little bit of joy in my life.
CARLY: (19:56):
Well, theater is become a solid, you know, it can be for work, but I can
also just be for fun, like in the senseof like throwing on a show tunes playlist
also almost saved me every single time,but I am so freaking lucky to be able
to have a dog with me wherever I go.
(20:17):
So dog snuggles is also great.
ANDRÉS: (20:19):
Nobody can argue with that!
CARLY: (20:21):
No!
And this one, hasn't had a chance tofigure out if he likes theater yet.
So we might have to come up witha new version of, I can't do
it alone and throw him in it.
ANDRÉS: (20:33):
He's also part of the AZ-Map program.
CARLY: (20:34):
Perfect!
(Laughter),
ANDRÉS: (20:37):
Do you have a specific, I know we talked about "Anne of Green
Gables", but do you have a specificsong that is like, "This is my song!"
CARLY: (20:46):
Like one that I already know that it's in my book
or one that's like a dream.
ANDRÉS: (20:51):
You can give us both if you are.
CARLY: (20:53):
I think the one that I've like fallen in love with recently is
"Someone Like You" from Jekyll and Hyde.
I love me a sit in bark song,but also like just in general,
that song, especially overCOVID like finding your people!
And, relishing in that has beensuch a beautiful message to
(21:13):
learn and kind of bring forward.
So that's one that's currentlyin my book that I can't wait
to use in the room again.
And then other than that, I would loveto figure out how the heck to do "Chorus
Line" as someone in a wheelchair.
ANDRÉS: (21:29):
Yo!
I think that would be so cool.
CARLY: (21:31):
I think we should figure it out.
Cause I really want to do it.
Like "Nothing" and "Dance 10Looks 3" and "I Can Do That!"
And can you imagine like atap number when I can do that?
With Carly on like hand taps or something.
ANDRÉS: (21:46):
Listen, it would be amazing
CARLY: (21:50):
I'm also like five feet sitting down.
So I would just love to be in a,in a chorus line and pretend to be
tall for like two hours of my life.
ANDRÉS: (21:59):
That shows is wild.
CARLY: (22:01):
It's a tough one, but yeah.
ANDRÉS: (22:03):
Have you seen the, the, the there's a documentary
about the making of it?
CARLY: (22:07):
Yes
ANDRÉS: (22:07):
Yeah, you have.
(Laughter)
CARLY: (22:08):
Yes I have!
It's what happens when you're really goodfriends with your music director is that
you often end up watching things thatmake no sense to anyone else, but you're
totally okay nerding over small things.
ANDRÉS: (22:24):
Now is there a, do you have a favorite treat that you'd go to like
a snack or something that like, you'relike, this is my, this is my jam.
That's a solid question.
We're getting to the hardhitting questions now.
CARLY: (22:39):
Right?!
For snack wise, give me some goodkettle corn and I'll be super happy.
Food wise, give me a plateof perogies and I'm set.
ANDRÉS: (22:48):
Ooh!
CARLY: (22:49):
Yeah,
ANDRÉS: (22:50):
Yeah.
As somebody who didn't have in his lifeuntil I was like 12, I discovered perogies
and I was like," This is beautiful!"
and then I someone showedme blueberry perogies
CARLY: (23:00):
Ooh yes!
ANDRÉS: (23:02):
Like where have they been?!
You know?
Yeah.
Now I know you're working on your show andstuff, but also what's a dream project,
CARLY: (23:11):
The more I think about it, the more like this like Carly cabaret thing
is like circling around in my brain.
Just cause.
I am.
It's taken me a long time to becomfortable with my story and
to be able to take up space.
But now that I'm kind oflike learning to do that.
I think telling my story in a kindof a collection of songs, but also
(23:35):
like, I would love random medleysto show up every once in a while.
Like my music director for years haswanted to make me a walking medley.
I'm like all these songs aboutwalking, just so that I can show up
and audition and freak people out.
So like adding things like that, thatlike, that tell my story, but also tell
my personality and that kind of, youknow, make people walk away and think.
ANDRÉS: (23:58):
yeah,
CARLY: (23:59):
I think we're still on the cusp of like, Diversity is good in the
room, but how do I actually do that?
ANDRÉS: (24:07):
Well, and it's, everyone's reworking their
muscle brain around diversity.
Right.
I totally feel that.
CARLY: (24:12):
And it doesn't matter whether you're able-bodied or disabled, they're
like just, you know, it's all, you allhave a part of your story that you have
had now rework, like we're now in a weirdworld, but in a world that like appears
to be shifting in the right direction.
So I think that is one of my likebigger projects for myself, but also
(24:34):
think like working just outside ofEdmonton and like creating a brand
for myself as another like huge goalin the sense of like, I can, I can
spread my wings a little further now.
Like I have enough, I have enoughleverage behind me now that I
can, you know, convince peoplethat have me in their room.
(24:58):
And you're, you're always gonna findpeople, even if it's not your parents
or your partner or whomever, you'realways going to find people that are
just gonna be like " you go, do youlike, I will be there to support you.
You go do you.
Finding your community is so enriching.
Like finding that community, that'sgoing to be like, "I support you.
You go do your thing.
Let me know if you need help.
(25:18):
But otherwise you got this."
Like, I think the beauty about an artscommunity is it's so reciprocal, like
in the sense of like, I have built aroom with so many allies, but then.
I get to learn in the same breath, how tobe their ally and how to be their stage
moms and how to be their cheerleadingsection you know, like it's so great.
(25:40):
And artists are people that like, youmight not see you for six months cause
you've been on contracts, but you canpick up like, like, you know, tomorrow.
ANDRÉS: (25:48):
Yeah.
The bonds that are createdworking on art together.
CARLY: (25:52):
And especially like working on your own work, it's like you go
into some deep places, the placesthat you need to go, you know,
that it's a good piece of theater.
If you walk away, take your good breathand then give yourself a smile like that.
That's beautiful.
ANDRÉS: (26:09):
That is beautiful.
Thank you.
We're going to end it on that note.
Cause that was, that was a great ending.
Thank you all again for joining us.
Again, this was Carly Neis Trustme, you're going to be seeing
tons of Carly in the future.
And Carly, thank you onemore time for joining me.
CARLY: (26:23):
Thank you so much for having me.
This was so much fun
ANDRÉS: (26:27):
Thanks everyone.
Bye.
AD: (26:30):
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ANDRÉS: (00:25):
Hi, everyone.
And welcome back to in processAzimuth Theatre's podcast, celebrating
and uplifting the community.
Today I'm very excited towelcome into this space.
Carly Neis Hi, Carly.
CARLY: (00:39):
Hi Thank you for having me.
ANDRÉS: (00:41):
Thank you for being here.
Oh my gosh.
I already love the energyyou're bringing in.
Oh, this is going to bea great conversation.
CARLY: (00:46):
Excellent
ANDRÉS: (00:47):
How are you Carly
CARLY: (00:48):
I am so good.
It's been such a great day.
ANDRÉS: (00:51):
I'm glad you're having a wonderful day!
So Carly for, some of the folks athome who don't know your story, do
you want to share it a little bitabout your journey and what led you
to theater and feel free to shareas much or as little as you'd like?
CARLY: (01:02):
Sure.
So I started out in theater actuallysemi-professionally in Toronto when
I was eight, somewhere around there.
And got my start there andhad a good- had steady work.
And then we moved a million times and I.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to doTheatre for fun or, you know,
(01:25):
I was a, I was a child, so Iexperimented with other things.
And then when, when moved here, Iwas like, I need to get back into
theater because it's really where.
I belong because my parents usedto put me in like dance classes
cause I hated physiotherapy.
And they put me in voice lessonsto help with diction because you
(01:46):
know, I was a stubborn child.
So when I finally decided Iactually wanted to go into theater
for fun and eventually for work.
I started working with a wonderfulcommunity organization over the years that
does reviews, which are like basicallythemed shows with a bunch of, with a bunch
(02:07):
of songs and a little bit of a script.
And, you know, I could get awaywith doing songs like "Chorus
line" or something like that.
Which is great.
It's great to put on your resume thatyou've done weird stuff that people in
wheelchair should never be able to do.
It's great.
I love freaking people out like that.
And then just in the last Three...
(02:28):
four years.
I actually, I was doing a a fringeproduction and had a really hard
time when it came, to peoplemeeting my access needs, like
within the company I was hired with.
And so I had randomly posted on myfacebook one day, that like, I wish
(02:48):
I could fight the inaccessibility ofart with art and write my own show
and I really wasn't expecting much outof it and one of my best friends came
up to me and was like, you want towrite a show, write a show with you.
I was like, oh, okay.
I was, I was expecting it to be maybea year long journey and maybe you
(03:10):
know, we just do it, do a couple ofworkshops, do it at Fringe and be done.
And now we're looking we're fouryears into it and have had like
five different workshops of it.
And it's about to debut itexpanse, which is amazing.
But through that whole process, Ihave officially decided that like
(03:31):
professional theater and professionalarts is where my heart lies and the way
the art scene is changing over the lastyear or so, you know, it's easier for
me to see myself as a disabled actorand creator, onstage and offstage,
and in every role that I possibly can.
(03:52):
So luckily enough doors have openedand I've been able to kind of
shift over into professional world.
I I'm so glad that the universeheard you at that moment.
And I went , "oh, you want to do this?
I'll send you the pals you need!"
Right.
Like my family and some of my friendsare still like, what are you doing?
And I'm like, I'm getting paid to do whatI love for the first time in a long time.
ANDRÉS: (04:16):
Ah, and that's what I want to hear.
CARLY: (04:17):
Right.
ANDRÉS: (04:18):
For everyone, you know, I just want everyone to be
doing what they love, you know?
And so the show that you're,debuting is "Tune To A", correct.
CARLY: (04:26):
Yeah.
ANDRÉS: (04:26):
How has that process been?
Especially preparing itto what you call debut?
Cause I mean, it's obviously had liketons of iterations in the last four,
four years, but what's what makes this,what you would consider like a debut
CARLY: (04:37):
It's been so amazing because again, because I haven't
been in the professional worldfor long enough, I had no idea.
I knew what a workshop was, but I hadno idea how much effort and planning
and like the purpose of workshopsactually was, so every time we've
taken it and done a workshop, we'vekind of dismantled it for a reason.
(04:58):
Like in December of last year, weactually got the opportunity to do a
workshop with Judith Thompson and we-like every single actor was disabled.
And I got to sit back andbe a writer in the room.
So I got to actually see theshow from a birds eye view.
(05:19):
And like just having that andthe conversation that came with
it was like one of the mostpowerful experiences of my life.
So every single workshop thatwe've done, we've kind of broken
it down for different reasons.
Like we've had a music workshop and astaging workshop, and then in July was
the first time thanks to COVID that wewere able to have a workshop in, in space
(05:44):
and like start working with designersand figuring out, you know what it
actually means to have it on its feet.
Cause that's, that's another weirdworld I'm used to being in everyone
else's show and I'm like, great.
A costume won't fit orit's not accessible.
I'll make it work.
But you know, having peoplearound me there'll be like,
no, no, no, what do you need?
(06:05):
I'll build it for you was areally amazing opportunity.
ANDRÉS: (06:09):
Oh my gosh.
That's so exciting.
I'm so excited to see it!
CARLY: (06:12):
And so like we start rehearsals in February and I'm so looking forward
to actually getting, to spend time withit as an actor and not as a producer
and a writer, I just get to sit withit as an an actor, so it's amazing.
ANDRÉS: (06:26):
And you've had enough time to play with it ,as a writer.
So you wanna get inthere and play, you know?
Yeah.
And that's kind of your vibe.
Like, I, I feel like a lot of yourvibe is I would just want to play.
You know, I just want to do it.
Let's see what comes out.
Where do you think that that comes from?
CARLY: (06:42):
I think that comes from honestly being a disabled crater because you
don't get a lot of opportunities to play.
You have to fit intoeveryone else's boxes right?
So when I get the opportunity to sit downand just be a, be an actor, put one hat
(07:02):
on and be in a room where I don't haveto do a lot of homework for other people
and explain everything that's going on.
I, I just soak it up foreverything that it's worth.
Cause I know that, you know, everyopportunity I get from this point
forward, it will be a differentopportunity and that's great.
ANDRÉS: (07:20):
That's such a beautiful outlook to have So you're doing this show
for, for expanse, but you're also a partof the Az-Map program here at Azimuth.
Do you want to tell us a littlebit about what you, what you
see the Az-Map program as being
CARLY: (07:34):
Sure!
I think it's like the best program tocome out of the theater world for lots
of different reasons, but like, to justbe able to bridge that gap for folks
that have never been able to have thatbridge kind of open to them is amazing.
Like I went to, I went to theaterschool cause I originally wanted to be
(07:56):
a drama teacher and I got told one toomany times that there was no point.
Like that either I was supposedto be in technical leader.
Or that I just wasn't supposedto show up every day, you know,
just stupid excuses like that.
So everyone else might have a BFA behindthere, behind their name and might have
(08:17):
the experience, but I don't even havethe opportunity to build my resume.
Right.
So this, and that's part of the reasonwhy I went into arts admin as well as
a kind of a supplement was that I knewI could build the producer side of
my brain and then eventually wheeledmyself back into the artists part of it.
(08:39):
So I think this is a wonderful programin the sense of, we do get classes
like, like musical theater, voice orclowning or, or whatever, like whatever
depths we haven't had the opportunityto explore yet, but then we also
get to sit beside Morgan and Sue andfigure out how to like, be artists.
(09:00):
Whether it be things like how to do socialmedia or how to build a website, I finally
figured out that I probably should havea website, you know, like, and that's
the beauty of being an artist in 2021is that there's, there's so much that
comes with your name that you can, like,you can market yourself as an artist,
(09:20):
but then I also do consultation for thearts community in disability awareness.
I also do public speaking.
I also am a playwright.
I'm also a producer.
So like finding a way to kind ofmeld all of that and figuring out how
to sell yourself as a human in theself-employed world is a weird world,
(09:41):
but I'm so glad I have the opportunityto, and the, the level of instructors
that are coming out of this program.
I I'm stoked to learn everysingle thing that I can.
ANDRÉS: (09:52):
Was there something in specific that you were like,
this is why I want to apply.
CARLY: (09:56):
I, some of it was because I just, I just wanted to network.
Like I just I've been so fortunateto be around my "Tune To A" team
for the last, however many years.
But having people outside of my usualteam and kind of pushing me outside of
my comfort zone to was important to me.
(10:17):
Cause like generals stillscare the crap out of me.
Cause I'm not used to like beingable to be welcomed into a room yet.
So I'm hoping that by the endof the program I'll have enough
material behind me, whether itbe, you know, musical theater.
Or, or straight stuff or Shakespearethat I can like walk into a room
and confidently not be seen as thedisabled one to just be cast as like.
(10:43):
I don't know, whatever the,whatever the lead might be.
And it won't matter thatI sit instead of stand.
Right.
ANDRÉS: (10:48):
where do you draw your inspiration from?
Like when you start to work on ascript or when you start to work on
a piece that you're You've mentionedit a couple times already, but
are you a musical theater person?
CARLY: (10:58):
I am!
(laughs) I grew up in musical theatre.
ANDRÉS: (11:03):
Yeah?
CARLY: (11:03):
Yeah Yeah.
ANDRÉS: (11:04):
Do you have a role that you're like, this is the role for
CARLY: (11:07):
me.
I love to play.
This is gonna sound really weird,but I would love to play Ms.
Stacy and "Anne of Green Gables."
ANDRÉS: (11:15):
All right!
(Laughter)
A) Because it's a really longcontract, but B) I feel like Ms.
Stacy is like a part of me in thesense of like that strong woman
that like gets things done, butalso has like the heart of gold.
I feel like if anyone wasto put a stereotype on me,
(11:37):
that that wouldn't be me.
That's the one that you'relike," I'll wear it proudly!
CARLY: (11:41):
Yes I will!
(Laughter)
ANDRÉS: (11:44):
"That's awesome.
And where do you drawyour inspiration from?
Like when you start to work on ascript or when you start to work
on a piece that you're creating.
CARLY: (11:52):
A lot of it comes from like realizing what doesn't exist in the world
right now and, and realizing that it'sokay to create things and it's okay to
take up space and it's okay to just exist.
Like I remember "Tune To A" goingfrom, like, let's put a montage about
being in band class to let's make hershow about being in band class to.
(12:18):
No, let's deal with like allyship andfriendship, but also have it based in
band world, you know, like the, andthat's the beauty of creating your
own work is that it can, it can sitin a place for awhile and then you
can look back at it and be like, yeah,I kind of like where this is going.
So I'm going to draw onit more in this direction.
(12:39):
Right.
ANDRÉS: (12:39):
Totally.
Yeah.
And, and I think that's somethingthat's so beautiful that isnt it really
talked about because sometimes thearts can be so focused on product, but
the process and how a piece can growand evolve, it can be so beautiful.
It can start from one thing andcompletely evolve to something so
different, but it's still that same piece,
CARLY: (13:01):
You've still got the little, you know, heart nuggets is what I
like to call it or the heart center.
Right.
ANDRÉS: (13:08):
I'm totally stealing the word heart nuggets.
CARLY: (13:11):
You're welcome!
We should start a list of Carly-isms.
ANDRÉS: (13:16):
We should!
And like get them on a t-shirt.
CARLY: (13:19):
That's what I want by the end of Az-Map its just a t-shirt.
" ANDRÉS: (13:25):
That's it.
I just want t-shirts with my -isms"
Okay.
So since you brought it up, I mean,obviously we're going to get you
the shirts with the -isms, butbesides that, like what, what do
you want to get out of this program?
CARLY: (13:38):
A big thing for me is, is confidence in the sense of like, Again,
that I can walk into a room becauseI've never been given that opportunity.
And that's what I love aboutwhere this program sits .Is it's
kind of like a workshop in thesense of it's never been done.
This is the first year, so we cantruly tailor it to what both Bret
(14:01):
and I need to be able to existand flourish and, and just be
successful after the program is done.
So, you know, I.
I would like things like, you know, anaudition book that's, that's done and
complete that I can pull out at any time.
And I would like maybe to start on adifferent adventure and do my own cabaret.
(14:24):
Cause I would like something likethat is super exciting for me.
And I would just love theopportunity to like learn from
people that I haven't learnt from.
Cause really, I've only had that onecommunity theater organization that's
like, and even then there's only been oneor two people within that organization.
(14:46):
That's been like, "nah, wellyou can do do whatever you want.
We'll make it work."
My music director, one ofmy favorite stories is that.
A couple years ago for fringe,he was like, I'm going to
give you a dance number.
I was like, you're gonna do what now?
We've known each other for 10 yearsand he's like, I'm going to give you,
(15:09):
"I Can't Do It Alone" from Chicago.
And I was like oh, you know.
Okay, great.
And then like a day later, he cameback and was like, so the dog's going
to dance and you're going to sing.
I was like, "w-what?"
He's like, just do it.
You'll be fine.
And it's seriously the best numberthat I walked into an audition and I
(15:31):
use it to break the ice because peoplejust don't know what to do with me.
So I love surrounding myselfwith people like that.
And you know, that particular personwill always be in my corner, but I'm
looking forward to finding those few otherpeople that will also be in my corner.
And that can also canbuild off of my strengths.
ANDRÉS: (15:51):
I got to say like I know, we haven't spent a lot of time together.
CARLY: (15:55):
Not yet, no!
ANDRÉS: (15:56):
But there is something so wonderful about like this bravery you
have that you're like, "I'm just gonnado this thing and can't nobody stop me!"
where does that come from?
CARLY: (16:07):
I, You know, it's gonna sound cheesy, but like my parents were.
One of the best, you know, people tolike, I was born into the right family
in the sense of like they never- they'renot the biggest fan of me going into
the arts yet, but I think everyone'severyone's parents was like that.
(16:29):
"You want to do what?
And be self-employed?"
Yeah.
But they're like, "Sure!
You want to go pretend you can bea figure skater, but really we know
you'll never be a figure skater.
Okay.
Well do that."
Right.
And I think it can be a blessing andcurse because eventually you're going
to figure out that you're differentthan everyone else, but you've
still got to have that like attitudethat lets you get through the day.
(16:54):
And, and you've also got to giveyourself permission to have those
really crappy days too, to let yourcircumstances win but that doesn't
mean they need to win everyday.
ANDRÉS: (17:05):
That's beautiful.
Yeah, you do.
Oh my God.
This is speaking to my soul becauselike sometimes the crappy circumstances
definitely win, but I love the ideaof like, well, okay, so they won today,
tomorrow shall be different, you know?
Ah, beautiful.
So do you remember the first pieceof theater that inspired you?
CARLY: (17:25):
The first piece of theater that inspired me was actually "Lion King" I
saw it in Toronto in the big theater.
And it was the first show that mygrandma ever took me to like, my
grandma was a big theater fan andstill is like, had, had season tickets
for the Persephone Theatre for years.
And she took me to "Lion King"and I walked out of there at
(17:49):
intermission the theater is puppets.
I can do theater!
I don't even have to do anything else!
So I thought ,every pieceof theater was puppets.
And I felt like I could get away with it.
And little like six year old Carly wasn'tlooking at who was on the stage I was just
like, I want to do something with puppets.
(18:09):
That was my life goal.
Little did I know that perhaps itwasn't always puppets and then there
was a lot of work behind it, butthat's been one of my favorites stories
to tell and pretty great from thefirst show that you've ever go see.
ANDRÉS: (18:24):
Yeah.
Have you done anything with puppets?
CARLY: (18:26):
No, I like, my fine motor and puppets scare me, but like, I
am also not afraid to learn things.
So if you have a way for me to doit and successfully let's do it
ANDRÉS: (18:40):
By no means am I a puppeteer!
Let that be said.
However, I started working with puppetsin May and it has changed my life.
Really?
If you want to talk puppetry,we'll talk puppetry.
CARLY: (18:53):
We'll make it a date then!
ANDRÉS: (18:54):
Oh.
Yes!
we are gonna chat puppetry.
CARLY: (18:56):
The joys of this Az-Map program you can decide, you know, in the middle of
the podcast that you want to do puppetry!
AD: (19:12):
The “In Process” podcast is brought to you by the Canada Council
for the Arts and Azimuth Theatre'sTraversing, the Azimuth multimedia branch.
It is our aim to continue to introduceand deepen the relationships between
our community and the artists within it.
To keep this podcast going, go toAzimuththeatre.com/donate to help
with the continuation of this podcast.
ANDRÉS: (19:47):
So besides theater, what's something else that brings you joy?
Or something that you use on thosedays where you're having stressful
time in you're like I just wanta little bit of joy in my life.
CARLY: (19:56):
Well, theater is become a solid, you know, it can be for work, but I can
also just be for fun, like in the senseof like throwing on a show tunes playlist
also almost saved me every single time,but I am so freaking lucky to be able
to have a dog with me wherever I go.
(20:17):
So dog snuggles is also great.
ANDRÉS: (20:19):
Nobody can argue with that!
CARLY: (20:21):
No!
And this one, hasn't had a chance tofigure out if he likes theater yet.
So we might have to come up witha new version of, I can't do
it alone and throw him in it.
ANDRÉS: (20:33):
He's also part of the AZ-Map program.
CARLY: (20:34):
Perfect!
(Laughter),
ANDRÉS: (20:37):
Do you have a specific, I know we talked about "Anne of Green
Gables", but do you have a specificsong that is like, "This is my song!"
CARLY: (20:46):
Like one that I already know that it's in my book
or one that's like a dream.
ANDRÉS: (20:51):
You can give us both if you are.
CARLY: (20:53):
I think the one that I've like fallen in love with recently is
"Someone Like You" from Jekyll and Hyde.
I love me a sit in bark song,but also like just in general,
that song, especially overCOVID like finding your people!
And, relishing in that has beensuch a beautiful message to
(21:13):
learn and kind of bring forward.
So that's one that's currentlyin my book that I can't wait
to use in the room again.
And then other than that, I would loveto figure out how the heck to do "Chorus
Line" as someone in a wheelchair.
ANDRÉS: (21:29):
Yo!
I think that would be so cool.
CARLY: (21:31):
I think we should figure it out.
Cause I really want to do it.
Like "Nothing" and "Dance 10Looks 3" and "I Can Do That!"
And can you imagine like atap number when I can do that?
With Carly on like hand taps or something.
ANDRÉS: (21:46):
Listen, it would be amazing
CARLY: (21:50):
I'm also like five feet sitting down.
So I would just love to be in a,in a chorus line and pretend to be
tall for like two hours of my life.
ANDRÉS: (21:59):
That shows is wild.
CARLY: (22:01):
It's a tough one, but yeah.
ANDRÉS: (22:03):
Have you seen the, the, the there's a documentary
about the making of it?
CARLY: (22:07):
Yes
ANDRÉS: (22:07):
Yeah, you have.
(Laughter)
CARLY: (22:08):
Yes I have!
It's what happens when you're really goodfriends with your music director is that
you often end up watching things thatmake no sense to anyone else, but you're
totally okay nerding over small things.
ANDRÉS: (22:24):
Now is there a, do you have a favorite treat that you'd go to like
a snack or something that like, you'relike, this is my, this is my jam.
That's a solid question.
We're getting to the hardhitting questions now.
CARLY: (22:39):
Right?!
For snack wise, give me some goodkettle corn and I'll be super happy.
Food wise, give me a plateof perogies and I'm set.
ANDRÉS: (22:48):
Ooh!
CARLY: (22:49):
Yeah,
ANDRÉS: (22:50):
Yeah.
As somebody who didn't have in his lifeuntil I was like 12, I discovered perogies
and I was like," This is beautiful!"
and then I someone showedme blueberry perogies
CARLY: (23:00):
Ooh yes!
ANDRÉS: (23:02):
Like where have they been?!
You know?
Yeah.
Now I know you're working on your show andstuff, but also what's a dream project,
CARLY: (23:11):
The more I think about it, the more like this like Carly cabaret thing
is like circling around in my brain.
Just cause.
I am.
It's taken me a long time to becomfortable with my story and
to be able to take up space.
But now that I'm kind oflike learning to do that.
I think telling my story in a kindof a collection of songs, but also
(23:35):
like, I would love random medleysto show up every once in a while.
Like my music director for years haswanted to make me a walking medley.
I'm like all these songs aboutwalking, just so that I can show up
and audition and freak people out.
So like adding things like that, thatlike, that tell my story, but also tell
my personality and that kind of, youknow, make people walk away and think.
ANDRÉS: (23:58):
yeah,
CARLY: (23:59):
I think we're still on the cusp of like, Diversity is good in the
room, but how do I actually do that?
ANDRÉS: (24:07):
Well, and it's, everyone's reworking their
muscle brain around diversity.
Right.
I totally feel that.
CARLY: (24:12):
And it doesn't matter whether you're able-bodied or disabled, they're
like just, you know, it's all, you allhave a part of your story that you have
had now rework, like we're now in a weirdworld, but in a world that like appears
to be shifting in the right direction.
So I think that is one of my likebigger projects for myself, but also
(24:34):
think like working just outside ofEdmonton and like creating a brand
for myself as another like huge goalin the sense of like, I can, I can
spread my wings a little further now.
Like I have enough, I have enoughleverage behind me now that I
can, you know, convince peoplethat have me in their room.
(24:58):
And you're, you're always gonna findpeople, even if it's not your parents
or your partner or whomever, you'realways going to find people that are
just gonna be like " you go, do youlike, I will be there to support you.
You go do you.
Finding your community is so enriching.
Like finding that community, that'sgoing to be like, "I support you.
You go do your thing.
Let me know if you need help.
(25:18):
But otherwise you got this."
Like, I think the beauty about an artscommunity is it's so reciprocal, like
in the sense of like, I have built aroom with so many allies, but then.
I get to learn in the same breath, how tobe their ally and how to be their stage
moms and how to be their cheerleadingsection you know, like it's so great.
(25:40):
And artists are people that like, youmight not see you for six months cause
you've been on contracts, but you canpick up like, like, you know, tomorrow.
ANDRÉS: (25:48):
Yeah.
The bonds that are createdworking on art together.
CARLY: (25:52):
And especially like working on your own work, it's like you go
into some deep places, the placesthat you need to go, you know,
that it's a good piece of theater.
If you walk away, take your good breathand then give yourself a smile like that.
That's beautiful.
ANDRÉS: (26:09):
That is beautiful.
Thank you.
We're going to end it on that note.
Cause that was, that was a great ending.
Thank you all again for joining us.
Again, this was Carly Neis Trustme, you're going to be seeing
tons of Carly in the future.
And Carly, thank you onemore time for joining me.
CARLY: (26:23):
Thank you so much for having me.
This was so much fun
ANDRÉS: (26:27):
Thanks everyone.
Bye.
AD: (26:30):
Hey pal, enjoying the conversation?
Traversing the Azimuth is a brandnew branch of Azimuth Theatre
aimed at connecting artists with awider community, deepening mutual
understanding, and getting to shareeach artist's process and journey.
If you would like to continue hearingthese amazing stories, you can help out
by going to AzimuthTheatre.com/sponsorshipand sponsor traversing the Azimuth.
(26:53):
Your sponsorship will go straightinto paying more artists to
come and share what it means forthem to be "proudly in process."
We would also like to take thismoment to thank the Canada Council
for the Arts, for their supportin the pilot of this project.
For more information onTraversing, the Azimuth go to
AzimuthTheatre.com/traversing.
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