What does it mean to rehearse with care, rigour, and trust? Director Kimberley Rampersad and actor Virgilia Griffith join us for a deep and moving conversation about Blues for an Alabama Sky at the Shaw Festival, from its political weight to its lyrical beauty.

They talk about how Pearl Cleage’s 1995 play resonates today, how costumes and choreography influence character, and how actors and directors find each other through shared values and ambition. It's a conversation about legacy, joy, and the sacredness of the rehearsal room.

We are also joined by Jeff Irving who tells us all about Shaw Cricket!

Kimberley Rampersad is the Associate Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival and an award-winning director and choreographer whose work spans Shaw, Stratford, and stages across Canada. Last fall, she made her UK debut directing and choreographing The Red Shoes for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Virgilia Griffith is making her Shaw Festival debut in Blues for an Alabama Sky and Murder on the Lake. An acclaimed performer, she won a Dora Award for Harlem Duet and has appeared with Obsidian, Soulpepper, Canadian Stage, and the Stratford Festival.

Jeff Irving is a longtime Shaw performer known for his versatility in roles in Sweeney Todd to Cyrano de Bergerac. He’s appeared in Prince Caspian, White Christmas, and The Light in the Piazza, among many others. Offstage, he’s worked across the country and appeared on screen in Fargo, When Hope Calls, and Murdoch Mysteries.

Tickets to all of our shows are available now at shawfest.com.

Hosted by Alexis Milligan
Produced by Kelly Wong
Original Music by Travis Seetoo

We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at podcast@shawfest.com