• Notes
• Events
• Podcast
• Index
• Video

Show Notes

Breanna MacLeod of ActOUT! KW talks to co-hosts Suzanne Craig-Whytock and Bob Jonkman.

The interview starts at 2m48s.

ActOUT! KW Online:

• Website: https://actoutkw.com/
  
• Bluesky: ActOUT! KW (@actoutkw.bsky.social) | Bluesky
• Facebook: ActOUT! KW (@actoutkw) | Facebook
• Instagram: ActOUT! KW (@actout.kw) | Instagram
• YouTube: ActOUT! KW (@actoutkw) | YouTube
• E-mail: info@actoutkw.com
• Phone: +1‑226‑476‑1731

Upcoming Events

• Radio Theatre
  

  • What: The Canterville Ghost
  • When: 5:00pm to 6:00pm on Friday 25 April 2025
  • Where: CKMS-FM 102.7 Radio Waterloo
  • Online: https://radiowaterloo.ca/listen
  • Website: ActOUT! Live On Air

• Outdoor Theatre
  

  • What: Alice @ Wonderland
  • When: 28 to 31 May 2025
  • Where: Waterloo Park
  • Location: at the Bandshell Map
  • Website: https://actoutkw.com/alice-wonderland

Podcast

Download: ckms-community-connections-2025-04-21-episode193-breanna-macleod-of-actout-kw.mp3 (54 MB, 58m30s, episode 193)

Index

Time	Title	Album	Artist
0m00s	Theme for CKMS Community Connections ccc	CKMS Community Connections	Steve Todd
0m53s	Calm News	IV	Audio Boffins
2m48s	Breanna MacLeod introduces “ActOUT Kitchener Waterloo Children’s Drama Workshop”, but they tend to go by ActOUT! They do theatre by kids, for kids, and giving them experiences with live theatre that are hard to come by in a modern age. They stage full productions with kids as actors and participants. They partner with other community organizations, like KW Little Theatre, The Registry Theater, and Cambridge Arts Theatre. And they’re doing a play in Waterloo Park.
4m27s	And they’ll be doing some radio theatre, live in the CKMS-FM studio this Friday, 25 April 2025 at 5:00pm. The script is based on an old Oscar Wilde story called The Canterville Ghost. The kids have added some of their own material as well.
9m25s	Kids not only learn acting, but also script writing, blocking, stage management, lights and sound. Many of the people helping with assistant directing, assistant stage management are volunteers. Some are former participants in the program! And some have gone on to Stratford or Drayton. But most don’t, they leave with a better appreciation of theatre arts. In the program they’ve done musicals, plays, stage combat, drama, comedy. They’re always looking for new opportunities.
19m06s	She Gone Do	(single)	The Whythouse
22m24s	Suzanne and Breanna talk about scriptwriting, and finding appropriate and engaging material for performances. Breanna tells us about last year’s play in the park, Marian. Local scriptwriters can contact ActOUT! at info@actoutkw.com.
27m58s	Getting help from the community: Breanna met Jeff Stager from Radio Waterloo at the Community Picnic. They have a lot of contacts through different theatres, like Nadia at KWLT, and also Drayton Entertainment.
30m23s	Having a safe space to express yourself is important. There are participants with neurodivergence, or anxiety, kids experimenting with gender or part of the LGBTQ+ population. Theatre is a very supportive environment.
32m23s	Breanna takes us through the process of setting up a new production: Finding the script, one suitable for a bigger cast (particularly the musicals!) The actors are double-cast, one as more of a major role, and a second as a background player. Then looking for staff, such as director, choreographer, musical director. These are paid positions! Some programs a Laurier University have provided directors and other people from their theatre program. A musical may start rehearsing in September to prepare for a performance in December. Kids may put in six hours a week of rehearsal for a musical! This would be three hours on a weekday, and three more hours on a weekend. Then there might be eight shows over two weeks.
43m09	Model Railroad Town	Stiches and Incisions	Allison Brown
45m24s	ActOUT! KW has been around for 30 years, Breanna has been involved for about 10 years, in various roles from Board member to General Manager. Breanna reviews a number of the upcoming programs and performances. And they’ll be announcing new programs and performances in June. The Board decides what performances are mounted. Always looking for volunteers: volunteer@actoutkw.com. People working with the children will have to undergo a vulnerable sector check. You can sign up your kids through the website.
56m18s	Breanna reviews all the contact information, and reviews the upcoming Radio Theatre production. Bob gives the end credits.

CKMS Community Connections Hour One airs on CKMS-FM 102.7 on Monday from 11:00am to Noon, and Hour Two airs alternate Fridays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.

Got music, spoken word, or other interesting stuff? Let us know at ccc@radiowaterloo.ca or leave a comment on our “About” page.

Subscribe to the CKMS Community Connections podcast!

See all CKMS Community Connections shows!

Bonus Video

Video: CKMS Community Connections for Monday 21 April 2025 (YouTube)

Show notes and podcast interview content is Copyright © 2025 by the participants, and released under a Creative Commons Attribution Only license. Copy, re-use, and derivative works are allowed with attribution to Radio Waterloo and a link to this page. Music selections are copyright by the respective rights holders. The theme music is written and performed by Steven Todd.