'Inside the Artist's Self-Isolation Studio' Toronto Profile of Reece Rowat
Interview compiled by Damon Bradley Jang, Vancouver, British Columbia correspondent
Originally from Port Moody, BC, Reece has had the opportunity to work as a performer across Canada and the world! Now based in Toronto, Reece works regularly as an actor, dancer, and dance educator. Selected performance credits include Kinky Boots, Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Singin’ in the Rain. (Drayton Ent.), Elf: The Musical (Theatre Aquarius/Drayton Ent.), The Little Mermaid (Capitol), Kyle O’ Boyle in Legally Blonde (Stage West Calgary), Ross Petty’s A Christmas Carol (Elgin Theatre), Snowboy in West Side Story (Rainbow Stage), Les Feux Follets, Soul of the Island (Charlottetown Festival), Godspell, Hello, Dolly! Brantwood 1920-2020 (Sheridan), The Middle Eastern tour of Pinocchio (Creativiva), and several productions for Carnival Cruise Lines. Film credits include Tiny Pretty Things (Netflix), Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (CBS), The Silence (Netflix) A Christmas Carol (Family Channel/YTV) A Nutcracker Christmas (Hallmark). As a dance educator, Reece has taught throughout the GTA as part of the Quick Ball Change Inc. roster specializing in jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, choreography, acro, hip-hop, and musical theatre. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre from Sheridan Institute and has been part of the da Costa Talent roster since 2015.
Instagram: @reecejrowat
Tell us about your recent project that was affected by COVID 19.
I was in the Drayton Entertainment production of ‘Kinky Boots’ at the Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge (an hour drive west of Toronto) We had completed 3 weeks of rehearsals and were just about to perform our final preview when we got the news that the Cambridge run was to be cancelled the night before opening.
At this point we still have a run in Grand Bend at the Huron Country Playhouse (a three hour drive west of Toronto) in late August that has not yet been cancelled, but I guess we will just have to keep our fingers crossed and see how things go. It was sad to say goodbye to this show the day before we opened – ‘Kinky Boots’ is a hard show and we had just started to get comfortable in our tracks. Furthermore, about 10 family members and friends were set to fly out to Ontario from BC to see the show, some who haven’t seen me perform since I was a kid.
I was set to play one of Lola’s Angels.
How long did it take you to prepare?
Since we were still getting a feel for how long things would take, I would start getting ready 2 hours before curtain, and this was cutting it close. I was basically getting ready just in time to run backstage and stretch while singing backstage for the first couple numbers of the show. As we got better at our hair and makeup, I was hopeful to get a full stretch in at least!
I started practicing doing drag makeup 6 weeks before the contract started - I was determined to not let myself be the crusty queen! I played around with a bunch of YouTube tutorials and usually did around 1-2 paints a week. Once we started rehearsals, we were able to dedicate a couple of afternoons to letting the Angels practice our make-up with the head of make-up present to help us as we needed it. There was a wide range of drag experience within the angels. Some had been doing drag for over 10 years and some of us were complete ‘drag virgins’ but we all found our stride eventually.
Why is ‘Kinky Boots’ such a special show for audiences to have seen and what messages does the show carry?
It celebrates love and self acceptance and reminds us that we all have more in common than we think. It stars a black drag queen saving a financially doomed shoe factory in the UK. It is so special because while it is fabulous and fun, it is still relatable for everyone. From the working-class factory workers to the sickening drag queens, the audience can see themselves onstage which really helps get them invested in the story and the message.
Can’t forget to mention the amazing music by Cyndi Lauper and stunning costumes. The audiences in the region that Drayton owns their theatres are a generally more conservative Caucasian demographic, so ‘Kinky Boots’ definitely pushes the envelope. After pulling off a smash success with ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ last season we were confident that the Drayton audiences were more than ready for a show like ‘Kinky Boots’
What is the hardest part about your current situation now?
Not getting to do what I love. I am such a busy body that I feel anxious and guilty when I am not being productive. My apartment is exceedingly small so dancing anything more full-out than a ballet barre isn’t possible. Dealing with the guilt of not taking any of the hundreds of online classes that are available right now is hard. Not being able to be there physically for my loved ones is extremely hard. Also having no idea when this will end is awfully hard too.
What have you been doing to keep busy?
I’ve been finding little things to do that have made me feel productive. I try to move in some way every day, whether that is from working out in my room, yoga classes, ballet barres, jogs, walks, dance parties, etc. Little admin projects like doing my taxes are perfect for times like this. I also take a lot of joy from being outdoors. I absolutely love birds so I set up a bird feeder and will spend time just chilling on my porch watching the birds. Zoom parties with friends and family, learning to bake, Netflix, and watching Instagram lives of people who inspire me have all been life savers as well.
Some suggestions to lift the spirits of other artists?
I am naturally a huge optimist - to a fault sometimes - so I sometimes take my thought patterns for granted. But I would just tell people to try to look on the bright side of every situation. Happiness is always a choice. I know it is much easier said than done but when there are moments you feel yourself spiralling into despair, try to stop and redirect your energy. Ask yourself if you would rather use your energy to fixate on all the negative things or if you would rather use that energy to focus on the positives, however small they will be.
If you can’t seem to find a positive in the current moment, think about something that you wish for yourself in the future and imagine yourself in that moment. In saying this, toxic positivity is not the goal. We are not pretending that things aren’t shit, but its about letting yourself have the moment to lament your situation and then moving on to more productive thoughts. There is also so much to be said for listening to your body. If you want to lie in bed all day then go for it! There is no shame in that. There are no rules for how people should be spending their quarantine so don’t let people make you feel guilty for using this time to do absolutely nothing. Rest days are just as important as workout days.
I’ve known you throughout your entire pre-teen years to young adult life. Tt probably surprises people to know you were a pretty slim kid, even up to your grade 12 year. But now you're super beefy and a different human. When did that change occur for you and why?
All through school we would be told by teachers that the boys should start working out. It wasn’t until I started going to auditions in Toronto and noticed how many young skinny white boys there were when I realized that improving my strength and physique would be a way to set me apart from the others.
I started working out before school in my final year of college and, shortly after graduating, I booked a contract on a cruise ship. During the 8 months I spent onboard I had little else to do but work out and we had free buffets for every meal so I started eating a lot more and this is when I saw my biggest gains.
Since then, I noticed a large increase in bookings, and I was getting roles that I never would have even submitted for in the past. Improving my fitness has made me a better partner, dancer, and made me more marketable in general. Most importantly it has benefitted my mental health. I am a firm believer that in order to keep a level head in this difficult industry it is extremely helpful to have a passion unrelated to musical theatre. For me, the gym was the 1 hour a day that was just for me and my self care.
Of all the dance styles, which one have you found most useful for all the contracts?
So far, about 60-70 percent of my shows have involved tap. I really didn’t think it would be using this skill as much as I have and I was never the best tapper in the class, but I could do it well enough. There was a demand for boys who could tap so having this skill opened a lot of doors for me. Knowing how to dance in heels has also been quite useful for me, especially with the surge of drag in pop culture. But if I were to say the most important type of dance for musical theatre would be a classic jazz or theatre jazz class. It is the most versatile and permeates into almost every other dance form.
Why do you love performing?
Three reasons:
1) When people mess up onstage - There is truly nothing funnier than someone taking a tumble in front of a live audience. Furthermore there are very few other events in life that offer the thrill and adrenaline an actor experiences in the moment something goes terribly wrong onstage.
2) THE SNACKS - In addition to being crazy talented, theatre people are incredibly generous. This makes the green room a hotbed for baked goods and tasty treats. Drool.
3) Most importantly, I love performing because it makes me feel alive! The thrill when you’re waiting backstage and you hear the orchestra play the first bars of your number. You think “Well, there’s no turning back now!”. The bond you feel with your castmates - you got on this crazy ride together on the first day of rehearsal and you create a family for however long the contract lasts. Feeding off the audience’s energy - where else do you get to share a dialogue with a large group of strangers? All these things make performing completely fulfilling and irreplaceable. I wouldn’t change it for the world!
As a nod to ‘Inside the Actors’ Studio’ and the late James Lipton, here are questions he asked his guests:
1. What is your favorite word? WASPS
2. What is your least favorite word? Bisquit slice booklette
3. What turns you on? Physicality
4. What sound or noise do you love? Running water
5. What sound or noise do you hate? Shovelling snow when the scraper ‘scrapes’ the concrete or pavement.
6. What is your favorite curse word? Cunt
7. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? This is so random and specific' but be a guidance counselor at a school. I would love to help kids. Or run an independent business.
8. What profession would you not like to do? Anything that involves sitting in an office or clerical work. I just love the unpredictability of what we do. Doing the same job in and out isn't for me.
9. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? ''Well, that was a wild ride. I just want to have an adventure and arrive with no regrets.”
If you or a member of your theatre community would like to be profiled during this time of isolation, email Damon at fabulistmedia@gmail.com.
Photo layout and logo design by Damon Bradley Jang.