Juliet Spizzirri is a multidisciplinary artist based in Mississauga, Ontario. She studies Theatre and Drama at the University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College.

Experience

Juliet Spizzirri is a multidisciplinary artist based in Mississauga, Ontario. She is going into her final year of the Theatre and Drama Studies program at the University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College. Recent acting credits include: The Witch of Edmonton (Theatre Erindale), The Devised Project (Theatre Erindale) and Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties (UTM English Drama Student Society). She is working with Crane Creations as an actor for the 2022 Summer Ensemble program.

Education

Juliet first studied drama as an elective in high school, which led to a deep love for the art. Juliet Spizzirri studies Theatre and Drama at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s joint program with Sheridan College and gained a great deal of experience working backstage for both Theatre Erindale and Meadowvale Theatre.

Theatre Experience

Juliet has been performing and creating theatre since high school. She loves every aspect of theatre and has worked both on and off stage, having worked backstage at Meadowvale Theatre as an audio assistant and followspot operator. Some of her recent acting credits include The Witch of Edmonton (Theatre Erindale) and Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties (UTM English Drama Student Society). She has directed a play titled “Fight or Flight” for the UTM EDSS and has written multiple plays, her most recent titled “Stir Crazy” which was performed at UTM’s Beck Festival.

Juliet Spizzirri: Summer Ensemble Member 2022

Juliet is a member of Crane Creations Theatre Company’s 2022 Summer Ensemble. This was Crane Creations Fourth Annual Summer Ensemble.

What is Summer Ensemble?

The Summer Ensemble is an 8 week training program for theatre artists. In this paid working opportunity artists learn skills required to be a professional artist in Canada, and gain valuable insights into the theatre industry in Canada and abroad. To apply artists must be between 18 and 30 years of age.

Summer Ensemble is playtime!

Juliet Spizzirri

 

What is an Actor?

Juliet is an actor in the Summer Ensemble. But what is an actor?

What is an actor?

An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs in the theatre, film, radio, television, or digital media. What does it mean to be an actor for Fadi?

An actor is a vessel for a character to move through. The actor offers their body to the thoughts and actions of the character. They need to believe wholeheartedly in that character’s truth to move the audience.

Juliet Spizzirri

What does an actor do?

An actor’s doesn’t just memorize lines and look pretty. An actor has a fun but important role in creating a story. They are responsible for interpreting and embodying the character in a play, television series, or film. To do this well many actors rehearse and train their bodies and voices regularly. They study their script and consult with the director and scene partners about their interpretation of the character.

The main concern of an actor should always be understanding what a character wants or needs and then what they are is doing to achieve this action. A want or a need is also called an objective, or motivation. What an actor is doing is referred to an action or a tactic. An Actor Acts. A good actor makes many different and thoughtful choices about what the character is doing. A very good actor can make many creative choices, and is always ready to change their actions on the fly.

Actors sometimes require additional special skills. For example, an actor in a Broadway musical may also need to know how to sing and dance. An actor is a puppet show must know how to operate a puppet. Professional Improvisers need to know how to create a character and make up a story on the spot without any preparation. An actor in an action blockbuster film may also be trained in stage combat and martial arts.

How does an actor prepare for a role?

Actors prepare for their roles in many different ways. Let’s ask Juliet how she prepares for a role.

It depends on the role, but I usually do research. Especially if I’m doing realism, I might research the time, and consider the life the character would lead outside the play. Imagination is such a useful tool as an actor, so I like to imagine everything I can about the character. Like, what’s their favourite colour? What are their hobbies? How’s their relationship with their mom? Knowing these details make a performance specific.

Juliet Spizzirri

Who is Juliet Spizzirri? An Interview with Juliet

Where are you from originally?

I’m from Mississauga. My favourite place in Mississauga is Celebration Square. I have fond memories of hanging out with friends there during the summer, and it’s always so full of life. I think it’s a great place where people can come together and simply enjoy existing in the same space. They also have some poppin’ food trucks there.

Do you Have a favourite place to eat in Mississauga?

El Mariachi in Streetsville.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would travel to London, England because I know the theatre there is top notch, and I really love English accents.

Is there a new skill you want to learn?

I really wanna learn how to skateboard. I’m terrified of falling off, though.

Do you have any hobbies?

I write a lot in my spare time, which ties in well with being an actor and a theatre major. I have most recently been writing a lot of poetry and I’m hoping to potentially publish some of it. I’m passionate about stories and sharing stories, and one of my major goals is to open my own theatre company with one of my best friends where we can share stories, have some laughs and connect with other creatives based in the GTA.

Do you Have A Favourite Food?

I’m obsessed with Bubble Tea.

What are your favourite plays and why?

I have too many plays that I love, but Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties was a play I recently performed in and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s very queer and very funny and I worked with such a wonderful cast and crew. It’s one of those plays that everybody can enjoy, because it’s fun for those who are newer to theatre, but carries a lot of depth and meaning that regular theatre-goers can dissect and analyze.\

What is one fun fact about yourself?

I have double-jointed thumbs.

Why did you fall in love with theatre?

I love theatre because it’s so full of life. I love sharing the experience with my peers and fellow audience members, and the intimacy it offers that not many other art forms can. You are so close to the actors, you can feel their presence, and there’s something electrifying about that.

How Did You Get Involved in Theatre?

I loved creating characters and making voices and scenarios since I was little. My brother and I would imagine worlds and characters all the time growing up. I decided to audition for the school play in Grade 9, I got in, and the rest was history. The feeling of finishing the final show of that first play’s run was exhilarating, and I’ve been chasing that high ever since.

Is there a play or a role you are really proud of?

I was in a show called Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties, and it was one of the first roles I had in which I played a queer character. This is super meaningful to me as a queer individual, and the experience was simply unmatched. The cast was hilarious and my directors were brilliant, and I hope every theatre experience I have in the future is similar to my experience with Betties.

Why is theatre important?

Theatre is a unique experience. It is intimate and moving and commands your attention in a way that film and TV simply can’t achieve. It allows room for imperfection, and every show at the theatre is totally unique from the next. Ultimately, it’s something cool and different to do! If you tell people you went to a play last night, you’re immediately more interesting.

What is the difference between acting for film and acting for television?

Film is very much a thought-based medium, while theatre is driven more by action. Film requires nuanced, smaller reactions. Theatre acting should also be nuanced, but the actor needs to express through action, especially if they are in a large auditorium. A theatre actor may also need to project depending on the technology and size of the venue, so they need a certain athleticism a film actor may not require

You work as an actor. Why Did You Decide to Become an Actor?

I enjoy creating characters and delving into the character’s state of mind. I enjoy connecting to people, and I think acting is a wonderful opportunity to study and practice empathy. Acting is about human connection, and I think providing an opportunity to reflect humanity back to an audience is a powerful and meaningful tool..

How do you become an actor?

I think the best way to become an actor is to gain experience. Attend classes, partake in shows and acting gigs you’re interested in, read about the art form, speak to other actors you might know. I find the more experience I have the more confident I feel in my ability as an actor.

Any advice for aspiring actors?

I am an aspiring theatre artist, so I know the yearning feeling of wanting to create and share your ideas and your performance with the world. I think the best advice I could give is to keep creating and connect to your community. There are so many ways to create theatre and partake in theatre, and so many companies where theatre is being made. If you create something, share it, even if you don’t think it’s that great. When you share your work, you create opportunity for improvement and the chance to build connections.

What Has Been Your Favourite Part of Summer Ensemble So Far?

Meeting creatives like myself who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. It’s been incredible getting to know my peers and learning more about just how diverse the world of theatre can be.