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How often do you get asked about your lived experiences? Those moments in your life that have contributed to the person you are today? Not all of us are fortunate enough to have people who want to ask the question, let alone discuss better understanding. But Aaron Michael Ray saw a way to encourage those conversations and to bring them into the spotlight to allow for change and healing.
I’m so excited for you to tune into this conversation with my dear friend Aaron. He and I go back about a decade, but he recently came off of doing the Come From Away Tour, and much of our interview centers around his time as a part of that musical. It was actually a call with the Come From Away production that inspired the Conversations From Away podcast, which was created to highlight the social injustices of our industry and—as a whole—bring people together. Plus, you’ll hear where you can see Aaron on stage next, so don’t miss this episode!
In this episode, we cover:
How Aaron went from musician to actor
What Aaron’s debut show in Boston was like
The biggest milestone in Aaron’s theater career
Aaron’s EDI journey in the arts (and how we got to work together)
The inspiration behind the Conversations From Away Podcast
What inspired the musical Come From Away
What EDI work did Kira do because of the Come From Away connection
What does inclusion look like to you? We’d love to hear from you—reach out to Aaron and me on Instagram, and let’s continue the conversation.
More About Aaron Michael Ray
Aaron Michael Ray is an actor/musician, educator, and model based in NYC. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, he trained as a trumpet player and singer at Berklee College of Music and received his MFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. He loves dogs, Mexican food, and the real housewives.
Connect with Aaron:
Connect with Kira:
Thanks for joining me on this episode of Inclusive Stages! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help me reach even more theater makers, theater artists, and theater lovers who want to make our industry a better place for everyone.
Thanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.
More about the Inclusive Stages Podcast
Welcome to 'Inclusive Stages' -- the go-to weekly podcast for theater makers, theater artists, and theater lovers who want to make our industry a better place for everyone. We'll chat with actors, directors, designers, scholars, and more about the current landscape of the theater scene and get their thoughts on how we can do better.
Host Kira Troilo will also give you a sneak peek into live EDI coaching sessions and offer actionable tips for creating more equitable, inclusive, and empathetic theater spaces that support and value the diversity of artists and audiences. Join the conversation, and let's collectively shape the future of human-first theater, one stage at a time.
This post may contain affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on my site at no additional cost to you.
The unedited podcast transcript for this episode of the Inclusive Stages podcast follows
Kira Troilo (00:04.102)
Welcome to another episode of Inclusive Stages. I am so excited for you to hear this conversation. Today I speak with one of the most incredible people I've met in my theater life. His name is Aaron Ray. He has been up to a lot of things and you'll hear him talk about those exciting things in the episode, but Aaron and I go way back.
We used to work together in Boston about a decade ago and he actually just recently came off of doing the Come From Away Tour. And he has a really interesting story around that. He started that before the pandemic and went through the pandemic. So you can imagine there's a lot of stories to share from that time.
So before we get into it, I'll share a little bit about Aaron. Aaron Michael Ray is an actor, musician, educator, and model based in NYC. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, he trained as a trumpet player and a singer at Berklee College of Music. and went on to receive his MFA in musical theater from the Boston Conservatory. He loves dogs, Mexican food, and the real housewives. I love this man, I know you will too. Please enjoy this conversation with Aaron Ray.
Kira Troilo (00:02.726)
Hi, Aaron. Oh, it's so good to see you.
Aaron Michael Ray (00:03.823)
Hey!
Aaron Michael Ray (00:07.422)
It's always good to see you, Kira.
Kira Troilo (00:10.886)
How are you? What is your life looking like at this moment in time?
Aaron Michael Ray (00:14.938)
You know, today at least, I had an audition this morning. I can't say exactly what it was for, but it's for a new work. So we love that. I had therapy right after. And then now here we are on this very, it's cold and gloomy, but you know.
Kira Troilo (00:22.19)
Or what? Can we?
Kira Troilo (00:27.141)
Okay.
Kira Troilo (00:35.27)
We love therapy. Yes.
Sounds like a good day.
Aaron Michael Ray (00:44.371)
on this lovely afternoon.
Kira Troilo (00:46.37)
Yeah, oh that's so great. So you're in New York, you're doing the thing. Yes. I'm good, thank you. I am, yeah, just doing, running around, doing all the things, heading to Canada tomorrow. By the time this comes out, I'll have been in Canada, so hopefully it was fabulous. But yeah, so, yes. Oh, it's all good, yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (00:49.97)
Yes. You know, how are you?
Aaron Michael Ray (01:06.191)
Oh, I love going to Canada.
Kira Troilo (01:12.594)
But it's great, I mean I get to be in so many different theaters now and you know, you and I came up together in Boston just like doing the thing so it's nice now doing the work I do I get to be in all different kinds of rooms seeing all different kinds of art.
Aaron Michael Ray (01:21.254)
Yeah!
Aaron Michael Ray (01:30.158)
And I'm just so proud of you with all of that. I think you are just, you have your hand in so many hats that are, it is just beautiful to see you do it all.
Kira Troilo (01:40.006)
Thank you so much. I wanna get into later why I'm especially grateful to you because you did start me on a journey to get one of my biggest jobs. So we'll get there, but I wanna start by asking, I like to ask everyone, what's your theater origin story? Because I think something that's really like unique to the arts is we kind of all have this like magical in, you know?
Aaron Michael Ray (01:50.299)
Oh, yes.
Aaron Michael Ray (02:00.28)
Oh.
Aaron Michael Ray (02:07.583)
Mm-hmm.
Kira Troilo (02:08.606)
no matter where we are now with the work. So, but I'd love to hear what your origin story is.
Aaron Michael Ray (02:14.438)
Yeah, so I have been doing theater professionally since a little over like 11 years now, but my origin story is actually very interesting because I'm such a late bloomer when it comes to theater. I did, like technically, I do count, you know, the two shows I did in high school.
as kind of like the beginning of it all, of course. You know, my first ever theatrical show I did was a production of The Music Man. And I was thrilled to just be in the back. I just wanted to be a part of it. It's one of my favorite movies. And so when I, and my band director in middle school kind of like, he introduced me to that musical. And so...
And since I'm a trumpet player, you know, it just felt perfect to kind of like the combination of my worlds. Um, but I did the music man when I was a sophomore in high school, I was in the ensemble, I wore this huge velvet bow. That was just like part of my costume for no reason at all. Um, and to the point where like one of the moms every day with like, or every show before I went on would give me kind of like.
Kira Troilo (03:29.17)
Come on.
Aaron Michael Ray (03:40.85)
last looks, you know, like fixing up the bow every time I go right back on stage. That to me is my theater origin story. But yeah, that was the first time I ever did a show at all and I loved it. I had so much fun. And it's interesting because even after doing that and then doing another show my senior year, I did a production of Fiddler where I played Perchic.
Kira Troilo (03:43.34)
Yes.
Aaron Michael Ray (04:10.663)
I honestly...
Kira Troilo (04:11.974)
Are you looking forward to reprising that role anytime soon?
Aaron Michael Ray (04:14.498)
Haha, it does not have to be me to reprise that role. Thankfully looking back on it It's less problematic because I wasn't playing a Jewish person. So I feel better about that but because he is the outsider, you know, but But I will say that you know, even after doing those two shows I was like, oh, you know Theater is really fun. But you know, I'm a trumpet player. I'm a musician. So
Kira Troilo (04:25.106)
Correct, yes.
Kira Troilo (04:30.982)
That's right. That's right.
Aaron Michael Ray (04:43.574)
you know, this is what I'm set out to do. And then the second I go to college for said music school, you know, like I get there and all the people I meet are all musical theater people. And they're all like, oh, we're auditioning for this show. Like you sing, right? You should come and audition. And I was like, oh, I mean, I don't know. Y'all are probably better than me or, you know. And because I was just friends with all of them, they were like, well, let's just go audition together. Let's just all do it.
Kira Troilo (04:55.313)
Uh huh.
Aaron Michael Ray (05:10.41)
And then I got in the show and from there, the rest was truly history.
Kira Troilo (05:17.402)
I love that. And just because I think it was both of our professional debuts, was that the color purple?
Aaron Michael Ray (05:24.082)
Oh my gosh, yes it was. Yeah, that was like, so that was the end of my junior year of college, I think. Either junior year or my senior year of college. But yeah, and that was like the first professional show that I did in Boston. Really ever, yeah.
Kira Troilo (05:45.89)
Wow. Yeah, and yeah, wow. And I, of course I know, but for, you know, all of our listeners, what was that, what was that like for you? Yeah, just to like have your first show be this all black show, you know, the color purple in Boston.
Aaron Michael Ray (05:54.57)
Yeah!
Aaron Michael Ray (06:01.598)
Oh my gosh. Yeah. Like it was such, I, I think I'm, it's funny because in the same way that I look back on it, I, this has happened a lot in my career and other places where like, in the moment I'm just happy to be there. I'm just like, wow, I'm with a bunch of friends. I'm meeting new people who are in this business. I'm surrounded by beautiful black people.
like, you know, we're all shapes, colors, sizes, you know, all of it. Yes. And it was so much fun. And then when I look back on it, like a part of me was like, wow, I really didn't realize like, you know, that was like the New England premiere of the color purple musical and like, you know, it was where I got my first like EMC points, you know, getting ready to join equity. So all of that was so.
Kira Troilo (06:33.326)
Yes, having a blast. Mm-hmm.
Aaron Michael Ray (06:55.31)
precious looking back on it of like, wow, this really solidified, like, you know, that this was a big moment for my career at that time. And, and when you're in it, you're just like, I'm just happy to be here. This was really fun, you know, but then you look back and you're like, you know, that was a big milestone for me. And I'm really, I don't regret it at all. And I know that was like the beginning of the right direction for me.
Kira Troilo (07:18.011)
No.
Kira Troilo (07:22.282)
amazing. And just a side note, I just did a production of The Color Purple as an EDI consultant. It was my first time revisiting the material since we were in it like 10 years ago. Yeah, and it was great. And it was, you know, it did point out though, you know, like some things that we have learned in 10 years, you know, so even it was such a blessing to do it back then, but we've learned so much even.
Aaron Michael Ray (07:29.942)
Yes!
Aaron Michael Ray (07:34.011)
Oh, yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (07:50.378)
Yeah.
Kira Troilo (07:50.97)
you know, doing the material now. So I don't know if any of that resonates at all.
Aaron Michael Ray (07:53.186)
Yeah.
Yeah, oh my gosh, I mean, it totally does. I really do. And I just saw the movie recently, so like, it just, it is so good. You have to see it. Danielle Brooks got the nomination for best featured actress, and I couldn't agree more. This really could be her time. So.
Kira Troilo (08:03.406)
I haven't seen it yet.
Kira Troilo (08:07.278)
Okay, of course. Yep, it's on the list.
Kira Troilo (08:13.798)
Yes.
Kira Troilo (08:17.854)
I love her. I saw her live. I saw the Heather Headley. Yes. Oh, so good.
Aaron Michael Ray (08:21.418)
Yes, the revival. Yeah, she was good, right? Oh my gosh. Yeah, she really, she was one of my favorite parts of the show and I'm a huge Daniel Brooks fan. So seeing Fantasia as Celie, Coleman Domingo is just goals, goals for me. Like everything he does, I'm just like, I need to do that. I want to do that. Like, yeah, thank you. I received that.
Kira Troilo (08:44.997)
Mm-hmm. And you should.
Kira Troilo (08:49.902)
Yes. So I wanna talk a little bit about your EDI journey through the arts, because as I was thinking about who I wanted to talk to, especially, you know, at this first season, you were one of the first people that came to mind, because I know you ended up doing a lot of hard work through your work on the tour of Come From Away. So I wonder if you wanna just give us like a little idea of your journey.
to getting, I know it's a long road from Color Purple to the Come From Away tour, but just kind of, you know, how did you get to that place?
Aaron Michael Ray (09:23.171)
Yeah.
Yeah, so I think I'll just start by saying that when I, so going into Come From Away, I mean, you know, when I started that tour, we opened in 2018 in the fall. And I was on that tour for four and a half years, including COVID, but it was a long time. And to be honest, I think it just kind of...
To be very honest, in a good and bad way, it fell into my lap of ADI, of that whole world. And I say that because, you know, like, I, after being a part of that show for a while and doing the first year and a half, and then COVID shut us down, and then we all, you know, went through a whole transformation during COVID of just unlearning, relearning, all of that kind of stuff.
Kira Troilo (09:55.826)
Mm-hmm. Wow.
Kira Troilo (10:02.77)
Hmm.
Aaron Michael Ray (10:23.574)
Um, I think coming back into it just, it fell into my lap because I remember we had a big zoom call with everyone, all of our producers, our creative team, and every single person in the company of the tour, and we just had a big conversation about, you know, like we need to address everything that's happening with George Floyd and all of the, you know,
police brutality, the murder, all of that stuff. And we got together, we talked about it, and I was very blunt and very honest with everyone in the company. And it was never coming from a place of like, you did me wrong and you did me wrong. And you know, it wasn't about that. It was just, this has been my experience and unfortunately still is my experience, just as a black man in this world, as a black queer man in this world, and as a black queer man in this show.
Kira Troilo (11:22.266)
Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (11:22.438)
And so because of that, we had a really enlightening and great conversation of throughout the whole company in that zoom call. And it was very intense, but it was great. And then after that, I think just because we were in that period of, you know, we don't know when we're coming back to work and you know, no one's vaccinated yet. So like, there's only so much we can do all of that. You know, I.
kind of thought of like, what is something that I can do to just to highlight the social injustices of our industry, just as a whole and how can I bring people together to do that? Whether it's like, do I make a video? Do I do a podcast? What, like, how do I make this work? And so
Kira Troilo (12:03.939)
Mm-hmm.
Aaron Michael Ray (12:17.474)
I reached out to our producers and my stage manager and I was thinking like, maybe I could just have a podcast. Like I think that's the best way to just like have people have a conversation with me that are very involved in this industry or not involved in this industry. Um, but our, but our familiar with, you know, the world and just equity, diversity, diversity and inclusion, you know, all of that. And so it.
One thing led to another, and then we ended up having some episodes of this podcast that I helped create called conversations from away.
Kira Troilo (12:56.714)
everyone should download and listen to. It's amazing.
Aaron Michael Ray (12:59.49)
Thank you, thank you. And it really just started as like, okay, let's just like have these conversations and see what happens and you know, we'll do a few episodes and whatever comes through, comes through. And then the Broadway Podcast Network picked it up and it ended up having two full seasons. And I did the first season just because when we went back on tour,
one of my other castmates ended up taking over, Christine Toy Johnson, shout out to her. And she, and so we like, doing those episodes during COVID was so enlightening for me because I ended up, you know, at first I just kind of thought it was gonna be like, oh, I'll just bring some of the cast members on here and then we'll just chat and whatnot. But I ended up having Broadway veterans come and-
you know, talk to me on this podcast. I was talking to music directors that were of color in this industry. We had a pride episode. We just talked about being queer in this space, being queer and of color, you know, in these, in these spaces of theater. And it was so, the only way I can describe it was that it was extremely enlightening in the best way, because I think personally, it just kind of.
showed like, oh, this is something that like, I'm able to kind of take up space and lead this conversation of, you know, whatever that topic was, because there's EDI's very grand, broad umbrella, but there's so many things that are involved in it. And so it was super enlightening. I got a chance to just meet really great people
Kira Troilo (14:43.995)
Right.
Aaron Michael Ray (14:55.35)
guests that I had on that podcast I ran into on the street the other day because we live in the same neighborhood and like you know it's just and it's nice to know that like after doing that it just continued the conversation which is all I wanted in the first place.
Kira Troilo (15:10.83)
Yeah, and just one of the things, one of the many things I love about you is you at that time thought, what can I actually do? I can have conversations, you know? And I love that. And I also just am so curious about, like you say enlightened, what were some things that you learned that you weren't expecting? Or maybe some conversations that surprised you, you know?
Aaron Michael Ray (15:21.813)
Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (15:34.978)
Oh, boy.
Aaron Michael Ray (15:38.542)
Honestly, I think a big thing, because if I'm being completely honest, what I will say is like, there were a lot of things personally that I totally grew a lot with. I think just in general, that was the first time personally for me where I felt like I really do have a voice and someone is listening.
You know, and I think being part of a marginalized community, like, you know, we're always silenced in some way. And that was the first time that the mic was hot. Like they, they wanted me to have it. And it wasn't a performance kind of situation where like, here's the mic. It was like, no, we just want to hear from you. And, and I think that was just as, as someone who.
Kira Troilo (16:21.407)
Yeah, right?
Kira Troilo (16:30.935)
Mmm.
Aaron Michael Ray (16:37.118)
you know, faces oppression as we both do. Like that was just such a big moment to have like these huge Broadway producers of a very successful Broadway hit telling me like, we want you to do this and we support you and we'll help you, you know, keep these conversations going, whatever means necessary. And that was just the biggest thing for me, I think. Like, and a lot of the conversations that we had
You know, I loved that they weren't always just like, let's just have a cute little conversation. And, you know, like there were moments where, you know, like it was very passionate discussions. And I remember we talked on the Pride episode, like, you know, we had someone, one of our guests was talking about how like,
you know, for Pride, like Pride is always fun. Pride is always, you know, like it's a big party and the parade and all that stuff. But then I'm so glad that this person was like, and that's what happens when you go to the white Pride events because the black events are always here. Or, you know, it's always, it's still separated. It's still segregated in some way. And that was one of those things where it's like, I knew that, but like just hearing someone say that was like, oh my gosh, like.
Kira Troilo (17:45.106)
Mmm.
Aaron Michael Ray (18:02.61)
Of course, you know, finally someone has talked about this, you know, so it's just those little things that like really just enlightened me.
Kira Troilo (18:07.11)
Right.
Kira Troilo (18:13.646)
Yeah, absolutely. And like what I'm really hearing you say too, which is again, it's like obvious, but it just is wild to me is that all it took was for someone to ask you what your experience was like. Like on that Zoom call, just saying, hey, this is what it's like, this is what it has been like for me. And this is what it's still like for me. Like, did you have, and I know, you know, people listening to this, I'm assuming, are theater lovers and makers and everything, so.
Aaron Michael Ray (18:27.018)
Yes.
Aaron Michael Ray (18:34.251)
Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (18:41.687)
Yeah.
Kira Troilo (18:42.55)
I think we all know, but you know, before the Broadway producers were handing you the mic, like was anyone asking you about your experiences?
Aaron Michael Ray (18:51.502)
Thankfully, yes. I think, and I mean, in when I was doing the show, you know, before doing the podcast, once again, I have to shout out Christine Toy Johnson, because she played Diane in the show. And from the first episode, or not episode, from the first rehearsal that we had, she identifies as Asian American.
Kira Troilo (18:53.148)
That's good.
Aaron Michael Ray (19:20.542)
She was always an advocate for me. She was always someone who in that perspective of like we are minorities in this company. And you know, it is, we were one of at the time six people of color in the entire company of Come From Away. And there was over like 50 people that were on tour with us at all times. And all the people of color were in the cast.
And that's something that we have talked about on the podcast and we talked about. So it's not news. It's not shade. It's not anything. It's just this. These are the stats, you know.
Kira Troilo (20:00.242)
Those are the stats. Those are the facts. Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (20:02.898)
and the stats and facts. So there's, I don't know if you watch Drag Race, but Monique Hart or now Mo Hart on season 10 would always say, facts are facts, America. So, you know, I think about that, but like, but yeah, I really appreciated that she was there to just be there for me. And before I even did any of this podcast, any of the podcasts at all, like she was just,
Kira Troilo (20:04.943)
That's it.
Kira Troilo (20:10.383)
I do.
Kira Troilo (20:18.071)
Oh, I just love.
Aaron Michael Ray (20:32.594)
always like, I understand what you're going through in a lot of ways, and if you need anybody to advocate for you, I will do that, and she did.
Kira Troilo (20:42.678)
Wow, that's amazing. I also would love to hear you say a bit about what Come From Away is about. I know, you know, a lot of us know, but you and I have talked, you know, offline about just like what is the story of the actual musical and how that was reflected in your real lives as actors. So yeah, I would just love to hear you talk a little bit about.
Aaron Michael Ray (21:03.522)
Yes.
Aaron Michael Ray (21:07.59)
Yeah, so Come From Away, for those who don't know, is a true story about how there were 30...on 9-11, on September 11th, there were 38 planes at the time that were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland in Canada. And these were...these 38 planes were just a few of many that were diverted. But for this story...
There were 38 planes that came from all over the world that were diverted at the time of the attacks to Newfoundland, to Gander and Newfoundland. And Gander is a place in the flight industry that is known for having this huge airport, even though it's a tiny, tiny town. Because back in the day, pre-World War, it was where a lot of planes used to
gas up before going across the water or coming back across the pond. So it's this tiny town, this huge airport. So that's why all these planes are diverted there. And the story is about how this town doubled in size because people came from all over the world on September 11th and were stranded there for five days. And it's a story. It's so crazy because it was like thousands of people just like showed up at your doorstep.
knowing from all over the world, you might not even know their language. Like there's no room, there's no capacity, you know, for all of those people to just stay in a hotel, like, you know, so everyone in the town had to come together to just make sure that these people were doing okay and still were able to access phones because it was 2001. So, you know, not everyone had cell phones and it was, it was, it's just mainly about.
how even in a trying time, coming together and just being kind to people goes a long way. And it's a true story.
Kira Troilo (23:10.31)
Yeah, yeah, which is amazing. And I think when people who are at theater, people hear like, it's a musical about 9-11, it's like, oh, but it's, yeah, no, this is a really fascinating story and yeah, like heart, just a lot of heart in it. Yeah, no, thank you for that. And I wonder if you can just talk a little bit about your experiences and why you reached out to me.
Aaron Michael Ray (23:18.074)
Right.
Aaron Michael Ray (23:26.59)
Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (23:37.566)
Yes, oh my gosh. Okay, so while I was on tour, or I should say during COVID, after having a few episodes of the podcast and everything, and you know, having the producers who I can't shout them out enough, Marlee, or Marlene, Sue, Randy, Kenny, they were...
Kira Troilo (23:45.638)
Mm-hmm.
Aaron Michael Ray (24:04.986)
unbelievable producers, junkyard dogs, everyone please just if they are producing your show do everything it takes to be in that show because
Kira Troilo (24:14.298)
We love, and I met Sue, I can sign off on that. Yes, wonderful people.
Aaron Michael Ray (24:17.63)
Yes, I love Sue Frost so much. So while we were getting ready to come back to tour, I remember, or no, it was, we just started going back on tour. So this is like fall 2021. And COVID restrictions were really in effect and everything. And we were getting to the point where we were getting ready to renew certain contracts. So there was gonna be
you know, some, a new turnaround of cast, crew, everybody. And so we, they hired someone to do kind of like an EDI training and we had it when we first got back from tour or from COVID. And so we had an EDI training, it was like November, 2021. And it was...
Hmm interesting. I'll say that it was very interesting It was just it just felt very like I Think the person who's doing it did not do a bad job I think it just wasn't in depth enough by any means like I think she just kind of scratched the surface and just kind of and it was supposed to be like a three-hour training and we did it in my
Kira Troilo (25:19.44)
Excuse me.
Kira Troilo (25:36.338)
sure.
Aaron Michael Ray (25:45.782)
two hours or something and then everyone just kind of went home and it was like, Oh, okay. It just, no one really left feeling like I'm really glad we had that training today and especially for what we just went through going back or through COVID and you know, people understanding what it is like to, you know, for instance, just being black in America and how it's so hard to trust the police from
Kira Troilo (25:58.475)
Sure.
Kira Troilo (26:12.375)
Mm-hmm.
Aaron Michael Ray (26:16.166)
from us and it was just a weird time. So then when it came to having to do an EDI training again, I reached out to Sue Frost and I said, hey, my friend Kira is an EDI consultant for theater, for the entertainment industry. And I know for a fact, I know for a fact that she will be perfect for leading.
you know, EDI trainings and things, whether it's for this show or what other projects you're working on. And because Sue just so happens to be a producer for Good Speed Opera House in Connecticut, I am so glad that she got you to go to Good Speed. And thus here we are.
Kira Troilo (27:06.49)
Here we are. And I said I would bring it back in the beginning. This is why I'll always be grateful to you that you just like happened to be scrolling and think of me and you know, we hadn't chatted in years. And yeah, it just, I'll never forget talking to you about the training you had because it was kind of, it was reflective of the trainings that I was trying to get myself when I was trying to do this work. And it just struck me how...
Aaron Michael Ray (27:16.211)
Yeah!
Kira Troilo (27:36.25)
What's the way to say this? Like not human, like not connecting. We weren't really like getting at the heart of what was on our hearts as humans after this huge, we're still dealing with this tragedy, this trauma of the pandemic. So yeah, I mean, just being able to, like you said, I was able to get to good speed. I was able to work with Corbin Blue and this amazing group of people.
Aaron Michael Ray (27:39.819)
Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (27:51.062)
Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (28:03.018)
Yess
Kira Troilo (28:05.646)
And it's just wild to me. I mean, you can speak a little more to New York and that life, but it's wild to me that we don't have the opportunities to really just like chat about our experiences while we're doing our work in the arts.
Aaron Michael Ray (28:19.25)
Yeah, I mean, you know, like it is, I'm just glad that, obviously I'm glad that you exist. I love you very much as a friend, but I'm just glad, I'm glad that you are doing what you're doing because there are, you know, it also goes to show that at the time when we had that training with the person who, you know, it didn't go as well, it was,
Kira Troilo (28:28.53)
I'm glad you exist.
Aaron Michael Ray (28:48.018)
It was an EDI training, but you could tell that she was used to the corporate EDI training, like for, you know, someone at JP Morgan brought her it or, you know, whatever. But like, what I, what I realized was I was like, this person made no effort to like see the show, come backstage and just see what the life of what we do is like and how in theater.
Kira Troilo (29:00.658)
Mm-hmm.
Aaron Michael Ray (29:17.382)
Especially when you're doing any show, you become so close with everyone. It really just turns into that. And when you're on tour, you are seeing everyone all the time, whether you like it or not. And I just feel like it was the first time where I was like, oh, we really do need to be specific about that, too, of we need to have...
Kira Troilo (29:27.9)
Oof.
Aaron Michael Ray (29:42.85)
people in the industry who have worked on set, who have worked in theater, who have worked and in the arts, you know, in general, to come in who know the world of what we do and say like, okay, so this is actually the kind of training we need, you know? And so that's the biggest reason as to why I reached out to you because I was like, I need like, what you're doing, keep doing it and I'll push you to sue and hopefully, you know, we can get something going and it worked out.
Kira Troilo (30:13.143)
And it worked! And here I am! I'm going to Canada tomorrow with the director that I worked with on Good Speed, so we just keep on going. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Aaron Michael Ray (30:18.772)
Yes! That's so exciting! Yeah! Of course. I'm a big advocate for like, when I win, we all win. Like, I just want to bring my friends everywhere I go. Like, as I'm elevating, y'all coming with me.
Kira Troilo (30:30.234)
Yes, me too. Let's go.
Kira Troilo (30:37.138)
That's it. You may have answered my question, that like the last question I'm gonna ask everyone, but you may have answered it, we'll see. But what does inclusion look like for you in this world, in the theater world? I love the like, I wanna bring people with me. That's part of it. But yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (30:44.18)
Okay.
Aaron Michael Ray (30:48.366)
Ooh. Inclu-
Yeah, that's definitely part of it. I think professionally, that's just what I'm all about. But I think inclusion to me is, there is no question that across the board, there is at least a safe space for everyone. And I think a safe space for everyone.
And just the like the learned the already learned or learning and applying of applying the knowledge of just culturally who every single person in the room is. And just knowing that like you don't have to explain yourself culturally or you know wherever however you identify.
to people in the room for you to even be understood or heard. It's just known that like, you come, you know, for us as people, as people who are black, like we, I think just knowing that like, okay, this is the kind of experience that they live and I don't have to, you know, I don't, I will, I don't have to over explain myself just to get my point across about how I live my life and how
culturally where I come from. So I think that's kind of what inclusion means to me because as soon as it's just, when things are just known, that like, even if you don't know and you're learning, you know, just like the effort it takes to just create the safe spaces for everyone.
Kira Troilo (32:42.31)
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, 100%. And just, yeah, I mean, I envision like, you say not having to explain ourselves, but also not having to like squeeze into any kind of box to fit into a certain space that like, that whole space is for all of us, right? Because we all belong there.
Aaron Michael Ray (32:55.426)
Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (33:00.082)
Yeah. And I think, and you know, something I have really learned with a lot of this EDI work is that there will always two things there will always be code switching just there just always will. And it is what it is. But two, I also just feel like it's, I think what I've learned to is that like
when people just take the time to, you know, understand where people come from without having to like, hey, can, instead of Googling it, can I just ask you blank? You know what I mean? Like, those are just the two main things that like people just need to walk away with and me included, you know, like.
Kira Troilo (33:47.013)
Thank you.
Aaron Michael Ray (33:55.03)
I am not excluded from that part as well, just because I'm a Black queer man. You know, like we all have learning to do at all times. And so if there's something that you're not familiar with and it's specifically about someone's culture or their queer identity or something like that, then like go do the research before you jump in and ask them lots of questions. Like sometimes it just helps.
to do your research.
Kira Troilo (34:26.362)
Right, right. And like, you know, in a perfect world, there's a person there who you can speak to, like an EDI consultant or a cultural consultant, right? Cause Google is not the best teacher. Yeah. And just, you know, for listeners who may be new to certain words, I just want to point out code switching, if you're not familiar, is something specifically where we're changing the way we talk based on who we're with. So, you know, I don't know if you wanna...
Aaron Michael Ray (34:35.314)
Yes.
Kira Troilo (34:55.59)
just say more about code switching, but it's certainly something that I'm familiar with. I'm a black biracial person, so I find myself in a lot of different spaces, and I've had to really do some thinking around, right? Am I showing up the same way in all spaces? Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (35:05.326)
Yes, I'm sure.
Aaron Michael Ray (35:12.618)
Right. Yeah. And I think, but also the other thing too is like, in those moments where you've had to code switch or you've had to kind of, you know, figure who you are in this, whatever space you're in, those are all survival tactics. So like, you have to do what you have to do to survive. You know what I mean? And like, I don't blame anyone for, you know, coming into a space where maybe their walls are up for,
Kira Troilo (35:29.894)
Thank you.
Aaron Michael Ray (35:42.206)
a bit and they don't really let you in for a while because of past experiences of being oppressed and that's just how it happens. And so like when I think about like, especially if I hear, you know, anyone talking about like doing any kind of work in, I like hate, I hate this word so much, but like working with urban children or in or say, you know what I mean? It's like.
Kira Troilo (36:11.45)
I do.
Aaron Michael Ray (36:12.598)
That I just, I'm just trying, I wish there was another word. Maybe there is, but I don't, I don't think I'm the one to find it right now. But you know, when people say like, oh, you know, these like urban kids, whatever, really hard to, you know, teach or they're hard to whatever. And it's like, but also it's because if you're approaching them in the same way that everybody else does, which is like, oh, they're going to be a problem, all this stuff, then of course they're not going to be.
Kira Troilo (36:19.782)
Yeah.
Aaron Michael Ray (36:39.966)
like super receptive to whatever you're teaching or whatever, you know, activity you're doing with them. You have to approach them in the same way that you approach everyone else. So you know, like it just that just approach goes such a long way.
Kira Troilo (36:49.562)
Mmm.
Kira Troilo (36:55.726)
Yeah. Oh, yes it does. I could talk to you forever and want to, but as we wind down, I would love to brag about you in any way I can. Is there anything that you would like to share with folks about what you're doing, or what you're looking forward to doing, or where people can find you?
Aaron Michael Ray (36:59.786)
No.
Aaron Michael Ray (37:05.026)
Ha ha!
Aaron Michael Ray (37:20.106)
Well, I'm based in New York City, so I live in Harlem. But there are a couple of projects that I'm very excited about. One of them will probably be announced very soon, I would assume.
Kira Troilo (38:14.714)
Yeah, so Aaron, I just also want to give the opportunity for folks to find you wherever you are and just brag about you a little bit. So can you tell us a little bit about what you're working on, where people can find you?
Aaron Michael Ray (38:27.518)
Yes, so there are a couple of projects that are in the works and or happening. So by the time this episode comes out, I will be in rehearsals for A Strange Loop at Speakeasy. So...
Kira Troilo (38:44.506)
Be there.
Kira Troilo (38:48.242)
I'm consulting! Oh my god!
Aaron Michael Ray (38:49.842)
Oh my gosh! That's amazing. Look at, see what happens, world. You see what happens. Ha ha ha.
Kira Troilo (38:55.902)
You can't see my face if you're just listening, but my mouth just dropped. Like I'm, I could like cry. I'm so excited. Wow. Oh, that's so exciting. Yeah, so for everyone who doesn't know, A Strange Loop, you know, Tony award winning show. It is about a self-proclaimed fat black queer man and his nine thoughts.
Aaron Michael Ray (39:03.47)
Oh my gosh, then I'm gonna see you so soon.
Aaron Michael Ray (39:18.986)
Uh, uh, six. Six. Yes.
Kira Troilo (39:21.202)
six thoughts and the thoughts are played by people. But it is a heavy lift for this EDI consultant who's gonna try to take care of everyone in the room. So I am so excited you'll be one of those people.
Aaron Michael Ray (39:25.363)
Yes.
Aaron Michael Ray (39:28.834)
Yes.
Aaron Michael Ray (39:35.978)
Oh my gosh, that makes me so happy that you'll be there, part of the process. So I know I'm going to see you. Amazing. Um, but yes, that's happening. I will be playing thought four, which is usher's mom. Um, I'm very excited about the creative team. Shout out to Tavon gamble, choreographer, uh, Maurice parent who is directing. Um, I am just very, very excited about it because it's such a dream show to do, and I could not be.
more thrilled about joining this company. So I'm excited about that. And back in the fall of October in 2023, I did the pre-Broadway engagement of A Wonderful World, which is a new Louis Armstrong musical that is coming to Broadway very soon. It is
It will be announced at some point, but the show plans on coming to Broadway very soon. So we shall wait and see. But it was, it will be my Broadway debut. And it feels crazy to say that, but it's very, it's very exciting.
Kira Troilo (40:40.082)
Broadway debut.
Kira Troilo (40:45.562)
So.
Kira Troilo (40:51.466)
Not surprising at all and just like it was only a matter of time. You are such a light, such a light on and off the stage. So I'm so proud of you. I'm so grateful to know you. Thank you so much for your time and energy today. It's the best.
Aaron Michael Ray (41:07.758)
Thank you for everything, Kira. I love you so much, and I'm just so happy to see ya.
Kira Troilo (41:12.166)
I love you. Ah, I love you too. Yay! See you soon.
Aaron Michael Ray (41:16.575)
Okay.
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