Latest / CINEMACTIVIST / S03E16 - Meet Taylor Lorraine

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S03E16 - Meet Taylor Lorraine · CINEMACTIVIST

• John C. Lyons: hi everyone. Welcome to Cinema Activist. My name is John Lyons and I'm your host and I have a special guest on this week's episode, Taylor Lorraine. Taylor Lorraine: Hi, how are you? John C. Lyons: How's it going, Taylor? Taylor Lorraine: Good, good, you know, John C. Lyons: Awesome. Taylor Lorraine: first podcast. John C. Lyons: first podcast. Well, what an honor. What an honor for me to be interviewing you in your first podcast. So I was trying to think back like where we met. Did we meet at a Seiche event? Did we meet at a tethered fundraising event? Do you remember? Taylor Lorraine: I actually think I do. I think you had helped our mutual friend Corinne with one of her dance films and I was just an extra, but that was like the first time that like John C. Lyons: That's right. You've been in a lot of projects that I've worked on. Taylor Lorraine: But yeah, for like I know a lot of them. But yeah, it was Ave Maria I think. I don't know, there was a lot of things. John C. Lyons: yeah. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Okay, that's awesome. before we get into like tethered and all of those things, let's talk a little bit about you, Taylor, and how you got involved in the arts. Are you from this area originally? Taylor Lorraine: Basically, like my family moved up here when I was two to be closer to my mom's family who's pretty Erie centric. They love they love this town. They they do a lot of things around it. so basically since two and until now, which is almost almost thirty years. Not quite, but pretty close. John C. Lyons: All right, that's cool. And then how did you find your way into the arts and like what was your f early interests? Like were you always interested in dance and that was your entry point or was it somewhere else? Taylor Lorraine: So mostly dance. So I like started dancing. It was this tiny little studio. It's called North Coast Dance. And my gosh, I think there's like fifteen of us at like our biggest. Like we were tiny, tiny, tiny. But so I started there, like the gentleman who owned it was a friend of my mom's and so like it was just like he let us dance for cheap because we definitely didn't have money to be a dancer. And it was just kind of hard to find someone who was like fine was whatever you could pay me whenever you could pay me. which was really cool. John C. Lyons: Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's nice. Taylor Lorraine: I I did a few playhouse shows, but I don't know. I was just always nervous. I was a really shy kid, believe it or not. John C. Lyons: When you say play ha yeah, I find that hard to believe. Like so Taylor Lorraine: Like Erie Playhouse, yeah. So I guess like John C. Lyons: acting. Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, so I did like youth theatre camp for a few years and that was always like John C. Lyons: Okay. Taylor Lorraine: those were fun. Like they were fun to do. I don't know. You learned a musical in a week and then you did a silly performance and then and that was that. John C. Lyons: Okay, so you've been in a or all right, so yeah, definitely not just dance and then you have acting experience. So all right, that's cool, that all makes sense. That tracks. For sure. Taylor Lorraine: Okay, yeah. I mean little baby bit of acting, but yeah, it's like I mean however much acting experience you get from the ages of like six to nine, you know. John C. Lyons: Yeah, yeah. It counts. It counts. That's your foundation. Those are your roots, Taylor. Taylor Lorraine: So the you know, those are the ages that everything in your life comes from, right? John C. Lyons: Yeah, absolutely. okay, so that was like your first dance company or classes, I guess it would be more classes. Did you okay. Taylor Lorraine: Yeah. Mm-hmm. And like we did a show every year. Yeah. But and I did that until I was eighteen. So I went from basically about yeah, like six to eighteen. I danced and then I like cold turkeyed and like stopped everything. John C. Lyons: Really? Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, yeah, for for a few years, for sure. John C. Lyons: Was was there a reason behind that or Taylor Lorraine: Just like going to college, like I was just kind John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: of like, now there's no room. Like I definitely wasn't like when I went to Mercyhurst, I thought about doing dance team, but I also like worked a ton. Like I paid my way mostly through college. So I was working an astronomical amount and I like, How much do I actually care to be involved? You John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: know, in college and then I was like, never mind. So then I just stopped. like really until I found Seiche Like they started doing like it was just a very random scrolling through Facebook and a friend of a friend of a friend had like shared like, Hey, like they're doing adult classes, like if you've danced before, like this is probably better for you. And so I started doing that in twenty nineteen. John C. Lyons: Is that when they started? Was that their first year? Okay. Taylor Lorraine: Mm. 'Cause yeah, they're they're in their seventh year and I was like their first community member. Like I just showed up, like paid John C. Lyons: I love that. Taylor Lorraine: and yeah. And so then and I would go off and on. I was never like super consistent, but I tried to be c like I John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: was putting I think I wanna now it's been able to like I've made choices to be like, Okay, no, this has to kinda be something consistent, like you miss John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: which I did. John C. Lyons: Okay, that's cool. Yeah, I had Danielle on a a few episodes ago now. I don't know if you know that. So I did Okay. So Taylor Lorraine: I I did watch. John C. Lyons: I did yeah, I learned quite a bit of not just her backstory, but Seiche's too. Well that's really cool to know that you were part of that early team, that early group back then. That's awesome. Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, I mean just in I guess in kind of in the way that matters, like you need community members and community support. John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: It was a lot of fun. It was good. John C. Lyons: Yeah. Yeah. And they were a niche that obviously I'd urge everyone to listen to that episode, but the whole adult dancer thing, you know, this is something I didn't realize, you know, traditionally that there's usually a a time where there's not so many dance opportunities or companies and yeah, that's that's great that you you became part of Seiche at that point in time. You always are spinning plates, juggling a lot at once. So, yeah, I can totally understand how just sometimes it just doesn't work out the timing and you'd need to take a little break. And I'm glad to Taylor Lorraine: Yeah. John C. Lyons: hear that you do take a little breaks. Taylor Lorraine: Well then at some point like you just have to choose to prioritize the things that like you're like, nope that actually like brings you a little bit of joy. So maybe you put a little bit of effort into doing it. You know, like into making John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: it a part of your life. So like at this point it's just part of the schedule now. So like if it's a long John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: schedule, that's just part of part of the schedule, you know. So John C. Lyons: Okay. So is that how you how you operate? Like you have to sit down and kind of like plan out your priorities and your interests and stuff. Is this like a yearly thing? Is it like just as you go see to your pants? Is it like, you know, every season? Taylor Lorraine: I wish it was more organized than it is because it's definitely never seems organized in my head. Like it feels like everything is is always happening. I'm like, I forgot about that. so now I try to do at least monthly. Like I have like a calendar that I like will set up monthly with like everything I have to do. John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: and I've been getting better at like making myself a to do list for the week. Like it doesn't matter when it gets done throughout the week unless it's like an actual like you know, blaring time deadline, but for the most part I try to be like, okay. Like, but just in like the general scheme between like multiple jobs that I work, like I did like have to stop and just kind of like so Seiche operates in seasons. So like I have every date for them all the way through May. Which makes it easier for me to be like, okay, like nope. Like if I want this to be in my life, like how am I going to fit it? But John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: Which is, you know, it's like an important thing to be like, Okay, like if you want this, you're gonna have to like maybe rotate some things and I need sometimes I need like something outside of my existence to kind of keep me on track and that's kind of a nice thing to give me priority. John C. Lyons: Gotcha. Yeah. So Seych is one of those things that you you kind of prioritize in your calendar each year around their schedule and stuff. Taylor Lorraine: A bit, yes. That that marching band. John C. Lyons: Yeah, let's talk about marching band. So were you in were you in band also, like in school? Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, so when I wasn't dancing I was at I was in band. I started when I was twelve. I've only done color guard, I cannot play an instrument, people ask me all the time. I cannot I cannot even I can find middle C if I'm lucky. Like I'm really lucky guess every single time. But yeah, so I have no musical ability, I will say. But yeah, so I s did that from also from like twelve to eighteen. John C. Lyons: Okay. Taylor Lorraine: and yeah, and then I took maybe like half a year off and then I started helping my previous grade instructor. She had moved schools. She was now down at General McLane I was like, like if you ever need help and then she was like, I might need it. And then that's turned into the past eleven years of my life. John C. Lyons: Our gig. Yeah, for sure. So okay, so you're at General McLane then, and what you're like the color guard Taylor Lorraine: So I'm like one of the assistant directors but then also in like visual coordination but mostly like I just call myself like the color guide instructor. Like John C. Lyons: Nice. Taylor Lorraine: they fit a lot of names in front of me and I'm just like, my gosh, guys, they don't you don't need to do all that but John C. Lyons: All right, that's awesome. Okay, so we've got Dance through Seiche. We've got Color Guard through General McLane High School. you also have started your own business. Do you wanna talk about that? Taylor Lorraine: yeah, shit. John C. Lyons: Mm-hmm. Taylor Lorraine: I can I yeah, I don't know why. It's like the self promotion will never be something I am ever gonna be used to, but it helps when you run your own business. But I run like a private bartending business called Taylor and Tonic. so gosh, I think it had to be like twenty twenty two, maybe or twenty twenty three, but I was like let go very suddenly from a job. that was bartending dates, so but it was like a a pretty like we were just all kind of surprised. And just at that point I kind of had no clue like what to do and then I just impulsively was like, you know what, like I've been doing people's like random parties for people and random such and such. And so then I just said like what if I just made a go for it myself? So John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: that was three years ago now. So yeah, I guess that's John C. Lyons: That's awesome. Taylor Lorraine: But yeah, so it's been good. So I do like weddings and parties and random events and I try to like curate my like I for the first few years I curated my own events. So like I did like a mixer and like one year I did like a Taylor Swift Christmas party 'cause and like John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: a lot of people had fun you know, like I've done like like a fantasy ball, like and so like I've done a a few things and like eventually I wanna bring back. But then I was like let me focus on one one business aspect at a time before I kind of John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: get to expand and do all of that fun. But it's been good. John C. Lyons: That was a good way, I'm sure, to like get your name out there by having some events when you were starting, right? And then people Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, no, I think it definitely did help me out. Like I still have people who are like, I went to that and I'm like, Hold on, like you what? Like you just bought a ticket and showed up? I mean which I was I'm always very grateful. But it's just always like you're like, Wow, like, yeah, the people will just show up to stuff that you do, like when you do cool things. And it's I mean it's very fun, it's very cool, but sometimes you just I never put myself in that, like, yeah, like I'm gonna bring people out to Participate in activities I can. John C. Lyons: Yeah, I think it works. I think it works. I feel like, yeah, as I'm sure you've seen too, like there was quite a period after the pandemic, right, where it was really slow and strange and it is still kind of strange in the on the bar scene, a little bit, right? Taylor Lorraine: yeah, like no one really drinks anymore. So John C. Lyons: Yeah. But but it's like I think people want to be out of the house. At least it seems like people want to be out and doing things and being more social and stuff. So I think I think that was yeah, you were you were coming out of COVID then when you were starting the business. Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, basically. So yeah, I mean I guess right around like twenty twenty three. So like John C. Lyons: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Okay. All right. So Taylor and Tonic, yeah, I I remember like seeing seeing your events and stuff like that in the early days too. So you definitely launched in the right way, I would say, for sure. Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, and then I realized like how many like we're actually kind of inundated with private bartenders in this town. Like it's like photographers and then private bartenders are like two I think I John C. Lyons: Really? I didn't know that. Taylor Lorraine: every single day I'm just like, guys, like I can't I how am I competing with twenty seven people? But you f you find your niche, you do find your niche. Like John C. Lyons: I only know you. I only know you. Okay. Taylor Lorraine: I try to specialize in like a mocktail, like a craft mock tail approach. John C. Lyons: Mm-hmm. Taylor Lorraine: But like legality of running your own private bartending business is that it's hard to like sell liquor on your own. So like l John C. Lyons: Uh-huh. Taylor Lorraine: I'm very lucky where I have like an one of my other jobs like is willing to like let me borrow their license and like sell their goods as alcohol, you know, like so then I have a legal way to get around. But a lot of the time like you have to account for someone else, like bringing their own alcohol. And sometimes they don't want to pay for that. And so there's just John C. Lyons: Mm-hmm. Taylor Lorraine: a lot of of random Pennsylvania red tape that you have to jump through because Pennsylvania John C. Lyons: Right. Taylor Lorraine: is also one of the hardest states to ever just exist in with alcohol. Like they they like to have their hands on it pretty pretty tightly, which is good. I mean, it's not it's not the hardest thing I've ever come across John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: to like do it legally, but but yeah, so I don't know. But John C. Lyons: But are you seeing like a increase in like interest in the mocktail kind of situation? Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: yeah. And I mean like so even like I'll do like 'cause people don't consider like and I don't typically have to like bartend a baby shower, but like I'll definitely set up like a mocktow bar, you know, like for baby shower. John C. Lyons: Babies gotta drink something. Isn't that what happens at a baby shower? The babies drink? No? Taylor Lorraine: The babies have to ha they have to drink something. Like at that point, like they have I mean, they have to know what they're getting into. But yeah, John C. Lyons: Just kidding. Just kidding. Taylor Lorraine: like I mean and even just like signature drinks at weddings and events, like the amount of people who are like, Well, I would like that, but I don't drink. You know, like John C. Lyons: Uh-huh. Taylor Lorraine: so like having the option where like everyone can be included, you John C. Lyons: Yeah, yeah. Taylor Lorraine: know, like all you have to do is add a spirit and then like it just either like just makes it alcoholic or like adds a different flavor profile. Like people people have been really like really interested in that, like in kind of like an elevated way. That's not just like, Here's lemonade and iced tea for those people, you know, trying John C. Lyons: Right. Taylor Lorraine: to do something that makes it feel more cohesive for the everyone. John C. Lyons: Yeah, yeah. Okay. So it sounds like it's good that you're realizing that here early on so that you can pivot as needed and always prepare those like backup options for sure. Do you do all the marketing and stuff and how do people find you? Is it ma mostly like word of mouth kind of thing? Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, I mean I I'm not nearly as good as marketing myself as I should be as like all the other things I market, but yeah, I have like an Instagram page and the website like Taylor and Tonic dot com. So it's just and Taylor and Tonic, I think it's Taylor and Tonic 814, because there is a Taylor and Tonic barbershop in Texas. I don't actually know what they do. John C. Lyons: Okay. Taylor Lorraine: I don't know why they had to steal such a specific name, but but it has to be eight one four, but John C. Lyons: Right. Dang. Yeah, it happens. There's a Lyons Den productions some somewhere else too, like in Florida or something like that. I get it. I get it. Taylor Lorraine: You know. It's hard. It's hard to be you wanna be original and you're just like, John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: okay, I guess never will be, I guess. John C. Lyons: Nope. Nope. But that's all right. Taylor Lorraine: They humanity. John C. Lyons: It's a cool name and it makes sense. All right. So let's jump back into the arts. Let's pivot pivot back into the arts. So you've been with Seiche Dance Collective, since Taylor Lorraine: Mm-hmm. John C. Lyons: the beginning, off and on. but it seems like you're you're pretty regular there recently, at least from what I've Taylor Lorraine: Yeah. I'm going into my third season, which is like just like the performance season. It'll be fun. John C. Lyons: Congrats. What's your f what's your favorite like genre or style of dance? Taylor Lorraine: See, I am I'm a sucker for ballet. Like I grew up on ballet. Like I d yeah, John C. Lyons: Classic. Taylor Lorraine: like I just like 'cause I feel like it's sometimes I feel like you find a lot of like ballet is in everything else. So it's just one of those like when I go back to like the roots and the basics, then like it's about like experimenting with how you can change something that you you grew up with traditionally into something that feels more you. John C. Lyons: yeah. Taylor Lorraine: And like more authentic to like how you wanna be portrayed in that certain dance or moment. So I just was always like just a sucker for it. So like I try to I go to like the extra ballet classes that I don't even need to go to. I'm like John C. Lyons: Okay. Like the ones that they offer at Seiche you Mean? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Taylor Lorraine: Mm. Just 'cause yeah, I'm like these are my favorite times of the week. John C. Lyons: that's cool. Yeah, that's great. It's like your comfy place. Taylor Lorraine: It's my comf it is for sure my comfy place. They pushed me to a lot of uncomfortable places. And I'm like, I like this one. This is This is my comfy place. John C. Lyons: W which is your comfortable place. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, that's cool. All right. So ballet all the way. for the show that's coming up with Seiche, is there some ballet that's going to be in the showcase? Taylor Lorraine: So the most recent one that will be coming is October twenty fourth, actually. And we'll get into why I won't be a part of that, I'm sure at some point. But John C. Lyons: Mm-hmm. Yep. Taylor Lorraine: but it's called Faish Noir. So it is I don't know, it's I guess I don't want to spoil too much, but it's at Ten Twenty Collective. It's gonna be like a night of like dancing and ghost stories and treats. so I don't I don't wish I could be there. I mean, I just John C. Lyons: man. Wish I could be there. Taylor Lorraine: I'm just stuck. doing something else that it will be very cool. I think it starts at six or seven. But it will be really cool. Like I mean, just like it's very emo immersive. I guess we'll also get into that. But like the idea that you're walking around in the space, you kind John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: of have control over the dancers and like kind of what they're doing. John C. Lyons: Mm. Taylor Lorraine: But yeah, like I don't know. It it's one of those like someone I hope we get like a content girl or something to record it all. It sounds like it's gonna be really, really cool. John C. Lyons: Yeah, that's awesome. are you able to tease any of the stuff that you're in in Seiche? Taylor Lorraine: so the next thing that w actually we've been doing it for for years. but it they do call it their winter ballet. it's about Bessie. John C. Lyons: Yeah, yeah, Bessie. Taylor Lorraine: Bessie the the lake monster who John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: she's been around for a long time, but John C. Lyons: And this is a narrative ballet, right? Taylor Lorraine: it is a narrative ballet. and so we just all play different characters. Every single year it it evolves a little more. So this year, like they've kind of have put together like very solid like the first act I feel like keeps expanding over like so now it's like there's like a family, we are seeing things, like we're just like finding new different ways to like bring other pe cause we just keep expanding at the company. Like we've added two new people this year, which is exciting. But just John C. Lyons: That's awesome. Taylor Lorraine: kind of a way to have and they've it's been a very collaborative effort over the last, you know, I think they've been doing it for five years. So just ways to like make it bigger and better this year. It's actually gonna be on a stage. So we'll be at Strong Vincent High School in January. John C. Lyons: don't they usually do what that one like a family friendly date and then they do like a adult? Okay. Taylor Lorraine: We will, but I think we might pivot what it is. Like we might go we might do like some fun days in a school. Like we might like visit some classrooms and kind of do outreach like that. Instead of it being kind John C. Lyons: Ooh, that's awesome. Taylor Lorraine: of personally like in our space. But it'll be fun. John C. Lyons: Nice. yeah, I love that there are always yeah, I've well I think Seiche is great. I've said it a million times. I'll say it one more time. yeah, they're great. Everybody should check out Seiche. Let's pivot then to tethered. How's that sound? Taylor Lorraine: Sure, yeah, tethered. It's been it's been a l a long time of tethered. John C. Lyons: So Taylor, you are I think you're one of only three people that have been involved in all three years, and I think you're the only performer that's been involved in all three years of tethered. Taylor Lorraine: I think I think so. Yeah. John C. Lyons: Think it's I think it's you, Anna McJunkin, and Taylor Lorraine: What an yeah. John C. Lyons: myself, I think are the only three, and I think you are our OG all star performer. Taylor Lorraine: Definitely I would never go that far, but John C. Lyons: Ha ha. Taylor Lorraine: but no, I mean so that was kind of like my kickstart for a lot of things. So I saw that a friend like our mutual friend, Corinne, had she posted that she was looking for additional dancers. Shout out John C. Lyons: Corinne Justine, shout out to Corinne Justine, she's amazing. Taylor Lorraine: to Corinne Justine. She's living her best life. But John C. Lyons: Yes. Taylor Lorraine: But yes, so she was like, We need more dances and I said, If it's not crazy, I can probably do it. Like I haven't John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: at that point, I hadn't really been going to anything for Seiche Like I just saw it and I just really she was like, It's Sundays, and I'm like, you know what? I do give myself Sundays off. Like, might as well do something on Sundays to make it not off. And but John C. Lyons: Yeah. Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: yeah, and so we did five weeks. I s it was pretty quick. I'm pretty sure it was like five weeks of rehearsal before the first tethered. Like it was John C. Lyons: Yeah, it was a little intense. Taylor Lorraine: we did that one pretty, pretty darn quick. And but yeah. John C. Lyons: In that year of tethered, you were in the group that was up on the fifth floor the entire time, right? Do you wanna talk yeah Taylor Lorraine: Up on the yes. Yes, and it was feeling cold. John C. Lyons: talk about that performance? Yeah, and I remember too, that was challenging because Corinne was remote because she had moved to New York at that time, right? Taylor Lorraine: Yeah. John C. Lyons: And we had like Hannah and Jo were filling in there and and assisting and helping Taylor Lorraine: Like helping, but John C. Lyons: out. But yeah, how was so That was the first year when, you know, we were just trying shit, right? Like Taylor Lorraine: I mean it it came together, it happened. John C. Lyons: it totally it totally came together and it totally worked. And I loved what what ended up coming together But how was it for you? Because that was a three hour long performance ultimately. talk talk Taylor Lorraine: It was John C. Lyons: about all the things. Year one. Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, so tethered, I mean the first year was it was definitely the it was cool. It was very cool because it was just such a and like you knew that there was a lot of things happening that like did not involve us, like we said. So they John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: were all separated, we're all on different floors, so there was dance pretty much on every floor. and then we had like our two main characters and they were like exploring everything. But like the whole point of the fifth floor as far as I was concerned was that like it kind of just encapsulated like kind of just like a lot of the emotions happening throughout the rest of it. But j just kind of in one motion. John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: but it was just like one solid hour, just of John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: dance. And then you got it ended five minutes and then you like it ended with five minutes left and then you had a five minute like at the beginning buffer and then you did it again. And so basically it was just like a pure like fifty minutes of display. John C. Lyons: Times three. Taylor Lorraine: times three. Two days in a row. That was it. They were just two days in a row and it was like okay. Yeah. And John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: I mean so it definitely was it was exhausting for sure. And of course John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: I like I came down with this terrible cough. I think right before. No, like right John C. Lyons: on the first like before or in the middle of? Taylor Lorraine: before like And so I like downing cough drops and John C. Lyons: God. Taylor Lorraine: Nyquil. And I remember there was like one one day and it was very sweet. one of our hosts, Mulnah they were John C. Lyons: on. Taylor Lorraine: watching and they were like, You looked so emotional because I just was trying not to not to cough hysterically 'cause once I started coughing it wasn't gonna stop. So I was just like crying and I was like, That was beautiful, like you were really into it and I was like I and John C. Lyons: I was dying on the inside. Taylor Lorraine: I was dying, but I mean and it was a beautiful piece. Like it was very cool. Like it dealt with that one dealt with domestic violence. John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: and even just like I mean, of course domestic violence was like the core of it, but a lot of people would like relate to it in a different way, just who like just anyone who had like a problem with alcohol, like growing up. And so it was like a very cool thing to be a part of. So that was like kind of my first foray back into like wanting to make dance like more of a thing, which is very cool, like 'cause after that That was when I think we filmed war that same summer. John C. Lyons: Let's see. Maybe it They all start running together. Yeah. Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: 'Cause it was like February and then July. Yeah. So and then so then they like I had been a part of Tethered, so it was kind of like, like, do you want to be a part of this? And then that was even how I like really like fully committed to being part of Seiche 'cause they were like, if you want, you can be in this part too. And it was like, my gosh, like this. So then John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: I just started kept going. And then the next tethered year was like more in collaboration with Seiche John C. Lyons: Last year. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Taylor Lorraine: You know, like so it was a lot more like we did like a preview show, like we did like we called it the brain, and it was just like talking about just to kind of like give that idea and then like but that was like part of our season was like, Yep, like let's practice for tethered and then that was like those all became part of our rehearsal schedule. it's just fair it I mean it was fun. That one was more interesting 'cause it was like a nice mix of like I had to dance but then like I had to to act a little bit. There's a lot of like pantomime of like, Okay, like you're a dancer at this club like and you're like, What is happening? Like I don't really know but John C. Lyons: Yeah. So you're talking about the main show. So yeah, we'll quickly go through the timeline. So Corinne and I did a short film that you were in that was called Ave Maria. And then there Taylor Lorraine: Mm-hmm. John C. Lyons: was the first year of Tethered, which as you said was just two nights in February of twenty twenty four. And then we shot War, the short film in the water, which is actually playing The day after our this episode comes out next week, Taylor Lorraine: Okay. John C. Lyons: film festival in Beverly Hills, which is pretty cool. Taylor Lorraine: That's very cool. John C. Lyons: yeah, it looks like a very nice theater. I don't think anyone's gonna make it from the the cast or the crew, but that's happening next week. So then we shot war. And then yeah, we went right into the new tether, the next tethered, which was the one that was in 2025 last year, which had a theme of memory and consciousness. no, but you're right. I did skip the fundraiser event, the brain, which you're talking about was the pop-up performance that took place at feed. Yeah. So there was the Yeah, I'm trying to remember when that was in the Taylor Lorraine: like feed, yeah. I don't even know when that was. That one was just like, okay. John C. Lyons: sequence too. It might have been the Brain and then War and then the full tethered show. That might be the right order. It could've. Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, honestly it could've. That makes sense. John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: That's for the time. John C. Lyons: So then what you were just talking about was the like the main flagship show that was last year, which took place in the Erie Maennerchor Club, which was this huge thirty six thousand square foot space. And as you mentioned, it was very movement driven and you know, kind of a different feel than the previous full tethered show. So this, yeah, you you did a little bit of acting, right? not like dialogue, but like Taylor Lorraine: A little bit, like a Yeah. John C. Lyons: kind of kind of some physical story stuff and like miming acting maybe would be kind of the pantomime. Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: Mm. Like pantomime, you know, like just yeah. Just John C. Lyons: So how was that for you? Because that again was a well, every year so far has been a three hour show, including this one. But how Taylor Lorraine: Include all of them. John C. Lyons: did you feel a little more prepared and were Did you get questions Taylor Lorraine: I John C. Lyons: from like people that were new to it that were like, What is this? What Taylor Lorraine: Think I was actually I was grateful because the nice thing about having not I don't I mean I technically did have a role, you know, like I played an actual character. So was kind of John C. Lyons: Mm-hmm. Taylor Lorraine: nice because I got a breather. Like I didn't have to you know, like the first year was I mean it was you're just basically you dance for fifty minutes straight, you know, with no stops or like the stops you had to be on because people are still watching, you know, like John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: like you're not like hiding, you don't get a chance to go like You know, until it's like over. So that was kinda nice that like I'm like, maybe I'm running up and downstairs a bunch, but at least they have breathers and that's felt good. So it definitely felt easier. I can't s I will probably say that's not the case for everyone, but I felt like it felt easier. 'cause John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: how many did we do? We did how many we did Okay. 'Cause I was like John C. Lyons: We did four last year. Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: I knew it was we just keep doubling. We're not doing John C. Lyons: Yeah. And we had longer time. I mean, compared to the first year, there was definitely longer rehearsal time. Taylor Lorraine: yeah. for sure. John C. Lyons: yeah. Not as much as this year. This this year we've had a lot of we'll get into this year here soon. But yeah, it was like, you know, we learn, we're learning along the way, right? The first year was kind Taylor Lorraine: Yeah. John C. Lyons: of like, shit, we don't know if this is even gonna work, and hope and a prayer kind of a thing, and we pulled it off and it worked. And then second year was like, yeah, we'll increase the scope and add more like story, and it'll be like a singular story instead of like separate sets, as it Taylor Lorraine: Mm-hmm. John C. Lyons: kind of was the first time. You got to move around, like you said, throughout the building. yeah. And then okay, so then we finished last year's show, and then you know, we started working on this year's show, which now we're calling the lever you came and auditioned. How was how was that that whole process? That was different, right? Taylor Lorraine: It was different, for sure. Like 'cause I definitely I mean it was one of those like especially it was it's there's no dance. There's no dance involved in this one at all. John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: which it's been nice, like how much they've all changed. Like I feel like they've changed drastically every year, which is kind of exciting. but yeah, it was definitely a different kind of audition, which is probably good, John C. Lyons: like workshop style. So it was like more relaxed and like a lot more like lengthier than just walking in and sitting down and doing a monologue and then we'll let you know kind of a thing. We really wanted to try and create like a sense of yeah, safe space and yeah, really, really work through like Testing some improv skills and stuff like that. I was so happy that you were game for it and that you that you came out. Taylor Lorraine: I was yeah, I mean I mean, yeah, I would I was definitely I was I would just tell people I'm like, you have to go to this audition. I don't really know why I'm doing this to myself, but I But I mean it was like I figured and it was one of those like maybe I suck and then they're like, You don't even have to do this, don't worry, like like we won't put we won't put you through this if you're too bad. But and it was fun, so like and then like you do it with other people, so that was kinda nice. So like like two I auditioned with like two castmates, which was a ton of fun. You know, like it was like cool to kind of get to know them before getting John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: to know them, you know, in that capacity. So that was kinda cool. I was I was definitely I was a nervous wreck the whole time. I was I thought but John C. Lyons: Sure. Yeah, of course. Yeah, that takes it takes a lot to come to an audition. Yeah, I can't even imagine. I can't imagine performers putting themselves through that. It's really tough. I was nervous for you all. I just wanted Taylor Lorraine: You're like mm. John C. Lyons: you to be as comfortable as possible. I mean, like yeah, Brooke and everyone was there. Like it was it was very I thought it was a really good Yeah, it was a good next step for us. You know? I feel like this year's show, like circling up at the beginning, you know, doing the fences and the boundaries, I really feel like we're evolving every year. That's why I was so looking forward to like talking to you to kind of see like if you felt that, if you feel like we're getting better, if you feel like you know, if this is still fun for you, like How's it been like Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: It it's still fun. No, it is still fun. It's just like it's fun in like a way that's just so different. You know, like I guess I don't even like 'cause I mean I have like I have not been in a play since senior year of high school, you know, like so the idea of like, okay, like you're gonna go do an audition and like you know, and then like you do the hardest part, which I feel like acting's the hardest part. Like it was like, Hey, sing a song and do a dance they were like Alright, like I can fudge my way through that, but then like they're like, okay, like portray an an emotion. You're just like like John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: like my least favorite activity ever. but yeah, so I like how it just like feels so like drastically different, you know, than the other two years, which I think is very cool, just going kind of fully into the acting scheme. I'm happy that there's still the music. I actually really like Tony Grey's music. He's like famous, but John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: but like I really like what he makes for these, I guess is really what I meant. So like I kind of think that's cool, like a cool like continuity point to John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: all of them. but yeah, so like I don't it's just kind of has been fun to and it's like cool, like I feel like When you're the dance side, or like like I said, I was on one floor. So I did not see anything that was happening on any of the other floors until we had like walk through rehearsals the day of, because we did it like, okay, this is like floor one's dress rehearsal, then this is floor two's dress rehearsal, then this is top floor dress you know, like so we separated John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: it like that. So then being able to go to those and like other than that, you have no clue. And kind of the same thing when you're dancing, like it's like, okay, like You know, like I'm just gonna dance, like I don't have time to walk around and examine the you know, like the lab and all of those other cool things that we did for last year's tethered. So like this one kind of being able to start at the bottom and like watching all of these pieces and bits come together, you're just like, my god, like this is a story. Like it is cool. Like and we all John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: did it. Like we all did this together. Like it's very it's interesting. John C. Lyons: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. D have you worked with any of the members of the cast before? Are they all did you know some of the cast? Are they all new for you? Like Taylor Lorraine: I mean so me and Carly did Tethered last year. John C. Lyons: Yeah, of course. Yep. Taylor Lorraine: so that's a but and then I so Dylan was in band. He was a band kid. He played trumpet. John C. Lyons: okay. No shit. Okay. Taylor Lorraine: Other than that, no. John C. Lyons: Awesome. Taylor Lorraine: I know no one. John C. Lyons: Yeah. It's it's exciting for me that way too because I've I've worked with a few of you. but some some of the people in the cast, yeah, I've never worked with before. And it's and in the crew too. And it's it's really exciting. That's one thing that I always wanna try and do with tethered is, you know, keep it keep it fresh, mix it up. you know, try try different approaches to immersive and different kinds of stories each year and and bring new people into the mix. 'cause I I'm not a fan of like how clicky some, you know, like filmmakers can get very clicky. I've learned that, you know, dancers can get clicky. theater people yeah. Taylor Lorraine: I mean, I think it maybe it's an art thing, you know. Like I don't know if there's a a group of artists that doesn't tend to get clicky from time to time. But but yeah. So like it has been very cool to like John C. Lyons: Yeah. I'm trying to rebel against it. Taylor Lorraine: it feels like a safe space, you know, like and not just because we but like you guys do a lot to make sure that it's a safe space, which has been very cool. but yeah, like it's gonna be good if anyone John C. Lyons: What do think about the show in general? What do you think about like the storyline and what do you want to say about your character who's named Taylor? Taylor Lorraine: It it is named Taylor. It's I think Okay, I don't know how to say this. my gosh, because now I feel like this is I feel like it's very appropriate. I feel like sometimes I wonder if the right people will get the right thing out of it. Does that make sense? John C. Lyons: Yep. Taylor Lorraine: I feel like it's a very a very Erie oriented story in a way. John C. Lyons: Yep. Yep. Taylor Lorraine: in a in a in not necessarily a positive light, you know? John C. Lyons: Yep. Taylor Lorraine: so I think that to me is very it's very cool, it's very interesting. It's something that like I feel like I have a lot of like unfortunately personal experience with. You know, so it's just kind of those like it's very cool to be involved John C. Lyons: Mm-hmm. Taylor Lorraine: with like telling a story that like obviously has happened to more than just me, you know, and more than just a lot of people I'm sure. John C. Lyons: Mm-hmm. Taylor Lorraine: but yeah, so I think I'm very interested to see To see, you know, how people perceive the performance, like if they resonate with things in a way that like maybe they should. John C. Lyons: Yeah. I'm so curious about that too. Like I I think we got just so we did do just do like a mock audience, like this past weekend from when we're recording this. And I think we got a little taste, right? Of like it does seem like people are picking up some of the breadcrumbs even that early Taylor Lorraine: Yeah. John C. Lyons: on, and and it does seem like they're anticipating eagerly. some things and they're I do think like yeah, I really hope it it hits and that people like you said it's timely. I hope I hope that people find a lot in it that echoes not just Erie but just also, you know, Taylor Lorraine: Yeah. John C. Lyons: the whole country and the whole world kind of at this point in time. Taylor Lorraine: No, a hundred percent. But but yeah, and I mean and I and it's funny, I feel like my character does kind of like it's very me. I do play a girl named Taylor, who kind of does not I don't know how much I'm supposed to talk about it, but I play someone I find is in the middle, like I'm not kind of in on either side because John C. Lyons: Yeah. Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: I rely on one side for a lot of things, but also I'm a technically a part of the other team, you know, like but I John C. Lyons: Yeah. Taylor Lorraine: don't think it's in a way that it's necessarily seen, you know, like because I'm kind of independent, I'm kind of on my own, like I don't rely on anyone on either side, you know, like I don't need them to do whatever I'm doing, you know. So I think sometimes that's kind of the You know, like the fun balance of like everyone's talking to you, but like maybe but no one actually means necessarily what they're saying. They're just kind of talking to you, which is interesting. John C. Lyons: You're like the bartender therapist. Yeah, I mean, yeah, you're right. Your character, because she's like a contracted out, yeah, like an independently contracted out worker who owns her own business, and in a meta sense, right, it's gonna be Taylor and Tonic, which is really cool. but yeah, you're right. People come to you and speak at you. but we do have there are moments, some really cool moments that are written into your character where you do get to reveal yourself, in some of those interactions. But yeah, from a political standpoint, you kind of have to maintain some neutrality, but there's definitely shades and glimmers, I would say, that that come through. yeah. Taylor Lorraine: Mm-hmm. Good. I guess that's the point. I guess that's what I'm going for. John C. Lyons: No, yeah, it's no, it's good. It's good. But otherwise, yeah, you're right. A lot of the characters come to you and you kind of witness a lot of the behavior and occasionally get to comment and perhaps help out some people. Taylor Lorraine: Not some people, but yeah. John C. Lyons: Yeah, very cool. Well, all right. So we've covered the history of Taylor. We've covered dance, band, tethered experience. is there anything else that you have coming up other than tethered? Which of course everybody listening to this, tethered is the first four weeks in October, Fridays and Saturdays. Get your tickets now. Tickets dot eerie reader dot com, tethered immersive dot com. But Taylor, what do you what else do you have coming up? Or do you wanna drop your your social handles again for Taylor and Tonic and stuff? Taylor Lorraine: Yeah, so I am I will be happily participating in in tethered all of those four weekends minus one super quick Saturday but we have a wonderful understudy that's doing a great job of learning all the fun. John C. Lyons: Thanks Ella. Taylor Lorraine: but my socials are at Taylor and Tonic 814 on Instagram and Taylor and Tonic on Facebook, or my email is Taylor and Tonic dot com. But yeah, so while I'm doing that, the last Saturday, in October is Seiche Noir at Ten Twenty Collective. There will be tons of fun dance, there'll be drinks, there'll be food, there'll be crafts, so it'll just be a nice, like low-key spooky. I mean, I'm gonna go kinda like make it girls' night. Like don't I mean, kids can come, but like also maybe you just want to have a girls' night, date night. And it'll be fun for that too. And yeah, and then you get to have a few cocktails and whatnot. But yeah, and though John C. Lyons: no. Taylor Lorraine: I think it'll be a really fun night of just exploring arts in the city. So be cool. John C. Lyons: Awesome. Yeah, yeah. Well, thank you again for being a part of Tethered and a part of all of the projects. So many projects. Super, super fun. Taylor Lorraine: So many five. John C. Lyons: and whatever future projects we work on together, I look forward to it. So that's it for this episode, everybody. We'll be back soon.