Be Our Guest with Olivia Daniels and Ilana Khanin (I Was Unbecoming Then)

Musical Theatre Radio presents "Be Our Guest"

Olivia Daniels is a Canadian performer, director and producer.

She holds a BFA in Drama from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where they studied at Playwrights Horizons Theatre School and The New Studio on Broadway. Olivia also holds a minor in Philosophy.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they co-founded Artists in Residence, a theatrical platform supporting artists' mental health by providing opportunities for connection and social engagement.

Driven by a love of collaboration and community building, they worked to create spaces where artists feel supported, seen, and respected for their individuality. With every new project, striving to embody a spirit of openness, discovery, and joy!

Ilana Khanin is a director of experimental new plays and musicals. Her work has been developed and presented at Ars Nova ANT Fest, Prelude, HERE Arts Center, New Ohio, Judson, Governors Island, The Tank, The Brick, Primary Stages, Theaterlab, Dixon Place, Samuel French Festival, and the Center at West Park. Artist-in-residence at Montclair State University New Works Initiative (2019-2020), and the Baryshnikov Arts Center (2023). She has worked as an associate director for Lila Neugebauer, Annie-B Parson, and Lee Sunday Evans at venues including Playwrights Horizons, Playmakers Rep, Abrons Arts Centre, and Carolina Performing Arts. Associate Artist with Big Dance Theater (BAM, London’s Old Vic, Berlin’s Deutsches Theater, among other venues). Her work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Toronto Arts Council, and the Puffin Foundation. BFA and MA: NYU. PhD candidate: University of Toronto. I Was Unbecoming Then

In a high school music room in North Vancouver, twelve teenage girls assemble to practice and perfect their parts, desperate to please Bruce, the choir director.
As with any group of girls -
As with any choir -
They are constantly listening to each other
Tuning and re-tuning
Adjusting to each other’s movements, sounds, and rhythms
Finding dissonance and harmony.
I Was Unbecoming Then is an intimate new musical mixing hormones and harmonies.