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Theatrix Faculty
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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Deborah Solberg - Award-winning actress, producer and director, Deborah Solberg has a BA/B.Ed in Theatre, and is currently working on a master's degree at SFU. Deborah has been the Artistic Director of Theatrix Youtheatre Society since 1991. Owner of SunCity Productions Deborah offers programming at Place Des Arts, Fraser Valley Homeschooling Association, THE ACT in Maple Ridge, schools in School District #43, and organizes community events in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody. She is the author of over 50 original musical productions, and mentors the next directing generation of Theatrix. She enjoys helping children have fun being the 'stars' they are! |
COMPOSERS
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Peter Abando - is an SFU graduate (B.Ed. and BFA) who simply doesn't want to grow up. He's been making music since he was 5 (thanks Mr. I!), and continues to perform, accompany, conduct, direct, compose, and teach music whenever and wherever he gets the chance. Easily lured by fine pianos and beautiful voices, he's recently taught overseas (South Korea and England). He was the first to receive the Charlotte Lonneberg Scholarship, and is a two-time recipient of SFU's Service Award (Contemporary Arts). His compositions have been featured in numerous Theatrix presentations. Previous appearances include Lead Keyboards for Youth Day 2000 (G.M. Place), orchestra director/pianist for The Wizard of Oz, pianist for Godspell, Cinderella, and Bye Bye Birdie, and musical director for Les Miserables (The Centre for Performing Arts). peter@saswv.ca
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"Mr. I" Yurgen Ilaender - studied music at the Vancouver Community College Music School, UBC, University of Calgary and University of Washington in Seattle. He has been teaching music to children aged three to nine since 1980. He currently teaches his excellent program, the MUSICAL RAINBOW, at Place des Arts, the Chilliwack Academy of Music and at several Montessori schools. Along with teaching, Mr. I is a children's performer and recording artist. He currently (2004) has 15 CDs of entertaining and educational music recorded for children and families. Mr. I is an accomplished guitarist and vocalist. He can perform many different styles of music. He also plays flute, saxophone, clarinet, recorders and other assorted wooden flutes and tin whistles. Along with his songwriting partner, Gary Huntbatch, they have written songs for about a dozen Theatrix productions over the years. Check out his colourful website at www.childmusicmri.com. |
CHOREOGRAPHERS
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Alexandra Cox has a BFA in Theatre Performance - Dance from Ryerson University. She is also a certified acrobatics instructor with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association. Recently she has performed as a soloist in Flora and Zephyr, a contemporary dance piece choreographed by Matjash Mrozewski of the National Ballet of Canada and HSM 2 live on stage in Toronto. Her most recent choreographic work Taiko was filmed by director Thierry Loa for a CBC dance documentary. Alexandra is known for her innovative and expressive award winning choreography. She has a strong passion for teaching and works with ease to engage and influence her students. Currently Alexandra balances teaching at Front and Centre Dance Academy, choreographing for workshops and performing with LR Productions in Toronto. *For more information about registration, dance classes or levels please contact: Alexandra Cox : Lexycox@gmail.com
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Nicole Roberge - loves her "work" as a choreographer, performer, advocate and Drama teacher with a Master's Degree from NYC. Ms. Roberge grew up in Coquitlam, got her B.F.A. from UVic, is an avid traveler, has taught hundreds of young people around District #43, recently toured Western Canada with dance company Grupo America, and would be the first to admit that she "can't sit still". Coco also co-founded ArtQuake: Adventures in Circus, Dance and Drama to create and offer bilingual shows and workshops all around BC. She is proud of the Theatrix performers for their hard work...and 5, 6, 7, 8!" . cocoroberge@hotmail.com |
VOCAL DIRECTORS
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Elizabeth Cushnie Soprano, studied with technical voice master Helga Tucker. During that time she also attended special studies through the Manhattan School of Music and the University of British Columbia. In 1997 Elizabeth was awarded first prize in the Provincial Senior Voice completion and was featured on CHBC as an " Okanagan Young Achiever". In 2000 Elizabeth was sent to Halifax for the Canadian National Voice Competition. In 2001 she won the New York Metropolitan National Arts Council competition for the Western Region. Elizabeth has also appeared in sold out performances with the Okanagan Symphony and in Community Concert Series. Elizabeth lives in Mission and is a vocal coach and teacher. Gbchdiva1@hotmail.com
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Lindsay Sutherland Boal - is equally at home in opera, concert, theatre and musical theater. Most recently, Lindsay has been heard as Papagena in the Magic Flute with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Royal Winnipeg Ballet, as Ms. Silverpeal in The Impresario with the Little Opera Company and with international musical funny man Rainer Hersch with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She has also sung the roles of Adele in Die Fledermaus, Rose Maurrant in Street Scene, La Fee in Cendrillon, Ilia in Idomeneo and at the International Festival of Light Opera in Waterford Ireland, Yum-Yum in The Mikado. She has been a regional finalist in Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and National finalist in the Rosza Competition. Lindsay has been heard in concert, opera and musical theatre in China, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, USA and Canada.LSBlive.com or Lindsay@LSBlive.com
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Samantha Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music majoring in Voice and Secondary Education from the University of British Columbia, and will be completing her Bachelor of Education this upcoming year. She has been associated with Theatrix Youtheatre Society for over 10 years, both performing and doing Musical/Vocal direction. She has performed in over a dozen shows over the years, most notably starring as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (2000- Theatrix ), Eponine in Les Miserables (2003, 2004- Theatrix), Cosette in Les Miserables (2004- Port Moody Secondary School) and Cathy in The Last Five Years (2009- Theatrix). She has been Musical/Vocal director on 14 productions since she was 14 years old, for Theatrix and local schools. Samantha has won many vocal awards in Musical Theatre, Classical and Opera, and was most recently nominated for Outstanding Actress in the Theatre B.C. Fraser Valley Zone Festival for her role in The Last Five Years. She has been teaching private voice lessons for the past eight years, and performs for special events. sj.voicestudio@gmail.com.
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Dominique Bernath Dominique Bernath completed four years of a Bachelor of Music program at the University of British Columbia in 1997, majoring in Orchestral Percussion Performance. She has been performing with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 1995, and has been the Principal Timpanist/Percussionist of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra since 1997. Performing frequently with the Prince George Symphony, West Coast Symphony, Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the Willingdon Church Orchestra, television and CBC Radio One and Two, and such talents as Jann Arden, Natalie MacMaster, Anne Murray, Dee Daniels, The Rankins and Holly Cole, Dominique has been a member in good standing of the AFM since 1995. She frequently teaches percussion clinics and masterclasses, and has been a pianist since 1980, performing three sessions with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada as both a performer and a librarian/staff member. www.perclady.ca |
ACTING/DIRECTING
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Stacee Copeland-Kerr has over 35 years experience dancing and acting onstage, with 18 years experience working in film and television - both in front of and behind the camera. She has successfully produced many theatrical productions in Vancouver and founded a long-running actor training group for Lower Mainland performers. Stacee holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from McGill University and has trained with world-renowned acting, voice and movement coaches from Montreal to Los Angeles. She has taught children in many capacities, from coaching basketball to choreographing dance, and teaches improvisation to elementary school students for the last year in both English and French. paulandstacee@shaw.ca
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Diana Grochowicz has been involved with Theatrix for several years where she started off as a performer. A recent graduate from Simon Fraser Universities Education, History and PDP program, Diana is a certified teacher and enjoys working with children and youth. She spent 4 months teaching English and music to students in Oaxaca, Mexico. Diana is launching her business 'Be a Star', hosting themed birthday parties for children in partnership with the City of Port Coquitlam. Diana also composes children's vocal music on the guitar and is the Tiny Trouper director. diana.starproductions@gmail.com
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Lisa Scott is an acting major in her third year at SFU working towards her BFA in Theatre Performance. She has co-directed three shows with Theatrix including Once Upon a Mattress, Wizard of OZ and High School Musical. Lisa has assistant directed Lost Kingdom and Seussical Jr. and has assisted back stage on numerous productions. Lisa has performed in shows like The Rocky Horror Show, Jekyll & Hyde, Little Women, Cats, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Grease, Honk Jr. and Titanic: The Musical. She most recently directed Les Miserables, The Student Edition.. lisalouise2@hotmail.com
| | THE "A" TEAM - ASSISTANT DIRECTORS
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Kelsey Acres is 14 years old and is in entering grade 9 at Dr. Charles Best Secondary. She has been in Theatrix for 2 years. Her first show was The Wizard of Oz, where she played a Jitterbug and was the Scarecrow's understudy. In her second show, Cinderella she played the role of Cinderella. Kelsey has had a great experience in Theatrix so far and has made so many new friends along the way. Working on these shows has been an absolute blast with the little kids. |
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Marquis Byrd is 16 years old and entering grade 11 at Dr. Charles Best Secondary. He has performed in 15 musical productions with Theatrix, including the award-winning Miracle Worker, and leading roles such as the Lion in Wizard of Oz, Daddy Warbucks in Annie, and Mr. Cladwell in Urinetown for Charles Best, and most recently, RENT. Marquis is looking forward to pursuing his passion in the Arts & Entertainment in his future career. |
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Teaghan Iverson has been involved with Theatrix since the age of 6. She is 14 years old and is in entering grade 9 at Riverside Secondary School. Teaghan has been in 20 Theatrix plays. Some of her favourites include, Honk, Aladdin, Seussical, & Charlotte's Web & Les Mis. Teaghan is also an up and coming vocalist. She has sang the anthem at Vancouver Giants games, and at many events in the Tri-Cities. Recently, Teaghan had two 1st place finishes for Musical Theatre Comedy and a 2nd place for Musical Theatre Ballad at the Pac West Festival, for which she won a bursary. She feels very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with all these kids. |
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Jenni Rempel is an Interactive Arts + Technology student at Simon Fraser University where she is also pursuing a Minor in Fine and Performing Arts. She has assistant directed productions of The Little Princess, Cinderella, and Grafitti in addition to helping with Theatrix poster and program design. Jenni has been in many past Theatrix shows including: Rocky Horror, Godspell, Once Upon a Mattress (Queen Aggravain), The Wizard of OZ (The Wicked Witch of the West) and CATS. |
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Chris Smith is a graduate from Kwantlen Polytechnic University with a B.A. in History, and recipient of the Victor and Edith Martin Award in History in 2006, Chris is now pursuing a Bachelors of Education from Simon Fraser University and is currently enrolled in the school's Professional Development Program. As well as working behind the scenes during shows Chris has been the Assistant Director on previous projects such as T'was the Night Before Christmas, Disney's Aristocats, and Disney's The Jungle Book. |
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Tasia Shaw is 19 years old and graduted last year from Dr. Charles Best. She recently stopped dancing to work at a local daycare, and loves it! In the past years Tasia has done jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, stage, musical theater, hip hop and acro at Encore Dance Studio. She has performed in Theatrix plays starting at the age of 6. Some of the plays include Once Upon a Fairy Tail, The Quest for the Holy Grail, CATS and Les Mis. Tasia loves working with all the kids in the shows. | | |
