Summer Theatre Program - Stage 2 Performance Camp Staff 2010

Nupi is the Director of Youth Programming for Theatre Ancaster. She has her B.A.H. B.Ed, and is the Department Head of the Arts at Brantford Collegiate Institute in the Grand Erie District School Board. She is currently working towards her M.A in arts education at the University of Toronto. Apart from teaching, Nupi directs her high school’s annual spring musicals, co-ordinates the Specialist High Skills Major Performance and Production program, and is usually involved in Theatre Ancaster’s main stage productions as well as the Board of Directors. Nupi also oversees the Stage 2 and Stage 3 youth programs during the school year. She is the proud mother of three children, all who have participated in our theatre programs.

This is Krista’s sixth summer as Head Instructor of Stage 2 Summer and Fall Performance Programs. She is the lifeblood of our program, and has been involved with Theatre Ancaster for many years as both an instructor and performer. She holds a Diploma in Musical Theatre from The Randolph Academy for Performing Arts, where she studied acting, singing, and dancing with top industry professionals, and recently earned her B.A in Music and Theatre from Redeemer University Theatre and. Krista also teaches vocal music and drama at Avalon Music Academy. No stranger to the stage, Krista has performed in numerous shows including A Chorus Line, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, The Wiz, The Fully Monty, and Twisted. Most recently, Krista participated in Theatre Ancaster’s spring show Country!.

Laura Bottrell - Stage 2 Performance Camp Junior Drama Instructor

Laura has worked with the Jitterbugs Program for the past three years and is very excited to join the Stage 2 Team this summer. Laura loves being both on stage and backstage in musical theatre. She was recently heavily involved in Theatre Ancaster’s main stage as the Stage Manager and Assistant to the Director, as well as cast member, for South Pacific and Country! She is looking forward to working with the youth cast in next year’s The Wizard of Oz. During the year Laura also works with the Skill Builders program and Stage 3: The Young Company. As a student teacher at Holy Name of Mary School, Laura began and co-directed a Drama Club for primary students. Laura will be pursuing a BA in Early Childhood Education with Mohawk College and Ryerson University this fall.

Erin Faul - Stage 2 Performance Camp Associate Drama Instructor

Erin is back at Stage 2, this time as Associate Drama Instructor. This is her second year as an instructor in the program as she was Junior Drama Instructor last year. Erin has just finished her fourth year of her undergraduate studies at Redeemer University. She has one more year to complete in the Junior/Intermediate Concurrent Education Program. Next year she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Bachelor of Education Degree. As a Theatre Arts Major, Erin has performed in many productions at Redeemer University including: Betrayal by Harold Pinter, The American Dream by Edward Albee, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Fiddler on the Roof. She has also worked behind-the-scenes with other student performances as co-director and stage manager. Erin has also been involved in Theatre Ancaster’s most recent Stage 2 Saturdays program as the Assistant Director, producing Willy Wonka Junior. Erin is very excited to be working with the Stage 2 Crew again and looks forward to meeting all the aspiring stars that will make up our Stage 2 Summer this year!

Amanda Frisina - Stage 2 Performance Camp Associate Dance Instructor

Our Associate Dance Instructor, Amanda Frisina is elated to be back for another year of summer camp! Amanda has been performing in the Theatre Ancaster main stage productions for the last 7 years acting as dance captain and assistant choreographer and has recently finished up Theatre Ancaster’s spring production Country! Where she got to both perform and choreograph the show. Her extensive training in both theatre and dance includes 16 years with Lois Laxton Dance Studio, as well as Sheridan College’s Performance Arts Prep program. Amanda now teaches dance at Pure Rhythm Dance Company in Ancaster. She also offers a workshop for the Sears Drama Festival-regional division for the successful “Thriller” workshop. She has also choreographed A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum, for Theatre Ancaster’s Stage 3 Young Company. We are excited to have her back on board this summer!

Agnes rejoins the Stage 2 team this summer after successfully acting as Properties Master and Set Designer for Stage 2 Saturday’s production of Willy Wonka Jr. She is a fine arts graduate from the Ontario College of Art & Design in Toronto, with distinction in Sculpture and Installation and will be lending her talents as the Jitterbugs Craft instructor. She will also be lending her fine art skills in the Stage 2 Performance Camp in props and costume making workshops. Agnes is continuing on in her role as the Administrative Assistant for Stage 2 this summer.

Myekah Payne - Stage 2 Performance Camp Junior Music Instructor

Myekah is excited about returning to Stage 2 this year and returning to her position as the Junior Music Instructor. She is a graduate of the St. Clair College for Musical Theatre. Having honed her skills in becoming a triple threat (singer, dancer, actor) Myekah has been heavily involved in theatre since she was a child and has had lead roles in Leader of the Pack, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hair, and Carousel. Myekah has also sung in numerous jazz ensembles and is an alumnus of the Brantford Children’s Chorus. Most recently she worked as the solo/duet director for BCI’s spring production "99".

Adam Pontefract - Stage 2 Performance Camp Associate Music Instructor

Adam joins the Stage 2 team this year eager to share his vast knowledge and experience in teaching music. He holds a diploma in classical voice from Mohawk College and recently graduated in the Bachelors of Music Honours program at McMaster University. He will be attending Memorial University in September to complete their Bachelors of Music Education program. Adam teaches private lessons in voice and piano at The Music Stand in Hamilton. He also started his own program called “Music with Adam” for children aged 2 to 3 years old. Adam has future ambitions of becoming a high school music teacher.

Alex Thompson - Stage 2 Performance Camp Junior Dance Instructor & Jitterbugs Guest Instructor

Alex is recently completed his first year at the Ontario College of Art & Design. He is also a graduate of Brantford Collegiate Institute where he was avidly involved in their drama, music, and dance programming. While in high school, Alex trained with Daniel Levinson from Rapier Wit and members of the Stratford Festival company for stage combat. He will be using these skills to work with both camps for fun stage tumbling and safe, non-contact fighting workshops. Most recently, Alex choreographed fight sequences in BCI’s productions of Oklahoma and Beauty and the Beast, where he also played the role of Lumiere.