Summer Theatre Program - Stage 2 Staff 2011

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.  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.  Last fall, she directed Theatre Ancaster’s Beauty and the Beast while overseeing the Stage 2 and Stage 3 youth programs of the company. She is the proud mother of three children, all who have participated in our theatre programs. 

Krista is returning for her seventh summer as Head Instructor at Stage 2. Krista has been involved with Theatre Ancaster for the past eighteen years, both on-stage and behind the scenes, including launching the very successful Stage 2 Saturdays Skill Builders and Broadway programs. Krista is the proud owner of Avalon Music Academy in Ancaster, where she has taught private voice, drama and piano lessons for the past seven years. Krista has completed her Bachelor of Arts at Redeemer University, with a double major in Theatre Arts and Music. She also holds a diploma in Musical Theatre from the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, where she received training in voice, dance, and drama from top industry professionals. Having performed in over 2 dozen shows, Krista is still actively involved in community musical theatre, most recently appearing in Theatre Ancaster’s production of Country. Krista is very excited to be a part of Stage 2 again this summer and can’t wait to share her love of the stage with your children.

Agnes rejoins the Stage 2 team this summer after successfully acting as Properties Master and Set Designer for the Stage 2 Saturday’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. She also headed up our props department this past fall for our main stage production The Wizard of Oz. Never a moment to rest, she also took on the role of set designer for Brantford Collegiate’s production of Grease earlier this year. Agnes 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 for her third summer at Jitterbugs camp. Agnes is continuing on in her role as the Administrative Assistant for Stage 2 this summer. When she is not busy answering parent emails, taking in registrations, or gathering up props for a show, Agnes makes custom order cakes and costumes which you can check out at www.agnesmakes.com.

Janelle Beatty - Dance Associate

Janelle is excited to be the Associate Dance Instructor of the Stage 2 team this year.  Janelle lives, breathes, and absolutely loves to dance. She has trained, both recreationally and competitively, in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, lyrical, musical theatre, contemporary and hip hop. She also studied dance at her high school Brantford Colligate Institute, where upon graduation she was presented with the Proficiency in Year Four Dance award to acknowledge her top marks and high level of commitment to the dance program.  Janelle was featured as a Principal Dancer at the “Dance For It” benefit gala in Toronto and has won a wide variety of awards and scholarships throughout her dance career. Janelle represented Canada at the IDO World Championships, as a part of The Canadian National Dance Team and is currently an instructor and choreographer at Lisa Naves Dance Company in Simcoe. Janelle has taught at several local elementary & high schools and has choreographed musicals for high schools, dance pieces for various functions, competitive numbers, and several recital pieces. Janelle is thrilled to be able to share her experience with your children this summer.

Alex Thompson - Dance Junior

Alex is a third-year student in the printmaking program at the Ontario College of Art and Design University. He also has several musical theatre shows under his belt, along with stage combat experience with Daniel Levinson of Rapier Wit and members of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. He is thoroughly looking forward to an awesome summer of theatre camp! He has an avid interest in the arts, and those wishing to see his work in the visual realm can visit www.skudscondiments.blogspot.com to see more.

Adam Pontefract - Music Associate

Adam returns to our Stage 2 program this summer as our Associate Music Instructor. He holds a diploma in classical voice from Mohawk College and a Bachelors of Music Honours program at McMaster University. He will be completing Memorial University of Newfoundland's Bachelor of Music Education degree in September. Adam has been teaching private music lessons in voice, piano and guitar in the Hamilton area for the past four years.  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 music teacher for children from Kindergarten through to high-school. He has 15 years of experience learning and performing music and looks forward to sharing this with your kids this summer.

Emma Greve - Music Junior

Having been a camper, a volunteer and a Jitterbugs junior music instructor with Theater Ancaster Stage 2 Summer Camps, Emma is very excited to be joining the Stage 2 team! She brings ten years of classical voice, piano, and music theory experience to this summer’s program. An enthusiastic team member, Emma is part of her school’s orchestra, band, choir, and music council. This year, Emma completed a successful Co-op placement with Opera Hamilton. She is very much looking forward to meeting this year’s talented summer campers!

Erin Faul - Drama Associate

We are excited to have Erin Faul return to our Stage 2 program once again this summer.  Teaching last year as the Associate Drama Instructor, Erin is back again for her third summer heading up our drama program.  Erin has just finished her undergraduate studies at Redeemer University 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 worked as the Assistant Director for Stage 2 Saturdays’ productions of Willy Wonka Jr.  and Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.  Erin is very excited to be working with the Stage 2 crew once again and looks forward to meeting all the aspiring stars that will take the stage this summer! 

Derek Lyne - Drama Junior

After a two year hiatus from Stage2, Derek returns this summer as the Junior Drama Instructor because he just loves camp so much!  Derek has been working in summer camps and with youth groups for the past ten years including; Assistant Director at Ryerson Camp, Associate Drama Instructor at Stage2, Program Director at Cave Springs Camp, and Youth Leader at churches in Hamilton and Cayuga. While he enjoys singing and dancing, his favourite thing ever is DRAMA! Derek can’t wait to get to know your kids this summer!

Laura Bottrell - Drama Junior

Laura is very excited to be back for her fifth summer, having worked with both the Jitterbugs and now Stage2 programs. Laura grew up performing in dance and theatre. She now works with Theatre Ancaster as a Stage Manager for recent productions including The Wizard of Oz, where she also worked with munchkin chorus as the Youth Coordinator. Laura is an instructor with Stage2 Saturday’s Skill Builders and Stage3 Young Company during the year. As a student teacher at Holy Name of Mary School, Laura founded and directed a Drama Club for primary students. She is currently pursuing a BA in Early Childhood/Youth Studies with Mohawk College and Wilfred Laurier University.