Act One Teaching Staff

<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Act One Teaching Staff

Act One School of Drama in Pickering, Ontario provides training in acting for stage, film, music theatre Improvisation and more, including Theatre Summer Camps and a March Break Camp

Act One Drama Instructors

Act One's team of instructors combines a unique and positive blend of maturity and youth with a wide spectrum of experience in film, television, onstage performance, production, writing and education. Many have been with the school for years while some are recently new to Act One. What all share is a passion for and commitment to drama and theatre, along with a love of teaching. This special mix is what allows Act One to preserve its long-standing reputation as a positive and supportive learning environment for younger students while at the same time being able to expand its film and older student drama programs.

What Act One's staff never forget however, is that it is all about helping our students to learn about theatre and how drama can in return help them learn about themselves and open up many future opportunities, whether they be through pursuit of professional performance careers, applying the skills towards other occupations or just pursuing theatre for personal enjoyment and fullfilment. The staff's success at staying true to these principles is most evident in the large number of students who have been with the school for numerous years.

It has always been and will continue to be an honour and a priviledge to be given the opportunity and responsibility for helping a student discover what acting and drama can mean to them.

	Mark Nathanielsz Instructor Artistic Director Classes: Performance Class for ages 17-18 Adult Theatre for Ages 19+ A few words about Mark...... Mark brings with him over eighteen years of theatrical experience comprising over fifty productions as actor or director, with more than another forty in design or production capacities. Possessing a career highlighted by variety, his love has been theatre and its tremendous power of communication and discovery when creativity mixes with commitment and "reality" springs from the written page of a script. He is passionate about drama's ability to positively impact people and society not just through the stage and camera but in everyday life as well. Mark is also actively involved in supporting the GTA theatre scene, having served in many roles with the Association of Community Theatres - Central Ontario and as a director for the boards of both Theatre Ontario and Solar Stage Children's Theatre.
	Mike Woodbridge Instructor Classes: Adult Theatre for Ages 19+ Workshops: Just For Laughs: Acting For Comedy Mike has been a fixture on the Durham and Scarborough theatre scenes for many years. A regular performer at Herongate Barn and Class Act Dinner Theatres, not to mention numberous community theatre groups, Mike's performance and directing credits are numerous. Throughout it all, he has developed a mastery of the comedic theatre medium, whether in flat out farces or more sensitive romantic comedies. Equally experienced in the director's chair, Mike can provide multi-faceted perspectives on both comedic and more serious performance.
	Aaron Kyte Instructor Classes: Music Theatre for ages 7-10 Music Theatre for ages 11-13 Music Theatre for ages 14-18 A few words about Aaron...... Aaron Kyte is a Toronto-based actor/singer/dancer, originally from the East Coast, who now calls Toronto home. A graduate of both The University of New Brunswick and The Randolph Academy of the Performing Arts, Aaron recently completed a lengthy run in the title role of Disney's 'Aladdin.' Prior to that, he was featured in several music videos and played Linus in a Canadian tour of 'You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.' In addition to performing, Aaron has been writing and teaching for several years, the last three of which have been spent at Act One School of Drama. Keep your eyes open for Aaron as he plays Scottish con-artist Elliot Castro in the series 'On The Run' now airing on the Discover Channel
	Michelle Morrow Instructor / Vocal Coach Classes: Music Theatre for ages 7-10 Music Theatre for ages 11-13 Music Theatre for ages 14-18 A few words about Michelle...... Michelle grew up performing in community theatre. She went on to Queen’s University where she studied voice as well as percussion. While at Queen’s, Michelle was a vocal coach for both opera and musical theatre, along with playing in pit bands and orchestras. After Queen’s, Michelle studied at Randolph Academy, which also provided her with the opportunity to teach music theory after she graduated. Michelle has since worked with KidSafe Productions, where she toured schools in the GTA presenting shows about bullying and self esteem.
	Jackie Fleming Instructor Classes: Improvisation for Ages 12-13 Improvisation for Ages 14-18 A few words about Jackie...... Bio coming soon!
	Nicole Fairairnl Instructor Classes: Theatre for Ages 10-11 Theatre for Ages 12-13 Theatre for Ages 14-16 A few words about Nicole...... Nicole has twenty-five years experience as an actor. She has performed in over fifty plays and has also appeared on television, in commercials and independent films as well as many years working professionally in voice-overs. Originally from Vancouver, she graduated from the Douglas College Theatre Program and went on to form her own theatre company where she co-produced several shows. Since relocating to Toronto, she has been in several plays and short films and is currently working on her first feature film. In the past few years she began writing and is the Arts and Culture writer for www.TheSceneInTo.com. Nicole is excited to be sharing her passion for acting with the students of Act One.
	Lindsay Cockburn Instructor Classes: Theatre for Ages 8-9 Theatre for Ages 12-13 Theatre Basics for Ages 5-7 A few words about Lindsay...... Lindsay recently graduated from the Bachelor of Education program with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, with teachable subject in Dramatic Arts and English. She is a certified teacher with the Ontario College of Teachers. Prior to this, Lindsay completed her Honours Bachelor program in Dramatic Arts at the University of Guelph. Throughout her undergraduate career Lindsay studied Theatre History, Theatrical Stage Design, Dramaturgy & Playwriting, Site Specific Theatre, Technical Theatre Production, Costume Design, Directing, and of course, Acting. With this vast knowledge of her craft Lindsay’s stage management and directorial credits include: Sincerely Yours (U of G Ensemble 2010), A Zoo Story (U of G 409’s), and several productions with Uxbridge Youth Theatre including, Godspell, Back to the 80’s, Copacabana, High School Musical, Once Upon a Mattress and The Secret Garden. Lindsay is currently a local theatre artist in north Durham, and is excited to bring her knowledge and experience to Act One School of Drama.
	Nick Nasrallah Instructor Classes: Music Theatre for ages 7-10 Music Theatre for ages 11-13 Music Theatre for ages 14-18 A few words about Nick...... Nick is a graduate of Vancouver Film School's intensive Writing for Film and Television program, as well as Toronto's Randolph Academy for Performing Arts, where he trained in their musical theatre triple threat program. Originally from Ottawa, he spent several seasons performing with Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, North America's longest running community musical theatre group. His last role with Orpheus was as choreographer for their acclaimed production of Fame. In Toronto, Nick has spent the last four years touring with Little Red Theatre, and performing as an actor/singer/dancer/comedian at a variety of musicals and cabarets. He currently performs as Artie with Bounce Entertainment in their Glee Squad - a cover band of the TV show Glee.
	Mary Krohnert Instructor Classes: Acting on Camera for ages 11-13 Acting on Camera for ages 14-18 A few words about Tom...... Mary Krohnert is an actor based out of Oshawa, Ontario. A graduate of Ryerson University’s Theatre School Mary has acted in a diverse array of award winning theatre, commercials, film and TV productions, regularly receiving mentions as Outstanding Performer from the critics of NOW magazine and garnering a Dora Nomination for best actress. As an artist dedicated to community outreach she has worked with young children as a member of Performers for Literacy, taught drama and mask making to inner-city youth through the City and the University of Toronto, directed teens in workshops for R.H. Thompson’s ShakespeareWorks, and initiated an expressive arts workshop for homeless young adults in transition at the YMCA House in Toronto. While working at the Y-House, she was nominated for the YMCA Volunteer of the Year Award. Selected film and television credits include: Flashpoint (CBS/CTV), Little Mosque on the Prairie (CBC), MayDay (Discovery Channel), The Untitled Work of Paul Shepard (Industry Works), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Miramax), and Bruce McDonald’s Fort Goof (Bravo). Selected theatre includes: Romeo & Juliet (ShakespeareWorks), Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love (Buddies in Bad Times), Having Hope at Home (Blythe Festival), and The Miracle Worker (Young Peoples Theatre).
	Alison Barber Instructor Classes: Theatre for Ages 10-11 Theatre for Ages 8-9 Theatre Basics for Ages 5-7 A few words about Alison...... Alison Barber is a Toronto-based actor, playwright, and children's author. She graduated with honours from Humber College's Theatre Performance Program where she received the James Wilson Art for Arts Sake Award, the President’s Letter Award and the Academic Award of Excellence. Her past theatre credits include Juliet in Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) (Festival Players of Prince Edward County), Sissy in This is a Play (Belleville Theatre Guild), Stanley in Elizabeth Rex (Festival Players of Prince Edward County), Brooke in Noises Off (Belleville Summer Theatre) and Pisano in Cymbeline (Victoria Shakespeare Society). Alison authored the award-winning picture book The Little Green Pea which was selected as a finalist for the 2009 National Best Book Awards and received honorable mention from The Chicago Book Clinic Annual Awards. When she is not writing or acting, Alison actively visits schools across Ontario promoting literacy. Alison is excited to be teaching at Act One Drama School and is grateful for the opportunity to continue fostering a love for the arts.