Act One's team of instructors and camp counsellors combines a unique and positive blend of maturity and youth with a wide spectrum of experience in film, television and stage performance, production, writing and education. Many have been with the school for years. What all share is a passion for and commitment to drama and performance, 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 young performers.
What Act One's staff never lose sight of is our focus on helping our students disover drama, in all its forms, and how in return, it can help our students learn about themselves. Our goal is to aid students in opening up their 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 brings with him over thirty years of theatrical experience comprising over eighty 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.
Shelly Antony is a Dora nominated, classically trained actor who has 10 years of experience. He has an MFA in Acting from the New School for Drama in New York and has worked professionally in various theatres across Canada. His work has been seen on many prestigious stages in cities such as Stratford, Toronto and at the Shanghai International Film Festival among others.
Steve's a Toronto-based comedian and entertainer (improviser/writer/actor), trained extensively in improvisation through Second City and the Impatient Theatre Co. He's been a returning featured player at international comedy festivals (the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival, New York's Del Close Marathon, etc.) with several different groups.
Makenah is an actor, director, dancer, deviser and overall creator based in the GTA. She is currently in her fourth year wrapping up her studies in devised theatre.
Chris is a graduate of Randolph Academy of Performing Arts, where he trained in their triple threat Musical Theatre program. Originally from Regina, he has performed with Saskatchewan Express for several seasons doing 9 tours with the company.
Diego O'Brien is a Venezuelan-born actor who moved to Canada eight years ago to pursue his passion for acting. He is a graduate of the Performance Acting program at TMU, where he trained with distinguished acting coaches, including Tim Welham, Paul De Jong, Jenniffer Wigmore, Cynthia Ashperger, and Marianne McIsaac. Diego has performed in original plays such as Enormity, The Earthquake in Her Lungs, and Click Bush Train Bug at Tarragon Theatre.
Eduardo is excited to be able to combine his passion for film making with his past experience coaching youth in a variety of subjects. He has been involved with a number of short films, serving in various capacities as producer, director, screenwriter and director of cinematography.
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.
Laurie started taking theatre classes at the age of six, becoming a commercial model and actress at eleven, and a member of ACTRA by fourteen. She trained at Bishop's University, where she won the University Prize in Drama and worked in Summer Stock in Québec City and Festival Lennoxville.
A former National Champion cheerleading coach prior to turning to acting, Chanel has trained and performed in Trinidad, London, England and Moscow, Russia.
Seeara Lindsay is returning for their fourth year with Act one. Seeara is an actor, writer, and recent graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. Over the course of their training they had the chance to play roles such as Antigone in Antigonick, Phoebe and Duke Frederick in As You Like It, The Witch and the Porter in Macbeth to name a few.
Chris is back for his fifth year as camp dirctor for Act One's theatre summer programs. Chris is a graduate of Randolph Academy of Performing Arts, where he trained in their triple threat Musical Theatre program. Originally from Regina, he performed with Saskatchewan Express touing company for several seasons.
Seeara Lindsay is returning for their fourth year with Act one. Seeara is an actor, writer, and recent graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. Over the course of their training they had the chance to play roles such as Antigone in Antigonick, Phoebe and Duke Frederick in As You Like It, The Witch and the Porter in Macbeth to name a few.
Stormi was a long-time student at Act One, with her main focus being the Improvisation program. Since then her focus has with film, where she has been involved with directing, writing, editing and acting. Stage appearances include roles in The Little Mermaid and Annie, among others.
Coming soon........
Mark's main bio can be found above in the teaching Staff section. For the summer camps, he lends his many years of experience in drama to help the students realize the stories they want to create through the film medium.
Steve's full bio can be found above in the Classes section, as in addition to teaching Improv at the summer camp sessions, Steve also run't the school's regular Improvisation program. This marks Steve's fifth year presenting Improv workshops for the older campers.
Information to be posted in February 2025
Information to be posted in February 2025.
Information to be posted in February 2025.
Information to be posted in February 2025.