• BrandYOU with Talent Agent Pamela Wise
• Contemporary Costume Design
• Creative Writing, Feedback, & Community-Building
• For Real. Who am I?
• Get on your Feet with Shakespeare
• HOME WRECKONOMICS: Knuckle Sandwiches Onstage
• Improv for Shy People
• Intro to Collaborative Sound Design
• Intro to Musical Improv

• Intro to Stage Lighting Design
• Monologue Auditioning for Theatre
• Musical Theatre Choreography
• Musical Theatre Songwork
• Place and Presence
• Set Design
• Spoken Word & Performance
• The Art of Water Activated Makeup
• The Magic of Props

BrandYOU with Talent Agent Pamela Wise

Pamela Wise

Discover your authentic brand & archetype range! Each student will receive personalized feedback on their primary and secondary brands on what makes them unique & marketable in commercial auditions & lifestyle print.

Pamela Wise is a film industry local legend with a 30 year career as a talent agent & brand mentor to creatives in both acting & business communities.

Participants To Bring: voice memo on your phone to record your personalized brand session

Contemporary Costume Design

Alexa Fraser

Working with an excerpt from a contemporary script, Alexa will take you through the traditional steps from initial reads to measuring to creating and notating your concept. Come think outside the box of dressing for stage and push yourself to create something spectacular!

Alexa Fraser is a performer, director, designer, producer and facilitator who creates and lives on the unceded and occupied territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations colonially known as “Vancouver, British Columbia”. They are co-founder of theatrecorps, a design based contemporary theatre company with Matthew Winter. Alexa is a self-identified plus sized queer artist and proud performer, producer and historian within “Vancouver’s” burlesque and cabaret scenes. They are a graduate of Simon Fraser School for the Contemporary Arts, holding a BFA in Theatre Performance (2018). Recent theatre work includes: Divine Figures (Neworld Theatre, 2023), Blood Wedding: A Trans Fantasia (Angelica Schwatz, 2023), sᴜᴘᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ Pop III ꧂°¤,¸.•*☆ (Jarin Schexnider, 2023), Archive (The Darlings, 2023), Gestural Symphony No.1 (theatrecorps, 2022), Are You Watching? (Eve Middleton- Meyer, 2021), New Societies (Summerworks, In The Soil, Kick & Push, rEvolver, SFU SCA 2019-2023), Juicy Gems (2021), Richmond Maritime Festival Featured Storyteller (2020), The Democratic Set (Back to Back Theatre, PuSh Festival 2020), These Violent Delights (Cole Lewis, SummerWorks Festival, 2017). Alexa’s other interests reside in researching and sharing “Vancouver” nightlife history, as well as watching the sun set on the Salish Sea/Fraser River in their former neighborhood in “Richmond, B.C”.

Participants To Bring: Notepad, pen Measuring tape if you have one

Creative Writing, Feedback, & Community-Building

Veronique (V) West

Are you a creative writer interested in building community with other writers? In this workshop, we'll explore how writers can support each other by giving feedback on each other's work. We'll learn a meaningful, anti-oppressive approach to feedback, that treats each person as the expert on their own life and work. Then we'll practice what we've learned by doing a writing exercise, sharing our writing, and offering each other responses. You'll come away with some concrete tools for building supportive relationships with artistic peers.

Veronique/V (they/she) is a non-binary artist, arts worker, and disability advocate of Polish descent, based on stolen Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territories. Their practice draws from their lived experience of neurodivergence, madness, and chronic illness. As an artist, their projects explore how disability can reshape understandings of self, kin, and community. They have worked in various mediums, including performance, sound art, web-based art, and virtual reality. As an advocate, V contributes to disability-led consultation, education, community organizing, and peer support initiatives. When not doing art and disability related things, V can be found obsessing over various dark fantasy books, movies, tabletop games, and video games - most recently Baldur's Gate 3.

Participants To Bring: Notepad, pen Alternative writing device if that's more accessible for you (such as a laptop or tablet)

For Real. Who am I?

Raugi Yu

In this workshop we will cover a little bit of everything. Text Analysis, Character Development, staying internally Active while speaking text and auditioning. All through the tool of genuine curiosity from the heart and though the lens of, "Who am I?" as a person. The real. "Who am I?"

"Raugi Yu originally from Montreal, is a graduate of The Dome Theatre program at Dawson College and The BFA Acting program at UBC. He has acted in various theatres across Canada and the U.S. Moving seamlessly between stage and film. You may recognize him from roles in, Hurry Hard ( Chemainus Theatre Festival) Hurricane Mona(The Cultch) Bad Parent by Ins Choi, world premiere (vAct, PTE, Soulpepper) The Shoplifters, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time(Arts Club) Coriolanus (Bard On The Beach) The East Van Panto: Alice In Wonderland(Theatre Replacement/The Cultch). On screen you may remember Raugi from shows like, Mr. Young, jPod and Kung-Fu. Other film endeavours. Director for feature film Attic Trunk on Apple . Raugi is an instructor, private coach and mentor to many actors. His favourite teaching and learning tool is genuine curiosity from the heart and he is always curious about the, “Who am I?”"

Participants To Bring: Comfortable Clothing, "Notepad, pen", Water in a bottle

Get on your Feet with Shakespeare

Sara Vickruck

Tactile tools to working with Shakespeare monologues that will help the performer understand the text, and discover possible acting choices. We will use chairs, balls, balloons and who knows what else, to get up on our feet and bring the text to life.

"Sara Vickruck (They/Them) is an award winning queer, multi-disciplinary performer, host, musician, song writer, sound designer, and creator currently living on the unceded territories of the Halkomelem speaking peoples. They have worked both on screen, and on stage in many venues across the country for over 15 years. Sara is a Jessie Richardson and an Equity and Stage West Emerging Artist award winner. Much of Sara’s early acting training included working with Shakespeare. They have had the privilege of performing such roles as Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet (Bard on the Beach), and Don John and Dogberry from Much Ado About Nothing (Classic Chic Productions). Sara finds the technical requirements of acting Shakespeare to be one of the most rewarding acting challenges."

Participants To Bring: Comfortable Clothing, "Notepad, pen", A Shakespeare monologue you want to work with

HOME WRECKONOMICS: Knuckle Sandwiches Onstage

Robinson Wilson

An introduction to the concepts of stage combat, as outlined by the Society of American Fight Directors, Fight Directors Canada, and the Nordic Stage Fight Society. Students will learn punches, slaps, hairpulling, strangling and other exciting techniques of theatrical brawling, with the primary focus on safety and professional rehearsal practices.

Fight Director with over 100 production credits in theatre. Associate member of Fight Director Canada, Society of American Fight Directors, and the Nordic Stage Fight Society. International teaching experiences include workshops in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. Consultant work includes Bard on the Beach, Arctic Action Norway, and Actsafe BC, the professional governing body for workplace safety.

Participants To Bring: Comfortable Clothing

Improv for Shy People

JD Derbyshire

Improv skills aren't just for Theatresports anymore. Applied improv skills for life, acting and character development and writing out loud on your feet. Rediscover or reinvigorate your spontaneous imagination.

JD Derbyshire (they/them) is a West Coast-based comedian, actor, theatre maker, writer, and mad activist, whose work examines mental health, neurodiversity, queerness, and gender exploration. Derbyshire has toured Canada as a standup, comedian and solo performer; has written over 20 plays that have been produced by companies in Victoria, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver; and cohosts the mental health podcast Mad Practice. Their play, Certified, turns the audience into a mental health review board to determine Derbyshire sanity by the end of the show. Certified won two Jesse Richardson theatre awards in Vancouver for best script and the Critic’s Innovation Award. Their recently published

Participants To Bring: Comfortable Clothing, "Notepad, pen"

Intro to Collaborative Sound Design

MJ Coomber

In this introduction to sound design and composition workshop, participants will explore a broad range of engagement tools with an ear towards collaborative theatre production.

Mary Jane Coomber (they/them) is a collaborative music and sound artist who primarily works on the unceded, sovereign territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people. Recent collaborations: This is how we got here (Firehall), CHILD-ish (Pacific), Snow White (Carousel), Hurricane Mona (Touchstone), How Black Mothers Say I Love You (Frank), The Tempest (Studio 58), Division Infinity Saves The World! (Neworld), Rubaboo (Grand/Arts Club/Citadel), My Little Tomato (vAct/ZeeZee), Me Love Bingo (Arts Club), and In My Day (ZeeZee). Upcoming: Fat Joke (Neworld), Hamlet (Bard on the Beach). They are a member of ADC and graduate of the School of Contemporary Arts at SFU.

Participants To Bring: N/A

Intro to Musical Improv

Peter Abando

Start DramaFest together in this collaborative Musical Improv creation class. Be ready to move, sing and play!

When he's not teaching K-7 music in West Van, you’ll find Peter composing, improvising, directing, or performing music somewhere around Metro Vancouver. He's currently composing for two new Canadian musicals with local collaborators. Favourite productions include Something Rotten! and Matilda with TUTS, a special charity concert of Dear Evan Hansen with Laughing Matters Theatre, 9 to 5: The Musical at Capilano University, and the Ovation nominated 2019 Vancouver Fringe hit, Amélie, with West Moon Theatre. Peter has attended Chicago's Second City Training Center and frequently flies to the Broadway Teachers Workshops in New York City. Upcoming: Mary Poppins with RCMT!

Participants To Bring: Comfortable Clothing

Intro to Stage Lighting Design

Alan Brodie

Lighting designer and educator Alan Brodie will preset an overview of the principals and tools used in imagining and implementing creative and effective lighting design for the stage.

Alan Brodie has spent 35 years as a lighting designer for theatre, opera and dance, working at home in Vancouver, across Canada and internationally. Key collaborators include Crystal Pite, Morris Panych, Ken Macdonald, Kim Collier, Glynis Leyshon and Michael Shamata, with companies that include Vancouver Playhouse, Arts Club Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Vancouver Opera, Ballet BC, Pacific Opera Victoria, Belfry Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Canadian Stage, Shaw Festival and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. He has been instrumental in a number of significant Canadian theatre productions, most notably "The Overcoat", which was born as a piece of movement theatre in 1997 and went on to become a film and an opera over a period of twenty years. He has been recognized with numerous awards for lighting design both at home and in the USA. Now calling Arts Umbrella in Vancouver home as Manager of Theatre Operations, Alan plays a central role in the recently launched Arts Umbrella Stagecraft program, which is available to students ages 13-19.

Participants To Bring: Notepad, pen

Monologue Auditioning for Theatre

Quelemia Sparrow

Learn how to make a lasting impression- This will be a hands on workshop where you will receive coaching on preparing and performing a monologue for general theatre auditions. We will workshop your audition monologue and by the end of class you will feel more confident in your auditioning process and will have a solid monologue to bring with you into your future.

Quelemia is an Indigenous actor, writer, director, dramaturge and consultant from the Musqueam Nation. She has worked across Canada for various theatre companies including: The Arts Club, Bard on the Beach, Globe Theatre, WCT and The Stratford Festival. Some of her acting Film and T.V credits include: Until Branches Bend, Motherland, Tribal, Clouds of Autumn, Blackstone, Cable Beach, Da Vinci’s City Hall and Da Vinci’s Inquest which she won a Leo Award for Best Female Guest Appearance. Quelemia’s most recent theatre acting credit is: Tartuffe, an Indigenous Misadventure, Arts Club Theatre. And her most recent theatre directing credits are: ‘White Girls in Moccasins’ for the frank theatre and Tartuffe for the Arts Club Theatre. She represented the Musqueam Nation during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympics and since then has continued to do Land Acknowledgements on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people. She facilitates workshops and does various consultations for the arts and corporate sector. Available to listen to now: A narrative podcast called Necessary Tomorrows, episode: ‘Almost Real’ on Al Jazeera English. Upcoming writing: A commission with Neworld theatre, the Arts Club and an upcoming writing workshop with Bard on the Beach.

Participants To Bring: A prepared monologue

Musical Theatre Choreography

Erika Babins

"When you can't speak it, sing it. When you can't sing it, dance it" This is what we're taught is the trajectory of a musical theatre song, when a character's truth and intention is too strong to simply speak, they burst into song, when that is no longer enough they simply must dance. Like Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain', the dancers of A Chorus Line, or the Ozians in Wicked, together we will learn the story and steps to a musical theatre song, melding acting and intention with the choreography. Suitable for all levels of dancers from two left feet to professional, scaling of steps will be offered

Erika is a director, choreographer, and educator based in Vancouver on unceded territory of the Musquem, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations. An avid dancer and actor from a young age, Erika completed her Diploma in Musical Theatre from Capilano University. Since then she’s worked on everything from large scale musicals, tiny indie tours, site specific theatre, webseries, and corporate galas across the province. As an Artistic Associate for Awkward Stage Productions, Erika directed Jasper in Deadland, choreographed Cry-Baby, Lift, and the award winning world premiere of TITUS: The Light and Delightful Musical Comedy of Titus Andronicus. Other favourite directing and choreography credits include [title of show] (First Impressions and Play on Words Theatre), Cinderella, Godspell, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Arts Umbrella) Erika is a firm believer that art is for everyone, and that everyone deserves to have their stories told. She loves being able to nurture the growth of young artists and empower them to advocate for themselves and the stories they want to see in the world.

Participants To Bring: Comfortable Clothing

Musical Theatre Songwork

Peter Abando

"Are you an actor struggling with a singing role, or an amazing singer searching to embody their character on stage? Performing in musical theatre can be really tough; and with songs, it's much more than just singing the right notes at the right time. Get a glimpse into the process of preparing, refining, and shaping a song for the stage; even try your hand at learning an excerpt for yourself, or just take notes - pun intended! This workshop offers practical strategies, tips and tricks; plus stories and examples gathered from productions and workshops from West Yorkshire to West Vancouver, suitable for both a brand new and the well-seasoned musical theatre performer."

When he's not teaching K-7 music in West Van, you’ll find Peter composing, improvising, directing, or performing music somewhere around Metro Vancouver. He's currently composing for two new Canadian musicals with local collaborators. Favourite productions include Something Rotten! and Matilda with TUTS, a special charity concert of Dear Evan Hansen with Laughing Matters Theatre, 9 to 5: The Musical at Capilano University, and the Ovation nominated 2019 Vancouver Fringe hit, Amélie, with West Moon Theatre. Peter has attended Chicago's Second City Training Center and frequently flies to the Broadway Teachers Workshops in New York City. Upcoming: Mary Poppins with RCMT!

Participants To Bring: Comfortable Clothing, "Notepad, pen"

Place and Presence

Andy Toth

You know that thing where sometimes some people are just thrilling to watch, and others... well... Using techniques derived from the work of Patsy Rodenburg, Robert Cohen, Michael Chekhov and others, actor/director Andy Toth will take participants beyond the words on the page, and demonstrate that ANYONE can have that undeniable, magnetic presence on stage, when the right tools are applied. Students will work in small groups to share a version of Shakespeare's Sonnet 23. Content note: the poem uses love as a significant motivator for speech. Participants should be willing to speak out loud in small groups using either the poem supplied or feel free to bring their own of less than one minute in length.

A graduate of New York's prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Andy has been directing, coaching, teaching and performing in Vancouver for 25 years. Local directing credits include The Fantasticks, Assassins, Oliver, West Side Story with the Chilliwack Academy of Music, and Anne of Green Gables for the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra. Andy also had the pleasure of directing the late Canadian Icon and CBC radio legend Jurgen Gothe in his hilarious wine show Up Your Glass… a wine entertainment. As a performer, local audiences may remember Andy as Edna in Hairspray at Theatre Under the Stars and the Arts Club, as Brian in Avenue Q for the Arts Club, and much more. Andy also has a thriving voice-over career having voiced hundreds of cartoons and commercials over the past 20 years. Andy is in demand as an adjudicator, workshop leader and coach for individuals and groups of professionals and community performers alike. He has been a guest speaker for auditions, courses and conferences at SFU, UBC, and Capilano University and businesses like RBC, FirstWest, and others. Andy also served as Musical Director for the smash hit production of Spring Awakening at Studio 58, and is the former Artistic Director of Awkward Stage Productions, a leading youth theatre production company.

Participants To Bring: Comfortable Clothing Notepad, pen Please be familiar with William Shakespeare's Sonnet 23 (https://nosweatshakespeare.com/sonnets/23/)

Set Design

Monica Emme

In this workshop, students will learn from a master set designer, who will share their wealth of knowledge and experience to inform and inspire the young theatre-maker in the exciting discipline of set design. Topics may include analyzing the script, conducting research, exploring and developing design concepts and communicating the design through the use of sketches, models, and drafting.

Monica is a fabricator, designer, and stage manager, with a special passion for creative collaborations especially in theatre space. Enthusiastically interdisciplinary, Monica has a passion for puppet creation, miniature paper projects, and slowly sewing up items of their personal wardrobe. Currently based in Vancouver, BC, Monica has wandering roots in Ontario, Alberta, Washington State, and Nova Scotia. They received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Ryerson University in 2012 and a Diploma is Performing Arts- Stagecraft from Douglas College in 2014.

Spoken Word & Performance

Adonis King

In this workshop we explore poetry as an embodiment of spirit! Blending theatre training with the dramatic lyricism of spoken word storytelling, participants will learn how to write and perform engaging poetic works fit for the Grand Slam and the Shakespearean stage.

"Critter King is a Black and non-binary spoken word poet, inter-disciplinary artist, theatre creator, and director, living and working on the unceded lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Their poetic stylings explore the mundane horrors of the everyday, revolution as habit that starts in the home, and the difficult choices we must make to liberate our futures. Critter was the 2016 Youth Poet Laureate of Victoria, the 2017 recipient of the VACCS Community recognition Award, and in 2020 they received the Witness Legacy Award for Social Purpose and Responsibility Through Art."

Participants To Bring: "Notepad, pen", whatever they prefer to write with.

The Art of Water Activated Makeup

Brynne Seward

Experience the magic of creating captivating and unique makeup looks with water activated Hydra Liners that will transport you into a world of imagination and fantasy. In this seminar, you'll learn techniques and tips for creating bold and dynamic makeup designs that will leave a lasting impression for all theatre fans. From intricate patterns to daring color combinations, this seminar will take your makeup skills to new heights and leave you feeling inspired and confident. Join us for an unforgettable journey into the world of avant-garde makeup artistry.

Brynne graduated from Blanch Macdonald’s Global Makeup Program in 2022, and is a Makeup and Hair artist in the TV and film industry with 3+ years of experience working on many films within the Vancouver indie film community. Brynne specializes in special effects makeup but enjoys all aspects of makeup from Beauty to Airbrush, Fantasy to Bridal. Outside of film, Brynne spends their free time with family and friends going on many outdoor adventures and even teaches line dancing lessons at the Roxy in Vancouver once a month.

Participants To Bring: SUVA kit from Festival Swag Bag

The Magic of Props

Caroline Alarie

Come and make some theatre props in this fun, hands-on workshop. We will tackle the fridge, creating fake food for the stage.

Caroline is a DIY expert born and raised in Montreal and earned diplomas in Fine Arts and Stage Craft from CEGEP Lionel-Groulx in Québec, where she worked on numerous television shows, concerts and stage plays. She also enjoyed a long career as an animator for popular children's tv series after receiving her diploma in 3D animation from Vancouver Film School. But she missed the hands-on work of Stage Craft, and returned to her career in theatre a few years ago.