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MEET THE THEATRE SCHOOL FACULTY
At StoryBook Theatre, we have an incredible faculty of kind, qualified, and experienced Teachers and Teaching Assistants who are passionate about sharing their love of theatre with our Theatre School students!
JUMP TO A SECTION TO MEET THE TEAM:
MEET THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR
CRISTINA LANZ (she/her)
Position: Theatre School Program Coordinator
At SBT Since: 2021
Favourite thing about working with SBT Theatre School:
"Being able to offer accessible programs to students from all walks of life. I love seeing the students shine when they perform and I think that the community that grows as students build friendships, discover their love of theatre, and find a home at SBT where they can be themselves is really special."
About Cristina:
Cristina has been the Theatre School Program Coordinator at StoryBook since July 2021. Before that, she taught Summer Theatre Camps at StoryBook Theatre in 2017 and 2018 and Summer ActUp! online in 2020. Cristina is passionate about creating opportunities for accessible arts education for students of all backgrounds. She has over a decade of teaching experience in music and drama and she has taught students ages 3 to adult in private voice and piano, theatre camps, and drama classes with companies in Calgary and Okotoks, and with Little Opera in San Francisco. As a performer herself, Cristina has performed in opera, theatre, and musical theatre productions across a variety of musical genres including Baroque, operetta, and contemporary music. Cristina holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto and a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory in addition to a Diploma in Theatre Performance from Mount Royal University. Cristina regularly performs as a member of the Calgary Opera Chorus as well as with other local companies such as the Firebird Symphony & Chorus and Calgary Concert Opera.
MEET THE TEACHERS
CLAIRE BOOTHE (she/her)
Position: Teacher
At SBT Since: Fall 2023
Classes working with: Acting I for Young People
Favourite play or musical:
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Dream Role:
Mrs. Hannigan in Annie
About Claire:
Claire is a bright new addition to Storybook Theatre! Her love of theatre was sparked as a child, singing and performing since she was little. She always knew she wanted a career in performance and graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree with Honoursfrom the University of Winnipeg, specializing in Devised Theatre, a form of creating your own performance art. She has worked with children in a number of different settings, from children’s theatre and television, to nannying. When she’s not performing, she is a photographer, animal and nature-lover, and loves to cook! Claire loves the creativity and imagination that theatre inspires in children and can’t wait to connect with her class!
DANELLE WHITE (she/her)
Position: Teacher
At SBT Since: Summer 2023
Classes working with: Acting for Kids
Dream role to play:
Rapunzel!
Favourite play or musical:
Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon
About Danelle:
Danelle White is ecstatic to be part of the Storybook Theatre School team. She has been working as a theatre educator for 6+ years and has worked with over 2000 students all over Alberta. While she holds a BFA in Drama from the School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Calgary- her degree is focused on Directing, Performance Creation and Acting. She cannot wait to inspire and encourage your young budding performers.
HILDA LEE (she/her)
Position: Voice Coach
At SBT Since: Spring 2023
Classes working with: Musical Theatre for Teens, Musical Theatre for Young People (Sundays)
About Hilda:
Hilda is so thrilled to be able to teach and join the fun working with amazing Teens and Young people for SBT for the Fall sessions again! Hilda’s music journey started at 7 years old when she received vocal training as a member of the renowned Hong Kong Children’s Choir (HKCC). She was selected to join an elite group within the choir to represent Hong Kong in various international music festivals and concerts, and from that she has gained countless valuable competition and performance experiences. As an established singer, Hilda is passionate about vocal health and voice science. In addition to her own vocal training, she studied Vocal Pedagogy for the Modern Voice Studio at Voice Study Centre in Suffolk, UK. Hilda focuses on coaching singers with different musical interests, levels of cognitive, emotional and musical ability. She is highly analytical in assessing the vocal needs of her students, and structures her lessons with the knowledge of voice anatomy and physiology, acoustics, and perception to formulate a reasonable plan for voice development. She takes pride in helping students to reach their goals, creating a learning environment that fosters acceptance, and building students’ confidence to showcase an appealing stage presence. Besides teaching, Hilda enjoys being a performing artist and is actively involved in local music events and online music platforms. While her passion lies within musical theatre and classical art songs, she has broadened her singing style to include pop and jazz music.
KATIE MCMILLAN (she/her)
Position: Music Director/Voice Coach
At SBT Since: 2022
Classes working with: Spotlight for Teens
Favourite thing about Theatre School at SBT:
"The AMAZING STUDENTS!!!"
Album or song on repeat right now:
"Sara bareilles: Amidst the chaos
About Katie:
Katie is so excited to be back for another season of Theatre School! She participated as a student in the first year of SSIP back in 2014, and is so grateful to now share all of the tips and tricks she’s learned from her teachers over the years. Katie is a professional actor, specializing in musical theatre, last seen in Margheritaville at Theatre Calgary. When not performing, Katie is a voice and piano teacher, where she gets to share her love of music!
LORI GOODS (she/her)
Position: Teacher
At SBT Since: 2016
Classes working with: Musical Theatre for Kids (Saturday & Sunday)
Favourite thing about Theatre School at SBT:
"The amazing students that bring their incredible enthusiasm and creativity to our classes as well as the inclusive, safe and creative teaching environment that Storybook Theatre fosters."
Album or song on repeat right now:
"Three Little Birds" cover from the Shark Tale Movie Soundtrack!!
About Lori:
Native Calgarian Lori Goods discovered her love of dance, theatre and performing at a young age and trained in a wide number of dance disciplines from childhood right through university, completing top level exams, competing locally as well as internationally and seizing any performance opportunity she could!
Alongside her dance training, Lori also trained in theatre and voice from a young age and always felt a particular connection with musical theatre as an art form and the MAGIC that occurs onstage when dance, theatre and singing are combined.
Lori's love of the arts and performing led to a twenty year career teaching dance in the city of Calgary which has also ignited other, related passions, of teaching drama and musical theatre to Calgary youth, obtaining her Early Learning and Childcare diploma and, most recently, completing her Bachelors of Education Degree.
Lori is thrilled to be back teaching Musical Theatre for Kids at Storybook this session and is looking forward to meeting all her new and returning students and making some musical theatre MAGIC once again!!!
MARLEA van GRINSVEN (she/her)
Position: Choreographer/Dance Coach
At SBT Since: 2022
Classes working with: Spotlight for Young People
The thing Marlea is most excited about in the upcoming session:
"Working on one of my favourite musicals - The Addams Family!"
About Marlea:
Marlea is so excited to be joining Storybook Theatre for her second Youth Theatre Program. She has a diversified background within the arts. She is a member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance, as well as certified through the Progressing Ballet Technique program and holds a teaching certification in Tap and Modern through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. She has trained in multiple genres such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and lyrical. Marlea has grown her passion for dance through teaching syllabus and technique to dancers age three to adult in various styles.
Marlea has also choreographed and directed youth plays for local theatre companies and productions in Calgary, AB. She has been featured as a choreographer and film director in two film festivals showcased throughout Alberta and still performs herself with cultural wedding groups. Marlea helps share her love and passion of the arts by working as a teacher and choreographer around the Calgary area with the school systems, community centres and dance studios to ensure that dance is being brought to as many individuals as possible. . She is looking forward to be able to share her love and passion for dance and help inspire and shape these minds and bodies to reach their full potential and be creative through movement.
MEGAN BALDREY (she/her)
Position: Director/Acting Coach
At SBT Since: 2021
Classes working with: Spotlight for Teens
Megan's favourite thing about the Theatre School at SBT:
"The community!"
Favourite play or musical:
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
About Megan:
Megan Baldrey is multi-passionate artist based out of Calgary, Alberta (Mohkinstsis). An honours' graduate from Mount Royal University's Theatre Performance Program, Megan works as a professional voice actor by day and a playwright, arts educator, theatre, film and television actor by... later that same day probably! She's got a lot on the go, but is thrilled to be returning to Storybook this season to direct Spotlight for Teens. If she's not in the theatre, you can usually find her doing yoga, enjoying an iced coffee and petting cats - but probably not all three at the same time.
SHAYLA FIVELAND (she/her)
Position: Music Director/Vocal Coach
At SBT Since: 2022
Classes working with: Spotlight for Young People, Musical Theatre for Teens
Song or album on repeat right now:
Every single Taylor Swift Era
The thing Shayla is most excited about in the upcoming session:
"The Addams Family spotlight, and getting to meet all the lovely students!"
About Shayla:
Shayla is so excited to be back teaching again this fall! She has always been passionate about sharing her love for theatre with young artists, and is so grateful for every opportunity. After graduating from Randolph College for the Performing arts in Toronto, Shayla moved back to Alberta and began performing in both Edmonton and now Calgary. When not teaching at Storybook, Shayla is teaching private voice lessons and is currently in her second year at Bow Valley College for Disability Studies, where she is currently working on her studies to then become an advocate for performing arts accessibility. Shayla is so excited to meet all the wonderful students this fall!
SKYLAR DESJARDINS (any pronouns)
Position: Teacher
At SBT Since: Fall 2023 as a teacher, Season 45 & 46 as Technician
Classes working with: Intro to Technical Theatre
Favourite play or musical:
Beetlejuice
Album or song on repeat right now:
"Journey to the Past" from Anastasia
About Skylar:
Skylar is so excited to be returning to StoryBook as the Teacher for the Spotlight Behind the Scenes class. Skylar currently works as the Production Manager and Technical Director for LunchBox Theatre and previously worked as the Production Manager for StoryBook Theatre's 45th and 46th seasons. They have worked with such companies as Theatre Calgary, Ghost River Theatre, Theatre Junction, Handsome Alice Theatre, Vertigo Theatre, the Jack Singer, Theatre Jupiter, Old Trouts Puppet Workshop, and Swallow a Bicycle. They are a permittee with Iatse 212 and ADC 629. They hold a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Drama with distinction with a specialization in Design and Technical Theatre.
STEVEN CONDE (he/him)
Position: Director/Acting Coach
At SBT Since: 2022
Classes working with: Spotlight for Young People
Favourite play or musical:
The Band's Visit
Dream Role:
Javert in Les Miserables
About Steven:
Steven is an actor/director/drama teacher from Manila, Philippines. He has been in the professional theatre industry for over 20 years and has directed shows such as MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL, MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, WIT, SIDESHOW, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, etc. He has also acted in musicals such as WAITRESS, JERSEY BOYS, MATILDA THE MUSICAL, KINKY BOOTS, THE BAND'S VISIT, THE PRODUCERS, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, GHOST THE MUSICAL, SHREK, etc. His most recent directorial credits include assistant directing the Singapore and Manila production of SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, assistant directing Theatre Calgary's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and directing a production of A MONSTER CALLS for the University of Calgary. For StoryBook, he has worked on NEWSIES JR. with the Spotlight Teens class.
MEET THE TEACHING ASSISTANTS
ALEXANDRIA LEE (she/her)
Position: Teaching Assistant
At SBT Since: Winter 2023
Classes working with: Musical Theatre for Kids (Saturdays)
Album or song on repeat right now:
"Show yourself" from Frozen 2
Favourite thing about Theatre School at SBT:
"Meeting everyone and having fun!"
About Alexandria:
Alexandria is currently a high school student who loves musical theatre with all her heart! She has been with Storybook Theatre since she was 10 doing theatre school classes just like this. You may have seen her in Peter and the Starcatcher as Molly at Storybook Theatre. She hopes to provide children with the same joy she found doing Storybook classes as a child growing up. Cant wait to have so much fun!
ALLISON FUDGE (they/them)
Position: Teaching Assistant
At SBT Since: Summer 2023
Classes working with: Acting for Kids
Album or song on repeat right now:
Caroline Polachek's "Desire, I Want to Turn Into You"
Favourite thing about Theatre School at SBT:
"I think it's a really fun and inclusive environment! During the summer, I loved seeing every group's plays come together by the end of each week."
About Allison:
"I am a fourth year education student at Mount Royal with a minor in English. I had a great time working with Theatre School this summer & I'm excited to keep being a TA for the fall :)"
BRADY HILLMAN (he/him)
Position: Teaching Assistant
At SBT Since: Winter 2023
Classes working with: Intro to Technical Theatre
Favourite play or musical:
Wicked
The thing Brady is most excited about in the upcoming session:
"The brand new Spotlight: Behind The Scenes program!!
About Brady:
Brady is extremely thrilled to be returning to the Theatre School team this Fall for the new ‘Spotlight: Behind The Scenes’ program! Being a dedicated performer, leader, theater technician and stage manager, he is so grateful for this opportunity. Sharing the knowledge, skills and advice he’s acquired through working as a stage manager on various types of productions, he can’t wait to give the next generation of artists the backstage scoop, and support them in their shared passion for the arts. Select credits include: Honk!, Newsies, Ella Enchanted, Elf the Musical, The Lightning Thief, The Spongebob Musical (StoryBook Theatre), The Time Machinist (La Cirque de la Nuit/Jupiter Theatre), Into The Woods, Grease (About Time Productions), Ride The Cyclone (BrownCow Collective), We Are PR (Holy Fools Theatre) *CAT Award Nominee - Best Production of a Play. Brady is very much looking forward to witnessing the theater magic these young artists will make!
HAYLEY WALDENBERGER (she/her)
Position: Teaching Assistant
At SBT Since: Winter 2023
Classes working with: Musical Theatre for Young People (Saturdays)
Favourite play or musical:
Mamma Mia
Album or song on repeat right now:
"Daylight" by David Kushner
About Hayley:
Hayley has been with StoryBook for over a year and has enjoyed every minute of it from assistant stage managing for ELF the musical and for Peter and the Starcatcher. She also has enjoyed being a TA for the summer camps here at StoryBook and is so excited to TA this fall!
LESYA MARTIN (she/her)
Position: Teaching Assistant
At SBT Since: 2022
Classes working with: Musical Theatre for Teens
Favourite play or musical:
Kinky Boots
The thing Lesya is most excited about in the upcoming session:
"The kids and learning and helping"
About Lesya:
Lesya is a second year student in earlyhood childhood education and development. She has worked with the Musical Theatre for Teens class for over a year and she is excited about being a Teacher Assistant this year. She is happy to be helping the school early and hopes we have an fabulous fantastic year ahead!!
LESYA MARTIN (she/her)
Position: Teaching Assistant
At SBT Since: 2022
Classes working with: Musical Theatre for Teens
Favourite play or musical:
Kinky Boots
The thing Lesya is most excited about in the upcoming session:
"The kids and learning and helping"
About Lesya:
Lesya is a second year student in earlyhood childhood education and development. She has worked with the Musical Theatre for Teens class for over a year and she is excited about being a Teacher Assistant this year. She is happy to be helping the school early and hopes we have an fabulous fantastic year ahead!!
PEARL NKOMO (they/them)
Position: Teaching Assistant
At SBT Since: Summer 2023
Classes working with: Musical Theatre for Young People (Saturdays)
Favourite play or musical:
"My favourite musical is Hamilton, and my favourite play is Almost Maine!"
The thing Pearl is most excited about in the upcoming session:
"Getting to work with new students and meeting new teachers and teacher assistants! And making theatre magic!"
About Pearl:
Pearl Nkomo is a performer first, and a technician second. They have been involved with theatre since they were in grade 5. They were a student at Central Memorial High School in the PVA program and have since worked on shows in both community and professional theatre. Most recent credits include: The Yeomen of the Guard (Morpheus Theatre), Common Ground Festival (Pumphouse Theatre), and Pippin (Storybook Theatre). They are currently enrolled at SAIT in the journalism program and are set to graduate in June 2024!