David Nairn

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

David is very excited to be in his 18th Season as Artistic Director of Theatre Orangeville. Some of his most recent directing credits at Theatre Orangeville include: Stag and Doe, Mending Fences, The Gift of the Magi, Baco Noir, Norman Bray in the Performance of His Life, Everything I Love About Christmas, Queen Milli of Galt, Elvis and Mavis, The Numbers Game, A Snow White Christmas, A Gift To Last, Sketching Sunshine, Team on the Hill, Menopositive - The Musical, Ned Durango - The Musical, Sexy Laundry, Step Right Up, 18 Wheels, A Christmas Story, Old Love and On A First Name Basis. David is a proud recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for volunteerism in our community. David is very proud and honoured to be able to continue to present artists and technicians of such exceptional world-class calibre here on the stage of YOUR theatre!

Kristen Da Silva

ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Kristen Da Silva is a professional playwright and actor. She was the recipient of the 2016 Stage West Pechet Family Comedy Award for Gibson & Sons, which she was also short-listed for in 2017 for Sugar Road. Her work has been produced at Theatre Orangeville, Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Port Stanley Festival Theatre, and August Theatre Co, as well as a number of community theatres in Canada and the United States. She recently finished first drafts for two new plays, Hurry Hard, which was commissioned by Lighthouse Festival Theatre and Where You Are. She lives in Oakville, Ontario with her husband and three children and is currently working on her eighth play, yet to be titled. kristendasilva.com 

Michelle Grierson

ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Michelle Grierson has been an ARTS educator with the Upper Grand District School Board for over 23 years, teaching grades 9 - 12, with a focus in Visual Art, Drama, Dance and Special Education. Currently, she is Department Head of Fine Arts at ODSS, designing a 4 credit Arts package for gr. 11 students that will partner with Theatre Orangeville in 2019. She has choreographed and directed over 40 shows, each one a collective student creation of original works. She has travelled extensively over the years, from Amsterdam to Kathmandu to Cambodia, including her most recent trek with her son to Norway and Iceland. Her education, special interests and passions include: modern dance, jazz, ballet, aerial circus, improvisation, Expressive Arts therapy, creative fiction writing, painting/ drawing, travelling and yoga. Her biggest inspiration and reason for being is her 9 year old son, Taras, who continues to remind her how much fun life can be. 

Dennis Hahn

T.O.Y.S. DIRECTOR

Mr. Hahn teaches music to grades 3 to 8 at the Orangeville Christian School. He is a gifted and highly qualified musician who is well known for his ability to motivate students to sing and to play musical instruments. Besides his educational career, he is also a passionate musician outside the school doors and is involved in multiple local bands including keyboardist for The Campfire Poets.

Amy Kieckenben

T.O.Y.S. DIRECTOR

Amy is thrilled to join Dennis as co-director of the T.O.Y.S. choir. Leading T.O.Y.S.  gives Amy the opportunity to showcase her creative talents and eye for detail. She brings a strong ability to identify and foster the individual talents of each child and helps them build the self-confidence needed to express themselves through music and movement. Amy has always had a passion for working with children and youth and takes great pride in watching them grow throughout the year.

Jane Lanktree

ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Jane Lanktree is thrilled to be returning back to one of her favourite theatres. From being involved in the T.O.Y.S. choir to many summers in Young Company, Jane has grown up on many of the programs offered by Theatre Orangeville. Jane has performed in a variety of plays such as Lysistrata, Guys and Dolls, and It’s Christmas Carol. She has also juggled many roles in the theatre world such as director, choreographer, box office manager, and set designer. Jane taught drama to intermediate students in the Ottawa Catholic School Board, and has designed specialized theatre programs for drama students at the Ottawa Little Theatre. A graduate from York University, Jane has a double major in Drama studies and History, as well as her Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa.

Chandra Pepper

T.O.E.P. DIRECTOR

Chandra Pepper is an accomplished award-winning actress, improviser, director and educator. Chandra has strong backgrounds in musical theatre, improv, and Shakespeare. Her dance training consists of ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, tap, and African. Chandra has been teaching theatre for over 18 years and loves to watch both the young and old discover their hidden talents in bringing to life characters through spoken word, stories, song or dance. As a founding member of 4 Corners Theatre, Chandra has performed and taught improv, and is a long standing member of Blackhorse Village Players. Chandra has been teaching for many years and co-developed The Small Stages Theatre Experience offering the opportunity to explore theatre as a tool for self-discovery for kids, adults and businesses.

Gary Sarazin

ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Gary Sarazin has directed 45 "Big Shows" for Theatre Orangeville, as well as many for schools he worked at in Peel and Upper Grand. These shows are always creative and are designed to make each child a "star!". Gary has been developing and enhancing different approaches to Drama since he worked at Mayfield High School.

He has worked for Theatre Orangeville for eight years. Each show is an original. He also initiated the concept of using trained student leaders to support the students, thus reducing the ratio of students and leaders to 6:1.

Gary sees Drama as a life skill, as it helps each child in their confidence and expression.

He has presented Drama workshops to Upper Grand teachers on different occasions to help them find ways to enhance curriculum and incorporate drama, and to design presentations that support integrated subject matter.

Gary returns to us after teaching experiences in Dubai and Ho Chi Minh City.

Cadence Allen

ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Cadence Allen acquired her BA in Theatre Studies from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, and then went on to complete the two year acting conservatory program at the Neighbourhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. She has spent several summers as an actor with Shakespeare by the Sea in Halifax and was most recently seen on stage at Theatre Aquarius in their Studio Season.  Some of Cadence's television credits include Murder In Paradise,Miracles: Decoded, Close Encounters and coming up next Canada: The Story of Us. She has also been featured as a voice actress. She directed the Hamilton Fringe Festival production of Much Ado About Nothing last year, which took home Best of Fringe honours.  And most recently directed Jessica Anderson's A Terminal Journey in the HamilTEN Festival. In addition to her work as an actor & director, Cadence is the founder & principal of StageCoach Theatre Arts, a part-time performing arts school for kids ages 4-16 in Toronto's East End. 

Colin Simmons

ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Colin Simmons is a Canadian actor, singer, composer, and creator. A natural performer, he landed the lead role of Ralphie in A Christmas Story at Theatre Orangeville at the age of 11 and has never looked back. Colin has been an active member of the community, both on and offstage. Starting as an acting coach for the Young Company, he began Assistant Directing in 2012. In the summer of 2013, Colin created and directed two drama programs: Creative Caboodle, a five-day introduction to drama for children aged 7-11, and Drama Intensive, a challenging two week program exploring advanced acting techniques for teens aged 12-17. In 2014, Colin made his directorial debut with Romeo & Juliet. Colin holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Theatre Performance from Sheridan Institute.

Ian Walsh

STAGE COMBAT DIRECTOR

Over the years, Ian has gained a wide range of experience in theatre, film and television. His qualifications include a B.A. in theatre from the University of Windsor, where he was advised by guest artist F. Braun McAsh (Highlander:  The Series, Endgame).  He has also studied under various Fight Instructors, Directors and Masters through Fight Directors Canada and other Fight Associations from around the world.   He has also taught workshops for students of all ages throughout southern Ontario. In 2004, Ian started, Blackthorn Productions, specializing in medieval shows/feasts, public demonstrations and education. As well as serving as Fight Director in a number of productions, Ian has taken the role of Fight Director for the Theatre Orangeville Young Company and been the Stage Combat Program Director for the Centauri Summer Arts Camp.