OUR TEAM
DIRECTORS & ADMINISTRATION
NICK MILLER (he/him)
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & INSTRUCTOR
Nick Miller is an Ottawa-based performing arts instructor and performer. His passions include theatre, circus, musical theatre, and improvisation.
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He has taught and performed from coast to coast in Canada and has traveled abroad for many productions. Some highlights have been creating and touring An Amazon Odyssey (Neptune Theatre, Halifax, NS), Hansel and Gretel (Festival Antigonish, NS), The Ant and the Grasshopper Musical (Kaleidoscope Theatre, Victoria, BC), Red Kite Blue Sky (Ottawa School of Speech and Drama, Ottawa ON) and Yeomen of the Guard (Ottawa Savoy Society) for which he earned a best actor award from the Capital Critics Circle.
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He has a theatre degree from Brock University and has taken education courses from Roehampton University (UK). He paid for his education by performing as a professional busker and improviser. Over the years, he has performed his improv and busker shows for Montreal’s Just for Laughs, the Nanjing (China) Clown Festival, fringe festivals (Edinburgh, Edmonton), busker festivals (Halifax, Dundas, Ottawa, Kingston, Edmonton, Covet Gardens), and children’s festivals (London, Ottawa, Singapore).
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Over the years, Nick has truly enjoyed teaching and staging productions for young people, including courses and workshops for Ottawa Circus School, Dovercourt, City of Ottawa, Salamander Theatre, Ottawa School of Speech and Drama, the National Arts Centre, and the Circus Tent for the Ottawa Busker Festival. Other teaching credits include Neptune Theatre School, Kaleidoscope Theatre School, and London’s Circus Space. Nick is thrilled to be a part of the Ottawa Children’s Theatre community.
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AMANDA WEST LEWIS (she/her)
FOUNDER, ARTISTIC ADVISOR & INSTRUCTOR
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Amanda Lewis has directed and taught acting to children, youth and adults in theatres and schools throughout Ontario for over thirty years. Originally trained as an actor, she has a specialized background in movement, voice and language arts, and a particular interest in developing work that is by, for and about youth.
From 2003 – 2011, Amanda was the Executive Director of the Ottawa School of Speech & Drama (OSSD) where she created such projects as the “Our Stories Project” (acting for youth at risk); “The Red Kite Project” (performances for children on the autism spectrum); and “The Children’s Republic” (a co-production between OSSD & GCTC).
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Working with a team of respected theatre professionals, Amanda founded The Ottawa Children’s Theatre in 2013. In 2015, she co-produced the hit show “Up to Low” (with Easy Street Productions), and worked as a dramaturg on the show when it was re-mounted at the National Arts Centre in May 2018.
A published author of seven books for children, Amanda’s most recent novel, “The Pact” was listed on the 2017 USBBY List of Internationally Outstanding Books for Young People. She has a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Youth from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her new novel for young people, These Are Not the Words, will be published by Groundwood Books in 2022.
Amanda fundamentally believes in the power of arts education to change and enrich lives.
LAURA NEWTON MILLER (she/her)
Administrative Assistant
Laura has been a librarian at Carleton University for almost 20 years and is excited to join the OCT family. Besides her work in libraries, her previous work experience included Office Administrator for Neptune Theatre School and Communications Assistant for Nova Scotia Department of Health. She’s been involved in community theatre, musical productions, and choirs over the years. She currently sings with Cantiamo Women’s Choir and is a member of their Board of Directors.
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HEATHER MARIE CONNORS (she/her)
BOOKKEEPER & ADVISOR
Heather Marie Connors (aka HM) is a certified bookkeeper and registered tax professional. She has over 15 years experience working in administration, HR and financial management for non-profit arts organizations. In 2018 she started her own bookkeeping business, specializing in charities and small business, as well as HST and tax preparation for self-employed artists.
INSTRUCTORS
REBECCA BAUER (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Rebecca is a performer, theatre creator, and drama educator. She first discovered her love for performance while attending the Specialized Drama Program at Canterbury High School. Thereafter, she attended Concordia University’s Theatre Performance Program in Montreal (BFA, 2018). She has spent countless hours training vocally with Jonathan Patterson, earned her Basic Actor-Combatant certificate with Fight Directors Canada, and partook in a 2-week long Viewpoints/Suzuki intensive with SITI Company in New York City. Rebecca has performed locally and internationally at a range of venues, from Montreal’s Segal Centre, to Germany’s Figuren Theatre, and Toronto’s Hart House Theatre. She is passionate about creating inclusive, playful spaces where powerful storytelling can come to life.
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For more information, visit Rebecca’s website: https://rebeccabaueractor.com/
KODI CANNON (he/him)
INSTRUCTOR
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Kodi is an actor, singer dancer, director and teacher. He has a BA from The University of Ottawa specializing in Theatre, to which he graduated summa cum laude and received the faculty award for highest achievement. Kodi has performed with many professional and community theatres, such as Eddie May Murder Mysteries, Theatre Kraken, The Gladstone Theatre, Under The Pines Festival, Confidential Musical Theatre Project, Indie Women, Toto Too Theatre, Orpheus Musical Theatre Society and Zucchini Grotto. Past favourite roles include: Leo (The Producers, CCC Award), Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors), Robert (The Drowsy Chaperone), Brian (Avenue Q), Dr Madden (Next To Normal), Enoch (Carousel), Dalton (The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek), Bobby (Urinetown) and was part of the Dance Ensemble in Spamalot.
He directed The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for Indie Women Productions, and recently worked on The Last Five Years for Orpheus Theatre.
Kodi studied Musical Theatre and Classical voice with Yoriko Tannno and is a Kiwanis provincial champion. He has gone on to coach students in preparation for Kiwanis and auditions. Among his experiences with youth education, he developed a theatre camp program for Heritage College and has worked in coordinating and running youth events for the past several years.
NIKKI CARRIERE (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
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Nikki Carriere discovered her passion for the arts at the age of seven. Ballet was her first introduction to dance adding modern, jazz, tap and pointe. At the age of ten, Nikki began dancing competitively. Her dance and performance career included festivals, television productions, galas, and fashion shows. Nikki has had the pleasure of studying at the National Ballet of Canada, Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and the Dance Commons School of San Francisco and Peggy Baker Dance Company/ Dance Educators Intensive 2018. Nikki has also studied Early Childhood Education at Algonquin College and Art History and Photography at University of Ottawa.
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Nikki has instructed Pre-School Dance and Drama and Youth Drama at OSSD, the City of Ottawa, Teacher’s Assistant on the Drama Sensations and Program and Preschool and Youth Drama at OYPTS. She has been fortunate to have been a part of some great productions; such as, Red Kite/Blue Sky (Chicago Children’s Theatre on the Spectrum), Front of House Coordinator for The Walk (MoonDog Theatre), historical roles in the Beechwood Annual Historical Tours (2012-2017), Stage Manager OYPTS All Ages Plays ( Ritchcraft Theatre & Harold Shenkeman Theatre 2013-2016), Director/Designer Youth Drama Production 2012-2016 (Ritchcraft Theatre) , Stage Manger/Wrangler OIVA Awards 2015, and was the Assistant Coordinator for Nuit Blanche 2014-15( Arts Court),Kontunuum 2017(City of Ottawa) television /movie roles in Lifetime Channel MOW and Hit By Lighting starring Jon Cryer and Will Sasso. In addition, Nikki is a active member with the Ottawa Arts Council, Galerie SAW Gallery and the Ottawa Art Gallery. Nikki is very excited to be the part of the artistic team at Ottawa Children’s Theatre!
MAGAN CARTY (they/them)
Private Coach
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An actor, writer, theatre-maker and drama educator. They have performed professionally in every province across Canada, and most recently worked as a puppeteer for Nakai Theatre Ensemble in Whitehorse, Yukon. Magan has acted for the National Arts Centre English Theatre and is the founder of multi-award winning Ottawa theatre company Cart Before the Horse. They received their acting training from Studio 58 (Vancouver), One Yellow Rabbit (Calgary), The Movement Theatre Studio (NYC) and Arts Canterbury's Drama Program.
Magan has been working as a drama educator at The Ottawa Children's Theatre for five years now and absolutely adores it. When not onstage or in the rehearsal studios teaching others, Magan can be found adventuring outdoors, developing their portfolio as a journalist or hanging out with their twin black cats, Juno and Lenny.
Magan believes theatre is a powerful outlet to explore topics we are otherwise afraid to talk about. They strive to create a safe space where students can express themselves fully and grow into their most authentic and creative selves.
LEAH COGAN (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Leah Cogan is a trained actor and musician who has worked in performance, facilitation and arts education for over 13 years. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Brown University, received Musical Theatre training at Sheridan College, and is winner of CBC’s Canada’s Triple Sensation (2009). A nationally recognized talent, Leah has worked in New York City, Toronto, Halifax, Calgary, Ottawa, and Providence.
Leah now works as a performance coach in the Ottawa area, offering classes, workshops and one-on-one performance coaching in educational, community and corporate settings. She teaches Acting Skills, Musical Theatre Performance, and Presentation Skills to anyone with a passion for storytelling and a penchant for play. Her work combines a focus in physical storytelling, emotional authenticity, trust building, and arts literacy, with the goal of inspiring vocal, physical and imaginative freedom in her students.
She is pleased to be back in Ottawa (her hometown) to raise her family, and to take part in the creative growth happening in our capital city.
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AL CONNORS (he/him)
INSTRUCTOR
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Co-founder of Ottawa’s Canadian Comedy Award winning Crush Improv, AL’s worked with thousands of improvisers across Canada. As President of Canadian Improv Games, AL helped produce training materials and develop curriculum taught in schools from Coast to Coast across Canada. He also teaches improvisation for leaders as a part of the Telfer School of Management’s EMBA in Complex Project Leadership at uOttawa. As a member of a Company of Fools for 16 years, he directed them on many occasions, including twice at the GCTC. He believes that working in a group of folks with varied backgrounds and experiences is what maximizes the learning potential for everyone.
MICAH JONDEL DESHAZER (he/him)
INSTRUCTOR
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An actor, director, conductor, multi-instrumentalist and educator who hails from NYC. He has performed, taught and directed in NYC, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Madison, and Chicago for the last 11 years of his career. Much of his expertise is in music, where he studied voice specifically, but has also studied cello, saxophone, piano, guitar and baritone throughout his life. That love for music has quickly evolved into passion for storytelling and connection through live arts and is grateful to now be collaborating with this amazing team in Ottawa. (micahjondel.com)
Chelsey Fawcett (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Coming back from a hiatus, Chelsey is ecstatic to rejoin the OCT teaching roster to foster creativity and bring these classes to life. Chelsey is an award-winning director, with numerous credits to her name with projects across the country, the US, Australia and Europe. She works as a director, playwright, and actor for both theatre and television. She recently finished filming a TV series as a recurring character which will be available on streaming services in Winter 2025. She co-hosts the podcast Pen2Plot which is all about the craft of creative writing with co-host Keena Herman.
The majority of Chelsey's performance training is in physical theatre and Egyptian dance. She has performed and studied across the world with some of Egypt's most influential performers, infusing her craft with her actor training in the Grotowski style of physical theatre - bringing a unique training background where she encourages her students to focus on bodily presence and meaning through movement.
To finance her undergraduate degree, Chelsey was a camp counselor for children with disabilities, teaching drama and dance. Chelsey's approach to classes is not to teach, but to facilitate creativity, where students are learning from the experience of creating with each other under guidance to create a safe, creative learning space. Chelsey has been teaching theatre and writing to young adults throughout her career and is excited to continue teaching with OCT.
ALLISON GRAHAM (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Allison attended The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts (Los Angeles, California), where she spent two years studying theatre. Following graduation she was asked to join the Academy Company, and in collaboration with nine other actors, enjoyed a challenging and rewarding third year performing theatre. She finished her formal education at Pasadena City College, majoring in creative writing. This combination of schooling provided her with an Associate Degree in Theatre Arts, and has enabled her to strike a fine balance of working both in front of, and behind a camera.
Career highlights, as an actor, include: A Piece Of My Heart (Theatre), Look Back In Anger (Theatre), Rumours (TV Series), and The Line (TV Series).
Writing endeavors that bring her the most pride are: Caterpillar Soup (Children's Story), The Whistler Blower (Short Story), Scarlet Grace (Screenplay), and Welcome to Eagle Bend (TV Series).
KENNY HAYS (he/him)
INSTRUCTOR
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​Kenny is an award-winning singer-songwriter*, actor**, composer, music director and teacher. He released his first EP ‘Lightning…and Other Fears’ in 2022, and multiple singles since that time. Having performed on stage since he was five, his acting credits in Ottawa and abroad include the likes of Annie, Once Upon A Mattress, Clue: The Musical, Batboy! The Musical, A Flea In Her Ear (Capital Critics Circle Award Nomination, Best Actor), Skin Flick, Henry** (Nepean Little Theatre Award – Best Actor in a Leading Role), tick…tick…BOOM! (Broadway.com Award Nomination – Performer of the Decade), Prodigal Son, Crybaby: The Musical, The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe, and A Comedy of Tenors. While playing the part of Feste, he served as music director, score composer and band leader for Kanata Theatre’s most recent production of Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’, which led to his full-length album ‘Singin’ Away! Songs Inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night’, a collection of original folk songs and music set to Shakespeare’s own lyrics. Kenny is a private music instructor in Ottawa since 2010 (piano, singing, songwriting), he has served as drama camp counselor numerous times at Ottawa Little Theatre, and he is creator and head councillor of Write On! A Singer-Songwriter Camp in the summer of 2023 at Orpheus Musical Theatre. He can’t wait to help bring out your music and theatre talents at OCT!
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ANNE HAMELS (they/them)
INSTRUCTOR
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Anne is an emerging artist established in Ottawa. They recently graduated from the university of Ottawa’s acting conservatory (2022). In their practice Anne is intrigued by the movements of bodies through space, and the stories those bodies carry. They use theatre as a playground in which to explore and better understand the world we create. Their staging of the show À demain won the Jury’s choice best of fest award at the 2023 Ottawa youth infringement festival. Recently, Anne has performed in the living installation La petite maison (Noémie Avidar, 2021) at the Zones théâtrales festival and in various university productions including Ceux qui se sont évaporés (Gaétan Paré, 2022). Anne wishes to create an artistic space that promotes interaction and collaboration between creators and audiences.
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CARA PANTALONE (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Cara is a actor, singer, writer and teacher who calls Stittsville home. She has had the opportunity to preform and teach across Canada and recently moved back to Stittsville after 20 years in Toronto. Selected acting credits include ; The Tempest( A Company of Fools) As you Like it ( Shakespeare BASH’d) 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee( STC & KoOgle Theatre) The Full Monty (STC) Measure for Measure ( Shakespeare BASH’d and TFTT) In Flanders Fields ( Smile Theatre)
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Cara has been teaching for over 20 years and enjoys sharing her love of the arts with students.
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Jaya Matiation (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Jaya has been a teaching assistant with Ottawa Children’s Theatre for five years. She looks forward to beginning teaching as well. Jaya enjoys teaching kids cross-country ski lessons at Mooney’s Bay in the Winter. She has also worked at Upper Canada Village as a camp counselor for their children’s programs. Jaya values programs that foster community, learning and creativity. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Social Science in Anthropology at the University of Ottawa.
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EMILY POULSEN (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Emily is a dramatic arts enthusiast who has a great love for teaching. She is passionate about using the arts to teach children important life skills such as building confidence, teamwork and creativity.
She has experience in writing, choreographing, conducting, leading yoga and doing music outreach in the community. With Lotus Centre in Kanata, Emily has worked with children who have special needs, and she facilitates adapted music activities. Emily believes that music should be incorporated into every classroom and plays a growing number of instruments which includes violin, voice and guitar. She is currently working on her Bachelor of Music with a Minor in Mathematics at Carleton University.
Her training in acting began at the age of seven and she quickly learned that musical theatre is her niche. With the director David Hersh she played John in Peter Pan and d’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers. At Earl of March Secondary School under the direction of Matthew Minter, Emily played Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde and Edwin Drood in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Most recently, she played Cinderella in The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon with Sock ‘n’ Buskin Theatre Company.
She has worked with OCT as a teacher’s assistant for Nick Miller, Kristina Watt and Catherine Ballachey. These instructors have inspired her deeply, and she is very excited to join the instructing team at OCT.
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JOSH RIGO (He/him)
INSTRUCTOR
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Josh Rigo is an actor, director, choreographer, aerial dancer, and arts educator based in Ottawa, Ontario. Born and raised in Colorado, he has extensive professional experience as a performer, director, and teacher. Josh holds an undergraduate degree in Music and Theatre, as well as a graduate degree in Theatre Education. A few performance highlights include; Alex More in the one-man show Buyer & Cellar, Treplev in The Nina Variations (“Best Actor” – Winner at Colorado Theatre Festival, Nominee at National Theatre Festival), and Carmen Ghia in The Producers (“Best Supporting Actor” Henry Award Nominee). He is a graduate of the New England Center for Circus Arts and has been an aerial dance coach/performer for over 17 years. Other passions include interior design, photography, and travel. Visit www.JoshRigo.com to learn more about Josh!
KATE SMITH (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Kate Smith is an award-winning theatre creator and Artistic Director of Skeleton Key Theatre. She trained as an actor and singer (Dalhousie University) and has performed on stages across the country. In 2021 Skeleton Key was one of 14 companies from across the country selected for the Grand Acts of Theatre presented by the National Arts Centre’s English Theatre (Deluge). In the same year it released Deluge as a studio album (available on all streaming platforms) and a visual album at the undercurrents festival. In 2018 Skeleton Key’s innovative immersive play Swan River was nominated for a Prix Rideau Award for Best New Creation and received two productions that year, and was also adapted as a podcast for families: Swan River: The Podcast. Recent directing credits include: Concord Floral by Jordan Tannahill and Constellations by Nick Payne (University of Ottawa), Me, Vivien Leigh and the Roller Rink by Lucy van Oldenbarneveld (undercurrents festival, Ottawa StoryTellers’ Signature Series), Beowulf in Afghanistan by Laurie Fyffe (GCTC Tributary Project, Ottawa Fringe Festival, Ottawa Storytellers’ Signature Series), and several GCTC/CCLA Lawyer Plays including The Sting (2022). Recent acting credits include: Fanny in The Miser (Odyssey Theatre), Maja in Blissful State of Surrender (GCTC/TACTICS), Ashley in The Virgin Trial by Kate Hennig (GCTC), and Lady Capulet/Paris in Romeo + Juliet (A Company of Fools). Kate is an MFA in Directing candidate at the University of Ottawa and is a freelance director and performer. She is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada.
THERESA STORK (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Theresa is an actress originally from Germany. After completing a three-and-a-half year program at the Berlin School of Acting, she performed at the Youth State theatre of Bavaria for children and young adults for two seasons. Back in Berlin, she worked for numerous theatre companies and performed in several TV series. She also held acting workshops for children and teenagers at the Berlin Dungeon, an interactive theatre company in Berlin, and explored the art of acting with young children at the Berlin Acting School for Children in Berlin-Steglitz. In 2019 she moved to Canada and performed in the award winning short movie SEANCE SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS as one of the lead actors. She has also performed on stage at the Bronson centre and is currently performing as Mrs. Pirate “Pippa the Rippa” for Pirate Life Theatre Ottawa at Mooney’s Bay. She’s really looking forward to working with the children in the Ottawa acting community!
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COLLEEN SUTTON (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Colleen has been a professional artist and teacher for 23 years. Following her graduation from the University of Regina with a Bachelor in Music Education, she began working as a professional musician in the Canadian Forces before expanding her field of artistic discipline to include acting, writing, creating, and theatre production. She studied acting at the Ottawa Theatre School (OTS) in the Acting Conservatory Program, graduating in 2007 when she began working professionally with several of Ottawa’s professional theatre companies. Highlight credits include The Optimists (GCTC), Iron (SevenThirty), Noises Off (Gladstone), Cooped (SpyMonkey, UK), and Top Girls (Third Wall). She has twice crossed her acting and musical discipline; first with the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy as the narrator in the world premier of Maya the Bee and then again in Blood Brothers, in which she resumed her role as a saxophonist and played soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones in the musical’s ensemble. Colleen worked with Third Wall Theatre’s Shakespeare Ensemble for two years and has received two Rideau Award nominations for Best Emerging Artist. In 2012, she wrote, produced, and premiered her solo show RiderGirl at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival where she earned two four-star reviews. She has toured the show in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta with 89 performances to date.
Colleen is a registered teacher with the Ontario College of Teachers and has worked with OCDSB since 2006 as an occasional teacher and in several LTO positions. She taught youth and adult drama classes at the Ottawa School of Speech & Drama for several years and taught two courses in the final session of The Ottawa Children’s Theatre 2022/2023 year. She is delighted to join the dynamic and passionate team of OCT and is excited to continue working with students in fostering a playful, collaborative, creative, and growing mindset, to allow authenticity, bold choices, and passion for the arts to thrive.
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LARRY TAROF (he/him)
INSTRUCTOR
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Larry Tarof ("Dr. L") is an Ottawa-based collaborative musician approaching three decades of professional experience in musical theater, jazz, rock, Jewish and classical genres.
Current roles include MD/accompanist for the Carleton University Musical Theatre Ensemble, Friday night soloist at Temple Israel (voice/guitar/piano), musical director (voice/guitar/curriculum responsibility) at Temple Israel Religious School and private teaching/gigs. Classically trained, Larry has coached/accompanied >1,000 competitive musical theater performances at Kiwanis/OMFA Provincials, directed multiple choirs/instrumental ensembles and gigs frequently. His continually growing body of original works (100+) includes jazz, musical theatre, pop/rock and sacred music. At the studio, he has produced/performed on many demos, thousands of backup tracks/arrangements and six complete full-length CDs.
Selected recent credits pre-pandemic: Songs for a New World (2018, CUMTE), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2016, CUMTE); "In the Next Room" (2013, Same Day Theatre), "My Name is Asher Lev" (2012, 9th Hour Theater); "C is for Cosmopolitan" (2012, >100 NPR radio stations airplay); Olympus the Musical; Juno Award winner Jen Gould's Music Soup Concert (DVD, piano, 2010); 11 Note Chords educational iPad piano apps (2012, principal, creative authority).
On the eclectic side, "Dr L." is also an R&D scientist, having earned his M.Eng/Ph.D. in semiconductor physics, and even has CEO, CTO and "Principal Scientist" day gigs in the high tech world interspersed with bouts of being a full-time musician. Someday maybe he'll join Twitter/Instagram.
KRISTINA WATT (she/her)
Private coach
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Kristina Watt is an award-winning theatre performer & creator, Artistic Director of 100 Watt Productions, instructor, dancer and emerging writer. Born in Scotland, she grew up in Canada & Colombia (SA), trained and worked in North Carolina & London, and then lived in New York City for over a decade.
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She has taught many aspects of theatre performance & theory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and currently at the University of Ottawa. She served as Arts Outreach Coordinator & instructor for children at PS22 in NYC, coached performance for figure skaters and has worked as a private coach internationally for all ages (including coaching politicians & lawyers on communication skills). Now relocated to Ottawa, she continues her love of teaching all ages. She works with the BFA program at the University of Ottawa, offers masterclasses & workshops with the National Arts Centre and Great Canadian Theatre Company, and acts as a mentor to individual youth & with Youth Infringement Festival. With the Ottawa International Children’s Festival, she offers the annual “100 Watt Earth Stage”, a mini festival-within-the-festival that showcases the artistry of youth ages 3 to 23.
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Much of her passion to create & teach is fueled by a desire to give a voice to the needs, thoughts, and infinite potential of youth. Hand in hand is her awe, love and concern for our planet. Much of the work of 100 Watt Productions aims to ensure that both are heard by all ages. It is a gift to have been working with Amanda and the Ottawa Children’s Theatre for many rich years of collaboration. May it continue.
NIAMH WEBBER (she/her)
INSTRUCTORNiamh is a passionate choreographer, as well as a dance, drama, and music teacher. She has been teaching in the performing arts for 10 years through organizations such as Ottawa Children’s Theatre, Glebe Neighborhood Activities Group, Bloor West Theatre Club, Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, and Ottawa Little Theatre. She has also enjoyed being a choreographer with Orpheus Musical Theatre for shows such as Newsies (2022), Falsettos (2019), and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2018). When she is not engaging in community musical theater, Niamh spends her days as a high school teacher in the arts and social sciences.While teaching and choreographing are Niamh’s true passions, she also has a love for performing. Some of her favorite past roles include Nadia in Bare (Tototoo), Sour Kangaroo in Seussical the Musical (ASNY), and Shirley in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Orpheus).
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SEAN WEEKES (he/him)
INSTRUCTOR (Acting for the Camera)
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Sean grew up in a small town outside of Ottawa and found a love for the language of cinema in his early teens. Making short films in his back yard with family and friends, he thrived on finding solutions to challenges faced during production, taking inspiration from low-budget filmmakers he grew up admiring. A graduate of the Film Studies program at Carleton University, Sean has several years of experience working on sets of many shapes and sizes, a passion for film history and theory, and enjoys imparting knowledge from his own experiences on those interested in stepping into the industry. Filmmakers he takes inspiration from include David Lynch, George A Romero and John Carpenter.
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SUE YENDALL (she/her)
INSTRUCTOR
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Sue Yendall is a qualified teacher of English and Drama who has taught for both the Toronto and Ottawa/Carleton Boards of Education and she has had the opportunity to practice her craft in several International Schools around the world. At each location she taught Drama in Middle and High School curriculums and was an active innovative member of ISTA, the International Theatre Schools Association based in London, England.
From 2007-2010 Sue was hired to teach Middle School Drama in Cairo, Egypt at the Cairo American College where she produced numerous productions including “Charlotte’s Web”, “A Shakespeare Night to Remember” “Flashback” The Cards of Fate” selections from “Under Milk Wood” and “Grims Tales”. A wonderful experience.
Sue taught at The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama beginning in 1994, where she worked on exciting theatre productions, page to stage classes and to continued her love of poetry and language with the Trinity Examination Program.