kanata acting Studio

Dana grew up in a theatre-loving household with a drama teacher father and has always valued theatre as an important aspect of her work/life balance. Having performed in several plays in Vancouver and Ottawa, Dana was accepted 

into an intensive acting course at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, U.K. Dana has a Master of Education in Counselling and is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP). 

Mary is the Executive Director of GNAG (Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group) and has worked at the Glebe Community Centre for over 30 years. As well as having been a  summer camp instructor for all those years, she also founded GNAG Theatre in 2002 and since then has produced and choreographed several musicals including Oliver, The Sound of Music, Fiddler On The Roof, A Christmas Carol, Chitty Chitty Bang! Bang!, and Anne of Green Gables, to name a few. 

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.

Shaun is an Actor, Director and Educator with 30+ years of experience in professional and community theatre. He is the co-founder of the highly successful Orpheus Summer Theatre Camps and has taught acting and musical theatre at The Ottawa Children's Theatre, The Acting Company, The Ottawa Little Theatre and The Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. As an actor he has appeared in numerous productions for various companies including his award-winning role as Max in The Producers, Alan Turing in Breaking The Code and Ned Weeks in The Normal Heart. He also directed productions of Mamma Mia, Grease and Pricilla Queen of the Desert. He is an educator with the Western Quebec School Board.

Upon graduating in 2008 from Bishop’s University with a degree in theatre, Joey moved to Vancouver, joining the High Horse Theatre Company, an indie company known for producing new Canadian works. Since moving to Ottawa, Joey has worked steadily in the Ottawa theatre scene. Recent acting credits include the role of Eve in Burn  at the Academy Theatre for the EODL Theatre Festival where she was awarded Best Actor. Other acting credits include Benita in Love and Human Remains (The Gladstone), Laurel in Torch Song Trilogy (TotoToo) Sylvie in Move Over Mrs. Markham (Ottawa Little Theatre) and Mary Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (Ottawa Little Theatre). Joey is also an English teacher and stand up comedian.

After taking the in-person intensive acting at the prestigious Bernard Hiller studio in LA, Vanessa has appeared in productions such as The Birthday Card (Short), Unholy Night, Duty (Short), A Bittersweet Taste (Short), The Perfect Soulmate (TV Movie), Monster Pool: Chapter Two, among others. Vanessa was a regular cast member of the Avalon Studio’s Showcase Evenings and has helped instruct self tape audition workshops for Act Ottawa and The Acting Company.

Sam is thrilled to join the team at the Kanata Acting Studio! Before taking a break to raise kids, Sam was involved in community theatre and musicals, studied theatre and the University of Ottawa and trained in voice for several years. Currently she is completing a post graduate program in therapeutic recreation and hopes to soon work as a pediatric recreation therapist. Sam’s favourite credits include Annie, Just So! and HMS Pinafore. When not in the studio, Sam parents her kids, volunteers at Roger Nielson House and is part of a paranormal investigation team! She looks forward to teaching the youngest thespians and sharing her passion for the art with these young stars!

Chris is co-founder and Artistic Director of The Ottawa Acting Company and has taught acting and vocal instruction at York University, the University of Ottawa, and currently at Algonquin College. Chris is a graduate of  the National Theatre School of Canada and has an MFA in Acting from York University.  Recent acting credits include The Virgin Trial (Great Canadian Theatre Company, 2019 Ottawa Rideau Award, Best Actor); Up to Low (National Arts Centre); Half Life (Theatre Northwest); A Christmas Carol (NAC); Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike (Plosive Productions); The Amorous Servant (Odyssey); and Glengarry Glen Ross (Avalon Productions, Capital Critics Award 2014, Best Production).

Lindsay is a High School Dramatic and Media Arts teacher in Ottawa and has been teaching for close to 10 years. Lindsay also sits on the Board of Directors at the Ottawa Little Theatre and is the Program Director for Canada’s Capital Cappies- a popular High School Theatre Critic’s program.  Lindsay attended the University of Ottawa (B.A.,Hons.), Nippissing University (B.Ed), and has received further accreditation from Western University in teaching the Creative and Dramatic Arts. Recent acting credits include:The Savannah Sipping Society  (Linden House Theatre),  A Murder Is Announced  (Ottawa Little Theatre),  Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily (Ottawa Little Theatre), Enchanted April (Linden House Theatre). Lindsay  has also directed and stage managed over the past few years.  

Bekah Fay is thrilled to be taking on the role of Children's Instructor at Kanata Acting Studio. This position allows her to apply her talents and skills to the areas of her two greatest passions: children and acting.  A born performer, Bekah began taking courses at Grimes Rd Theatre School early on, as well as appearing in community theatre and school and church performances. She was accepted into the Arts Program at Canterbury High School where she majored in Drama but also studied movement and dance in a variety of forms, and took vocal training. As a “triple threat”, she found a special love for musical theatre!  Bekah has appeared in professional and semi-professional roles of all kinds in diverse settings: dinner theatre shows, children's theatre, the Gladstone Theatre, and the Winnipeg and Ottawa Fringe Festivals. Bekah earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Carleton University, where she took courses in Child Development and Child Psychology. She is a certified yoga instructor, a doula, and works with children full time - both as a nanny and a mom.

During his 38 years in the entertainment industry Robert has worked as a theatre actor and director across Canada garnering many accolades and awards, among them the Ottawa Critics Circle Award for Best Actor and as a series television and feature film actor has taken him around the world, earning him more recognition, including two Gemini Award nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role in the hit series North of 60.

During this time, Robert worked as a voice actor, narrating commercials for TV and radio as well as providing the voices for dozens of animated series from X-men to Sailor Moon, Rupert the Bear to Robocop.

Roy van Hooydonk

Roy has over 35 years experience as a teacher. His love of theatre led to a Bachelor of Education degree with a Drama Major at the University of Alberta. He is also an actor, director, singer/songwriter, playwright and comedian. He has been performing on stage and screen since 1965. Roy has performed in Ottawa at the Ottawa Little Theatre, Theatre Kraken, in short films and features and at musical venues around the city. One of his recent plays, It’s Just Coffee, was just produced in January, 2022 in Scottdale, PA.