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, including the monster farce "Noises Off" at Ottawa Little Theatre, Dana was accepted
into an intensive acting course at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, U.K.. Dana produced the award winning Kanata Acting Studio of Cross-talk , which won Best Ensemble at the 2023 Eastern Ontario One-Act Play Festival.
Dana has a Master of Education in Counselling and is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP)
John, the Artistic Director at OAS, has enjoyed a career spanning more than three decades as an award winning actor, director, producer, and playwright. His credentials include memberships in ACTRA, the Canadian Actors' Equity Association, and the Playwrights Guild of Canada. With a background as a teacher at the Ottawa School of Speech & Drama, the Ottawa Acting Company, Act Ottawa, as well as through private workshops in schools and theatres, John is deeply committed to nurturing a passion for acting in his students. He often shares with his classes, "My job is to help you fall in love with acting," ensuring that through a safe, enjoyable, and engaging classroom environment, he does exactly that.
A registered pediatric Recreation Therapist, Sam is thrilled to be part of Kanata Acting Studio. Before taking a break to raise her kids, Sam was involved in community theatre and musicals, studied theatre at the University of Ottawa and trained in voice for several years. Sam’s favourite credits include Annie, HMS Pinafore. When not in the studio, Sam parents her kids, works 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 arts with these young stars.
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.
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.
Chris has taught acting and voice at York University, University of Ottawa, private studios, and currently teaches acting and voice at Algonquin College. Chris is a graduate the National Theatre School of Canada and has an MFA in Acting from York University. Recent acting credits include The Virgin Trial (GCTC - 2019 Ottawa Rideau Award for Best Actor); Up to Low (NAC); Half Life (Theatre Northwest); A Christmas Carol (NAC); Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike (Plosive Productions); The Amorous Servant(Odyssey); Glengarry Glen Ross (Avalon Productions – Capital Critics Award for Best Production); Billy Bishop Goes to War (Plosive Productions – Capital Critics Best Actor nomination); The Game of Love and Death (Odyssey); and Death and the Maiden (Plosive Productions).
Mary is the former 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.
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.
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.
Jenny is a passionate and versatile graduate of the performing arts. With a dynamic repertoire of singing, acting, and dance. She holds a Performing Arts certificate from Algonquin College and is an alumni of Canterbury High School's Dramatic Arts program. Throughout her academic years, Jenny has worked with numerous theatre companies around Ottawa, such as Orpheus Musical Theatre, ASNY, and Suzart Productions. Her captivating stage charisma and vocal dexterity effortlessly bridge theatrical and melodic roles. Jenny was also awarded the Ottawa Broadway Across Canada award for her portrayal of Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray the Musical. She coached at the OCDSB Children's Musical Theatre Program and Suzart Productions. Jenny's passion for the performing arts extends beyond her own performances. She has a strong commitment to nurturing young talent and has dedicated her time to coaching and mentoring aspiring performers.
Originally from Thunder Bay, Bobby Knauff moved to Toronto in 2006 to pursue comedy. He attended the Humber School of Comedy where he received the Brian Linehan award for artistic promise. Since then, Bobby has performed on The Fresh Meat Showcase at The Second City, NXNE Music & Comedy Fest, was a semi finalist in SiriusXM Canada’s Next Top Comic (2013), won the 2012 Toronto Comedy Brawl, won the Comedian of the North Comedy Competition (2018), won the comedian voted Ottawa Comedy Awards “Best Headliner” (2022), has had numerous appearances on Much Music and MTV Canada and has toured across Canada headlining with Yuk Yuks. He has been part of the Sudbury LOL Comedy Festival, JFL42 in Toronto, The Toronto Festival of Clowns, The Icebreakers Comedy Festival and The Big Sound Comedy Festival.
With over 30 years experience in the entertainment industry, Michael Coady is a film, television and theatre actor/singer, producer, writer and director, working between LA, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and his native Newfoundland, Canada. He has made guest star and co-star appearances on shows like CBC series "Murdoch Mysteries" and "Republic of Doyle", CTV’s “Hudson & Rex”, BBC America Series, "Copper", "The Lottery" on Lifetime Network, and “Mayday” on Paramount Plus. Michael's film credits include "By Water's Edge" (screened at the 2011 Cannes Festival Court Métrage); "The Historian Paradox" (screened at Comic Con 2011 and won Audience Choice Award at the Big Island Film Fest in Hawaii), "Silent Night in Munice", starring opposite veteran film actor, RD Call (Into the Wild, Babel, I Am Sam, Young Guns II) in the film, "Silent Night in Muncie" (an official selection of the 2012 Action on Film Festival in Los Angeles); a recurring role in "Dead Grandma", featuring Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory), winner of Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2012 LA Web Fest. For full credits, visit imdb.me/michaelcoady.
Angela is a singer, actor, and voice teacher based in Richmond and Ottawa. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and Diploma in Opera from Wilfrid Laurier University. Her continued pursuit of education has brought her to Opera Nuova, St Andrews by the Sea, the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival in Italy, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, and the Bel Canto Can Belto Workshop at Penn State University. She also holds Certifications in yoga and kids yoga, and most recently a Level 1 certification in Special Music Education from the Lotus Centre in Ottawa.
Emma prepares for her roles by napping,
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