Gabi Epstien

Gabi is a DORA nominee, one of Canada’s top stage and cabaret performers, and a proud graduate of McGill University's Faculty of Music. Most recently, Gabi was seen as the standby for “Girl” in the all-Canadian company of the Tony-award winning musical “ONCE” (Mirvish). Selected other credits include: Fanny Brice in Funny Girl: In Concert, Oolie/Donna in City of Angels (TBTB), To Life -- DORA nomination- Outstanding Performance by an Female in a Musical (Harold Green Jewish Theatre), Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof (Stage West), Blood Brothers, The Sound of Music, Perfect Wedding, Cowgirls (Drayton Ent.), Diana in I Love You Because (Angelwalk), Dani in Dani Girl, Napoleon, Bye Bye Birdie (Talk is Free Theatre), Edges (Acting Up Stage), Snow White, The Panto of the Opera (Moonpath Prod.), Rona in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Easy Street Prod.), and an original company member of Toy Story: The Musical (Disney Creative Ent.). As well as a stage performer, Gabi is an accomplished concert/cabaret artist having performed her famous “Gabarets” across North America including New York City where the Times Square Chronicles named her show “Top Cabaret” of the year in 2012. Her critically acclaimed CD, “Show Off” was released in 2010 and is available on itunes and her website. Gabi has been working with young people for the past 15 years. She was the head of music at Showtime Musical Theatre Day Camp, was a facilitator for a series of workshops conducted by company members of "Once", has performed as a princess for many birthday parties, and has her own private voice studio in Toronto where she teaches students ages 9-30 fundamental singing technique as well as audition prep. Please visit gabiepstein.com for more info!

Ramona Gilmour-Darling

Ramona Gilmour-Darling is an actor, singer, director, choreographer and teacher based in Toronto. A music education graduate from McGill University in voice (Honours in Music for Children, and Choral Music), she has spent ten seasons at the Thousand Islands Playhouse, and has performed at Young People’s Theatre and Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon. In 2006, Ramona took over the role of ‘Loonette the Clown’ on TV’s Big Comfy Couch. She directed Nobody’s Idol (Toronto Fringe), Weightless (New Ideas Festival), and co-directed and choreographed Forever Plaid (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Ramona also choreographed Little Shop of Horrors and Suds, both at the Thousand Islands Playhouse. Ramona has taught drama, voice, choir, and dance to both children and adults in Toronto and Niagara Falls over many years. In the summer of 2014 she directed forty children in two productions of Aladdin Kids in Oakville, and looks forward to directing fifty children the following summer in The Jungle Book. Ramona teaches drama, performance practice, and musical theatre at Pegasus Studio, Voice and Drama at Turning Pointe Academy, runs a youth choir in the east end, directs three choirs for the East End Music Project, and is a Resident Artist Educator for Y.P.T. Ramona also works as an Artist Educator around the city in various schools. – It is a tremendous joy having the opportunity to create with children, get to know them and share a positive experience. I like to create a supportive environment where everyone feels encouraged, respected, and artistically engaged.

James Daly

James Daly is an artist from St. John's, Newfoundland. He left the rock to study acting at the National Theatre School of Canada, and since then has been working consistently as an actor/musician around Ontario and is currently working at the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake. Before he left St. John's he spent one summer teaching acting at a children's camp called Camp Hollywood and two summers teaching at a music theatre camp called Newfoundland to Broadway. During the summer after his second year at school he was a member of 'The Barefeet Project' where he travelled to Lusaka, Zambia with two of his classmates to offer a 3 week drama camp to a group of children and teens at a shelter called Fountain of Hope. At the end of the 3 weeks they entered their creation piece into the Barefeet Theatre Festival. Since coming to the Shaw Festival he has gotten involved with the education programs the festival offers to high school groups. He has visited many high schools to teach post-show workshops to the students who have seen shows at the festival. He is a young, energetic, enthusiastic actor who loves to perform and also loves to teach, learn from, work and play with children and youth

Sarah Butler O'Brecht

Sarah Butler O'Brecht is an actor, dancer, singer, teacher, and choreographer. After training at Tisch School of the Arts' program CAP21 and American Theater Dance in New York City, Sarah received her BA in Honours English and French and BEd. from the University of New Brunswick before moving to Toronto. Her performance credits include Tillie Boulter in Anne of Green Gables and Larkspur in Alice Through the Looking Glass (Charlottetown Festival), Belinda in Johnny Belinda (Smile), Mona in Chicago (Stage West), Ophelia in Hamlet, Little Sally in Urinetown (Stageworks), and Guys and Dolls (Segal Centre). Sarah's television credits include So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Reign and Warehouse 13. In addition to performing on stage and screen, Sarah is passionate about sharing her love for the arts and storytelling with students of all ages! As a teacher and choreographer, Sarah has worked with The SPACE Toronto, The Stage Door Academy, Arts Express, Gala Ballet Company, InterAction Children’s Theatre, and many other organizations and institutions. She can't wait to see you in class!

Justin Bott

Justin Bott is a Toronto based performer who is passionate about good honest storytelling. Work has taken Justin all over the country and all the way to Osaka Japan. He is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and has worked professionally in musicals big and small, contemporary plays as well as Shakespeare. Justin has taught classes and workshops for ages 17 and under with JRP Acting School as well as The Classical Theatre Project. For maore about Justin and has recent work go to www.justinbott.com or follow him on Twitter @jeybott.

Emily Vick Agnew

Emily Vick Agnew is a singer, dancer and teacher originally from New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Masters in Elementary Education as well as a certificate in cabaret performance from Yale University. In addition to teaching music to young children, Emily has performed all over the world. She was a dancer and puppeteer with New York City's LaMama Theatre Company, Loco7 working in both Manhattan and in South America. She worked with Nickelodeon as Dora the Explorer touring Canada, US, Asia and New Zealand. Emily has sung at the Kennedy Center and the White House and has participated in numerous originally recordings. Additionally she has produced her own shows in The NY Fringe Festival, The Lower Ossington Theatre, and the Markeim Arts Center. She is a proud mom to two young children and believes music and drama class has the potential to not only be fun and engaging, but also an amazing opportunity for growth and learning.

*