Jennica (she/her) is a producer, educator and director with TYA companies across the country and spent four years as an Artistic Associate at Persephone Theatre before taking over CTYP. She studied at both the University of Winnipeg, where she graduated with Honours in performance, and the Studio 58 Acting conservatory in Vancouver. Since her graduation in 2012, Jennica has toured extensively with Green Thumb Theatre, Quest Theatre (Calgary), and as a solo performer in her pieces This Time I Get What I Want and An Inheritance, which was published in 2013. She’s a leader, a multitasker, and loves a good laugh. And no matter where you find her, she will bring the perfect combination of professionalism and goodhearted joy. A recent career highlight includes directing  Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls for CTYP, for which she won the Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Direction. Jennica is ecstatic to bring her passion for creating magical experiences for young people through the power of theatre to CTYP.

Dave (he/him) is a playwright and producer who has dedicated his life to developing intelligent, theatrical plays for young people that foster conversation. His plays for young audiences include Out in the Open, tagged (Dora nominated), Celestial Being (Jessie nominated) for Green Thumb Theatre, and Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls (Dora nominated) for Roseneath Theatre. His work has been produced across North America, as well as Israel, Poland, Ireland, and Germany. He is also the Associate Artistic Director of Zee Zee Theatre, a Vancouver-based theatre company that amplifies voices from the margins with a focus on LGBTQ2S+ work.

Cory is a visionary leader and theatre arts professional with over 30 years of working in all aspects of the performing arts industry. She also has a strong background in operations and is a skilled professional in Nonprofit Organizations, Directing, Writing, Acting, Producing and Event Planning, Film, and Event Management.

For 20 years, Cory worked as the Artistic Director for the theatre season and developed  the Artist-in-Residency program at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. She was fortunate to collaborate with award-winning companies Theatre Replacement, Crystal Pite, Neworld Theatre and assist over 500 artists in their artistic development.  Cory’s writing credits include Peaches & Scream (co-written with Mercedes Baines), Marking Time, Faith, Bob, Contrary, Sorry, Scarlet, Late, Slippage and Fever Cabaret. Favourite acting credits include Mud & Men Inside (Ruby Slippers Productions), Bad Dollies (Women in View Festival) Faith and Bob (La Luna Productions, Slippage (Wild Filly Productions) and The Year of Magical Thinking (Tomo Suru Theatre). She was also a founding member and co-artistic director of La Luna Productions (1998-2007) whose mandate was to reflect the Canadian cultural diaspora on stages nation-wide.

Cory is a graduate of the Simon Fraser University’s School for the Contemporary Arts and also holds an MA in Graduate Liberal Studies from SFU. She is currently workshopping her new play, Hoarding Paradise, which will premiere in 2025.

Cory is thrilled to be joining the staff at Carousel and looks forward to supporting Jennica and Dave and their amazing vision for the company.

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Mitchell (he’s the one on the right) is a full time uncle and part time theatre artist/administrator currently living on the stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Semiahmoo, Stó:lō and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawassen) peoples. He is passionate about supporting Theatre in Vancouver in whatever way he can and is thrilled to find himself currently wrangling ticketing software and more at Carousel.

Madelaine is a theatre creator based on the traditional, ancestral, and occupied lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. In addition to her experience directing, producing, and stage managing with independent theatre companies, she was most recently the Production and Facilities Manager for Green Thumb Theatre. Having previously worked as the Events and Facilities Manager of Performance Works with the GITD, she is excited to be returning to Granville Island! Madelaine is also the Co-Producer for Wunderdog Theatre, and in her spare time can be found reading and playing Dungeons and Dragons, telling queer and fantastical stories about friendship.

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Headshot credit to Box of Visions Studios

Shea (she/her) leads with compassion and community in all of her directing, producing, administrative and creative work. During her time in Calgary, Shea had the opportunity to work as a theatre educator at Quest Theatre, Trickster Theatre, and Calgary Young People’s Theatre! She was the Artistic Associate at Verb Theatre for three years where she associate directed A More Sparkling Version of Ourselves (Verb Theatre) and co-produced Bliss [the birthday party play] at the High Performance Rodeo. Shea is passionate about uplifting queer voices, collaboration, and workshopping new scripts. You can find Shea at drag shows, new play readings, and intimacy choreography workshops!

Jessica (she/her) is an actor and theatre professional currently living on the stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Semiahmoo, Stó:lō and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawassen) peoples. When not acting or working one of her theatre jobs, Jessica is passionately working towards creating opportunities for artists who are struggling to find their place in Vancouver theatre through her theatre company – Bramble Theatre Collective (@brambletheatreco). She is so grateful to be working at CTYP and learning from a team that leads with kindness and community in mind, values that she hopes to bring to her own leadership.

For over twenty years, Ewa has worked as an accountant for many local non-profit organizations and charities, with a primary focus on arts organizations. She has established long-standing relationships with many of her clients and has witnessed and collaborated in their growth. Ewa has a love for theatre and music that stems from her daughter Joanna’s active involvement in the dance and figure skating community at a young age. They continue to endeavor to support artists and believe in ensuring that Vancouver continues to flourish in bringing about creative and cultural experiences to the public.

Liz (she/her) can't stop looking for ways to immerse herself in BC's theatre community. When not managing CTYP's social media channels, she spends her time working at Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops (Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc) as their Social Media and Marketing Coordinator. Liz is always excited to see what comes next, and hopes to continue exploring her passion of stage management amongst it all.