Team

CTYP is championed by a dedicated team of theatre makers.

Dave Deveau and Jennica Grienke on a teacup ride

Co-Artistic & Managing Directors Dave Deveau and Jennica Grienke

Staff

Dave Deveau

Co-Artistic & Managing Director

Dave (he/they) is a playwright, performer 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 (published with Scirocco), tagged (Dora nominated), Celestial Being (Jessie winner), Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls (Dora nominated, Jessie winner) and The Papa Penguin Play. Their work has been produced across North America, as well as Israel, Poland, Ireland, and Germany, and has been produced/presented by Arts Club, Carousel Theatre for Young People, Concrete Theatre, The Cultch, Firehall Arts Centre, Green Thumb Theatre, Playwrights Theatre Centre, Théâtre du Gros Mécano, Théâtre la Seizième, Theatre Outré, Upintheair Theatre, Vancouver International Children's Festival, VOX Theatre, and Zee Zee Theatre where he was the Founding Associate Artistic Director. They have a BFA from York University and an MFA in Playwriting from UBC. His anthology of plays CISSY: Three Gender Plays is available through Talonbooks. In total his plays have been nominated for 28 Jessie Richardson Awards, 4 Ovation Awards, and 4 Dora Awards.

Jennica Grienke - on maternity leave

Co-Artistic & Managing Director

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.

Kezi Jacob

Production & Facilities Manager

Raised by artists in Kingston, Ontario, Kezi Jacob (she/her) has been involved in the art world since childhood, always working behind the scenes. Kezi has a BFA in Theatre Production & Design from Simon Fraser University and worked as a Production Manager, Technical Director and Set/Prop Designer in Ontario and Vancouver before joining CTYP in the fall of 2024

Rebecca Miner

Guest Services Coordinator

Originally from Calgary, Rebecca (she/her) is a theatre artist who moved to the West Coast to follow her passion for performing arts. She graduated from the University of Victoria with Honors in Performance in 2023. Since then, she has performed with Theatre SKAM and the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival (Victoria) before taking on the role of Guest Services Coordinator for CTYP.

Mitchell Janzen

Box Office Coordinator

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.

Loose Lips Media

Digital Marketing and Social Media

LOOSE LIPS MEDIA is a digital marketing and social media content creation agency operating in Vancouver. We specialize in local film and screen-based media initiatives in BC, with a focus on community management, digital campaigning, and online engagement.

Markian Tarasiuk

Graphic & Web Design

Markian Tarasiuk is a versatile creative professional specializing in graphic and web design with the Art Left Creative Group (www.artleftcreative.com), where he has worked with notable Vancouver clients such as Green Thumb Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Pi Theatre, Urban Ink, Brightlight Pictures, Lighthouse Pictures, Touchstone Theatre, and Studio 58. In addition to his design work, Markian served as the General Manager of SpeakEasy Theatre and the Pull Festival, contributing to Vancouver’s vibrant theatre scene. He is also an accomplished actor and emerging director, with a passion for storytelling in all its forms.

Ashley Chodat

Workshop Facilitator

Ashley (she/her) is a playwright, dramaturg, deviser and teaching artist. In these roles, she has been fortunate to work for companies like Bard on the Beach, Arts Club, The Cultch, Green Thumb, Arts Umbrella, Little Mountain Lion, Carousel Theatre for Young People (Vancouver) Theatre SKAM, Kaleidoscope (Victoria) She is passionate about stories that explore girlhood, science fiction and intergenerational relationships. Recent playwright credits include: June Bug (Vancouver Fringe winner of TYP Family Forward Award, UpintheAir’s rEvolver Festival, Victoria Fringe) FRANK (Impulse Theatre Peek Show 14/Intrepid Incoming Fest). Ashley holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Applied Theatre from Uvic and a diploma in Theatre Performance from Douglas College.

Board

Cathleen Gingrich

Board Co-President

Music and theatre have been a life long love affair for Cathleen Gingrich (she/her). Studying both for a remarkable amount of time (and number of degrees!), she has gone on to perform and produce professionally, while also working diligently behind the scenes to make sure other performers and administrators also have the opportunity to create. Outside of her day job as an Arts Administrator and Fundraiser, Cathleen still sings in choir (and in the car!) As a queer parent, who was once an odd kid out, she knows first hand how hard it can be to find a place to belong. Cathleen is delighted to support CTYP in creating safe and nurturing space for so many young people to find their place.

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Sarah Louttit

Board Co-President

Sarah is an experienced human resources professional and the current HR Manager for the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC. She is passionate about creating engaging and equitable work environments. Sarah believes the arts are an integral part to any community and is excited to be a part of CTYP.  In her spare time, you can find Sarah attempting to make elaborate dinners (and even more elaborate messes) for her family, going on long walks with her daughter, or planning her next renovation project.

Krysta Chapman

Board Treasurer

Krysta Chapman is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CA) and a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder.  She holds a Bachelor of Mathematics and a Masters in Accounting from the University of Waterloo.  Krysta has served as a Chief Financial Officer and Controller for many start-up private and public mining companies.  Although sadly not blessed with any natural artistic abilities of her own, Krysta and her young daughter are avid fans of musical theatre.  Krysta is excited to share her passion for change and driving growth to Carousel Theatre.

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Robert Anstey

Secretary

Dr. Robert Anstey joins our Carousel Theatre board as an award-winning educator and dedicated advocate for the arts. As the principal of a high school, he champions arts education, inspiring students to explore creativity through drama and performance. He understands the transformative power of theatre in shaping young minds. His passion for the performing arts and commitment to fostering artistic expression make him a valuable addition to the board.

Jordan Mazzon

Board Member

Jordan brings a wealth of business expertise from his role at Mr. Lube Canada, where he is responsible for overseeing operations across western Canada. With a Bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and a background in education, Jordan has had the privilege of working closely with young people—an experience he has greatly missed since transitioning from the classroom.

Yanting Qiu

Board Member

Ever since Yanting Qiu(she/they) fell in love with Kunqu, a traditional Chinese theatre genre, she has been a "professional" audience member and an "amateur" theatre maker for two decades. Outside of her day job as a theatre/event producer, Yanting is a foodie and FLAME storytelling facilitator, collecting new recipes and old stories from the community. As a co-founder of TSL (Theatre as a Second Language Society), she also works to build a community for artists and audiences who use English as a second language. She is thrilled to join CTYP with a belief in the magical power of live theater and a passion to bring more young people to experience it.

Ashlie Winson-Jones

Board Member

Ashlie Winson-Jones is passionate about helping kids build emotional literacy through storytelling, and is inspired by Carousel's work to ensure that every child has the opportunity to see themselves reflected on stage. Bringing her 15 years of experience in brand strategy, Ashlie focuses on building partnerships to expand the theatre's access, strengthening support so that the theatre can continue creating meaningful experiences that inspire growth and connection.