Tanja Dixon-Warren

Development Manager

Tanja has been working as a freelance actor, producer, director, teacher and mentor for over 28 years and is thrilled to be CTYP’s Director of Development.  An active member of the community, with a long history of mentoring emerging artists and arts administrators, Tanja served for 15 years on the board of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance (GVPTA). She has also served as a board member with Quintessence Musical Theatre Projects, First Vancouver Theatrespace Society (Vancouver Fringe Festival) and was a Jury Member for the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards. Tanja has been recognized with numerous awards and nominations for her achievements in performing, producing, and business.

Carey Erickson

Creative Spaces Manager

Carey has been working in the performing arts in the Lower Mainland for the past 20 years, managing such spaces as Presentation House, Performance Works, Festival House and the Waterfront Theatre.  She was the manager of the Granville Island Busking program and helped spearhead the first Vancouver Busker Festival in 2012, which took over the streets of the city, including Yaletown, the Westend, Gastown, Granville Street and of course, Granville Island.  Carey is honored to be working with CTYP to help bring the joy of theatre to children and families.

Carole Higgins

Artistic & Managing Director

Carole has the best job in the entire world!

She has been Artistic Director of Carousel Theatre for Young People since 2001, spearheading the organization’s growth from a small theatre company to a year-round theatre that centres all of its activities around young people.

A passionate advocate for, and creator of theatre for young audiences, some of Carole’s favourite directing credits with CTYP over the years include A Charlie Brown Holiday Double Bill, James and the Giant Peach, Busytown, The Cat in the Hat, Birdbrain, A Year with Frog and Toad, Seussical, and The Big League.

Carole’s creative work has been honoured with two Jessie Awards for directing and seven nominations, as well as a nomination for oustanding actor.

Before taking the helm at CTYP, she played at regional theatres across BC as an actor, director and playwright after having made her professional stage debut as a young actor right here at Carousel in The Diary of Anne Frank  in 1994.

Carole has worked as a guest instructor at Theatre at UBC and Arts Umbrella and as a guest lecturer on TYA at several universities. She clearly remembers the magic of seeing her very first play when she was 3 years old. She is a proud dog mom to Molly and Bijou, and to her beloved Sammy who is always in her heart. She is also an avid gardener.

Holly Karpuik

Lead Theatre Technician

Holly is very excited to be coming into her second season as Lead Technician with CTYP, having worked for the organization since 2016. She grew up on Vancouver Island where she was introduced to theatre and the performing arts at a young age by parents who were very involved in their local community theatre groups. Her first theatrical production was Fiddler on the Roof, alongside her mother, brother, and father. This fostered a lifelong love and appreciation for the arts that lead her to complete a technical theatre diploma at Vancouver Island University, where she focused on stage management. Holly takes pride in any opportunity to help people bring their creative endeavours to life on stage

Jenny Rush-Cooper

Education Manager

Jenny’s passion for theatre education and access to the arts for young people grew through her work with Shakespeare Schools Festival in the UK. She had a lot of fun leading backstage tours around the UK’s National Theatre before moving to Vancouver. Following the move, Jenny spent much of 2018 working in education with Bard on the Beach. The things Jenny loves most about working with Carousel Theatre for Young People are witnessing the joy of first theatre experiences, and the excited buzz of our drama school.

Mikaela Sanders

Audience Services & Operations Manager

Mikaela is a producer, events manager, arts administrator and front of house professional with a keen interest in participatory theatre. Previously, Mikaela worked as a Front of House Manager for La Boite Theatre Company, and contributed to the Brisbane Festival program from 2011-2016. Mikaela’s other work as a stage manager, production coordinator and venue manager include Woodford Folk Festival, Festival of Australian Student Theatre, Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Oscar Theatre Company, Brisbane Arts Theatre and Flipside Circus. She is a passionate advocate for the equal representation of women in the creative industries, and for the celebration and elevation of young artists.

Stephen Robertson

Board President

Stephen is a partner in the Securities and Capital Markets Group at the law firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, where his practice focuses on advising clients with respect to securities and investment management industry matters. Stephen also has an affinity for the stage, having performed in the Lawyer Show’s productions of Spamalot, Guys & Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, and As You Like It.

Kathie Schwaia

Board Treasurer

Kathie is a Certified General Accountant providing accounting services to small businesses.  A Board Member of Carousel Theatre for Young People since 1982, Kathie has also served on the Board of The Mavor Moore Theatre Society since 2001. Other organizations she supports are Face the World Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Vancouver Symphony, the Arts Club and the Metro Theatre. For fun Kathie takes Zoomba dance classes and enjoys great adventures with Brady in unexplored dog parks.

Fila Testini

Board Director

Fila was born in Italy and immigrated to Canada in 1969. With a certificate in Business Administration from Capilano College, her background includes finance, time management, leadership, event planning, health care, and food industry management. A volunteer in the arts community since 2002, Fila has been a strong supporter of Patrick Street Productions, Douglas Ballet Academy, and Theatre Under the Stars. Fila believes in being a strong role model for her two children who share her passion for musical theatre.

Roger Watts

Board Director

Roger is a partner at Lindsay LLP in Vancouver, where he practices in the fields of personal injury and transportation law. He also sits on the board of directors of Canadian Defence Lawyers, a national organization serving the insurance defence bar. Roger’s interests outside the office keep him just as busy as his law practice, having performed in nine previous productions of The Lawyer Show as well as other productions for Metro Theatre and Theatre West Van.  He also serves as a director of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.