Ash Shotton

Technical Director

Ash Shotton (they/them) is a theatre tech turning technical director and production manager. They’ve been based in Vancouver since 2018, after they graduated from VIU in Nanaimo and then had a short stint in the Bermuda triangle. They are passionate about the arts, and working with projects by and about underrepresented demographics. Recent TD/PM work includes Men Express Their Feelings (Zee Zee Theatre), Marjorie Prime (Ensemble Theatre Company), Pass Over (Ensemble Theatre Company), and In My Day (Zee Zee Theatre).

Mitch Janzen

Guest Services Team

Mitch (He/Him) 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.

Jessica Wong

Guest Services Team

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.

Dave Deveau

Co-Artistic & Managing Director

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.

Jennica Grienke

Co-Artistic & Managing Director

Jennica has been as an actor, producer, 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, where she currently teaches acting. 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 and featured in the Sarasvati Transformative 2014 Winnipeg FemFest. A recent career highlight includes directing Jabber, For Arts Sake, and It’s A Wonderful LIfe: The Radio Play  for Persephone, and Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls for Carousel, for which she won the Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Direction. This season she will direct Oz, a co-production with Victoria’s Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People. Jennica is ecstatic to bring her passion for creating magical experiences for young people through the power of theatre to CTYP.

Lisa Gemino

Production & Facilities Manager

Lisa Gemino (She/Her) is returning to her theatre roots after many years in film production and emergency services logistics support while located on the stolen land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) & sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. Her artistic energy is directed towards prose and non-fiction writing and her practical skills will be focussed on supporting and uplifting the work of the staff, performers, artists, students and audience members who engage with Carousel Theatre on any level.

Shea Heatherington

Education Coordinator

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. Shea has worked with theatre, dance and children throughout her life and she is so thrilled to begin this journey with CTYP!

Joanna & Ewa Borkowska

Accountants

Ewa (she/her) and Joanna (she/her) are the mother-daughter team behind Valliant Accounting. For the last four years, they have worked with various non-profit organizations, charities, and small businesses to help them achieve their long-term goals. Ewa’s knowledge and experience within the non-profit and charity sector has a long history. 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 and Joanna both have a love for theatre and music that stems from 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.

Tanja Dixon-Warren

Transition Advisor

Tanja (she/her) has been working as a theatre artist and producer for over 35+ years and is thrilled to be part of the CTYP team. Previously, she is a co-founder and former Artistic Producer of Hoarse Raven Theatre and was the Managing Producer of Full Circle: First Nations Performance, with who she continues to work on a consulting and advisory basis. Currently, she is the Artistic Director of Western Gold Theatre. An active member of the community, with a long history of mentoring emerging artists and arts administrators, Shehas served on numerous boards and committees including 15 years with the GVPTA. She sits on the board of Vocal Eye. Tanja has been recognized with numerous awards and nominations for her achievements in performing, producing, and business.

Cathleen Gingrich

Board Member

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.

Yanting Qiu

Board Member

Jocelyn Macdougall

Board President

Jocelyn (she/her) is a convener and facilitator who delights in bringing together groups of interesting, committed, and passionate people for meaningful, productive conversations. She values equity, justice, and dignity as foundational and believes that getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is a necessary skill in today’s divided world. Jocelyn believes the arts are a price of admission component of a sane, healthy society, having a unique propensity to enable self and social reflection. She is also lucky enough to sing with Vancouve’’s hottest funk and Motown band, Queer As Funk.

Krysta Chapman

Board Treasurer

Krysta (she/her) 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. She has served as a Chief Financial Officer and Controller for many startup 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. She is excited to share her passion for change and driving growth to Carousel Theatre.

Jacob Kojfman

Board Vice President

Jacob (he/him) professes to be a professional comedian with a side hustle as a lawyer at one of the world’s largest IT services companies. He joined CTYP, because he wants to contribute to the community, loves Broadway musical theatre, and recognizes the importance the arts plays in our society. He is currently the treasurer for the West End Community Centre Association and has been on the board of a social services agency. In his spare time, he reads, rides his Peloton, plays board games with his wife and young child, and is working on his amateur poker game.

Sarah Louttit

Board Member

Sarah (she/her) 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.

Chloe Sauder

Board Secretary

A long-time local theatre fan, Chloe (she/her) is thrilled to be cast as a member of CTYP’s Board of Directors. She was bit by the acting bug at an early age and minored in theatre as part of her undergraduate degree at the University of McGill. During her gap year, Chloe played the part of Jane Bennet in Metro Theatre’s production of Pride & Prejudice before starting law school at Windsor Law. Chloe now works as a lawyer at Haddock & Company where her practice areas include landlord and tenant law, co-operative housing law, construction law, strata property law, and insurance defence. In her spare time, she enjoys trivia and cracking terrible puns.

Maya Lohcham

Board Member

Maya (she/her) is an experienced arts administrator whose passion is sharing the importance, power, and beauty the arts bring to the fabric of communities. Currently with the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, she has worked for numerous arts organizations including PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Canada’s National Ballet School, and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Following her graduate degree in Museum Studies, she completed a fellowship at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. In her free time, Maya plays with her mini dachshund, spends lots of time in her hometown of Victoria, and debates life’s big questions with her husband.

Gurvinder Atwal

Board Member

Gurvinder is a former banker-turned-HR professional working in a large tech company.  She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Post-Baccalaureate in Human Resource Management.  Gurvinder is excited to be part of CTYP and be a contributing member of the arts.  She’s an avid reader and enjoys taking her young daughters to explore the arts and culture scene within the Lower Mainland.