Act One Teaching Staff

Act One's team of instructors combines a unique and positive blend of maturity and youth with a wide spectrum of experience in film, television, onstage performance, production, writing and education. Many have been with the school for years while some are recently new to Act One. What all share is a passion for and commitment to drama and theatre, along with a love of teaching. This special mix is what allows Act One to preserve its long-standing reputation as a positive and supportive learning environment for younger students while at the same time being able to expand its film and older student drama programs.

What Act One's staff never forget however, is that it is all about helping our students to learn about theatre and how drama can in return help them learn about themselves and open up many future opportunities, whether they be through pursuit of professional performance careers, applying the skills towards other occupations or just pursuing theatre for personal enjoyment and fullfilment. The staff's success at staying true to these principles is most evident in the large number of students who have been with the school for numerous years.

It has always been and will continue to be an honour and a priviledge to be given the opportunity and responsibility for helping a student discover what acting and drama can mean to them.

	Mark Nathanielsz Instructor Artistic Director Classes: Advanced Theatre for ages 12-13 Introductory Theatre for ages 14-16 Advanced Theatre for ages 14-16 Theatre for ages 17-18 Performance Class for ages 15+ A few words about Mark...... Mark brings with him over sixteen years of theatrical experience comprising over fifty productions as actor or director, with more than another forty in design or production capacities. Possessing a career highlighted by variety, his love has been theatre and its tremendous power of communication and discovery when creativity mixes with commitment and "reality" springs from the written page of a script. He is passionate about drama's ability to positively impact people and society not just through the stage and camera but in everyday life as well. Mark is also actively involved in supporting the GTA theatre scene, serving as president of the Association of Community Theatres - Central Ontario and as a director for the boards of both Theatre Ontario and Solar Stage Children's Theatre.
	Andy Pandoff Instructor Workshops: Audition Technique and Monologue Development Finding an Agent for Actors From Text to Reality - Scene Study Exploration Lights, Camera, Action - Introduction to Acting on Camera A few words about Andy...... Andy has been involved for years with film, television and stage. His talents have taken him from film futuristic ringmaster to television matrimonal waffles and to just about every type of character one can meet on stage. With numerous directorial credits, he can view dramatic situations from many perspectives. He combines this wealth of experience with many years of secondary school teaching experience to oversee many of Act One's Workshops.
	Mike Woodbridge Instructor Classes: Adult Theatre for ages 19+ Workshops: Just For Laughs: Acting For Comedy A few words about Mike...... Mike has been a fixture on the Durham and Scarborough theatre scenes for many years. A regular performer at Herongate Barn and Class Act Dinner Theatres, not to mention numberous community theatre groups, Mike's performance and directing credits are numerous. Throughout it all, he has developed a mastery of the comedic theatre medium, whether in flat out farces or more sensitive romantic comedies. Equally experienced in the director's chair, Mike can provide multi-faceted perspectives on both comedic and more serious performance.
	Tom Anastasios Instructor Classes: Acting for Film for ages 11-13 Acting for Film for ages 14-18 A few words about Tom...... Tom has been actively involved in the theatre community for the past 12 years. He has worked mainly as an actor, but has also stage managed and directed several shows. His focus for the past six years has been primarily film. Having successfully completed two short films ( as producer and director )and worked on several features, his knowledge of the medium is both wide and current.
	Aaron Kyte Instructor Classes: Music Theatre for ages 7-11 Music Theatre for ages 12-15 Music Theatre for ages 16+ A few words about Aaron...... Aaron Kyte is a Toronto-based actor/singer/dancer, originally from the East Coast, who now calls Toronto home. A graduate of both The University of New Brunswick and The Randolph Academy of the Performing Arts, Aaron recently completed a lengthy run in the title role of Disney's 'Aladdin.' Prior to that, he was featured in several music videos and played Linus in a Canadian tour of 'You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.' In addition to performing, Aaron has been writing and teaching for several years, the last three of which have been spent at Act One School of Drama. Keep your eyes open for Aaron as he plays Scottish con-artist Elliot Castro in the series 'On The Run' now airing on the Discover Channel (2006).
	Ory Tracy Instructor Classes: Sketch Comedy for ages 14+ A few words about Ory...... Ory has been involved with theatre and comedy since his early high school years, and specializes in sketch and improvisation. He is currently completing the Comedy Writing and Performance program at Humber College which is exposing him to the Toronto comedy scene. Ory has taught numerous comically oriented workshops, some on behalf of Humber College. He has been making people laugh on stage for years and looks forward to his first year at Act One.
	Michelle Morrow Instructor/Vocal Coach Classes: Music Theatre for ages 7-11 Music Theatre for ages 12-15 Music Theatre for ages 16+ A few words about Michelle...... Michelle grew up performing in community theatre. She went on to Queen’s University where she studied voice as well as percussion. While at Queen’s, Michelle was a vocal coach for both opera and musical theatre, along with playing in pit bands and orchestras. After Queen’s, Michelle studied at Randolph Academy, which also provided her with the opportunity to teach music theory after she graduated. Michelle has since worked with KidSafe Productions, where she toured schools in the GTA presenting shows about bullying and self esteem.
	Katherine Devlin Instructor/ Movement & Dance Coach Classes: Music Theatre for ages 7-11 Music Theatre for ages 12-15 Music Theatre for ages 16+ A few words about Katherine...... Katherine Devlin is an actor in Toronto and a graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. She has acted in various independent films and one feature film. This summer she played Fern in “Charlotte’s Web” in Port Carling, Muskoka. She has been teaching for eight years and now teaches musical theatre, drama, and dance at many children’s theatre schools across the GTA. She loves working with children and being able to pass her love of performing arts to the next generation of hopeful young performers.
	Michelle Cote Instructor Classes: Voice Acting for ages 14+ A few words about Michelle...... Michelle has been involved in the Toronto Theatre scene for over 14 years. Over the years she has voiced many projects around the city, most recently a Japanese anime cartoon "Lets and Go". She also worked for Toronto radio station 102.1 the EDGE for many years, where she was involved with Station ID, radio commercial and radio character on-air work. She is a graduate of Ontario Teacher's College - High School Teaching program, specializing in Communications and is currently an active Durham Region high school teacher.
	Christie Maingot Instructor Classes: Acting on Camera for Ages 11-13 Acting On Camera for Ages 14-18 A few words about Christie...... Christie is a graduate of the Acting for Film, Television, and Theater Program at the Toronto Film School and a recipient of their program scholarships. Christie has been involved in various student film projects and voice over work for both sound tracks and the Internet. Her experience also extends to the stage, having majored in Theater at the University of Toronto.Currently she is working on starting up her own entertainment company, which will focus on music and film.
	Please note - Aadditional staff information to be available shortly