Director Biographies

David Nairn - Artistic Director

David is very excited to be completing his 11th Season as Artistic Director of Theatre Orangeville. Some of his most recent directing credits at Theatre Orangeville include the World Premiere productions of Step Right Up!, The Giant's Garden, One Moment, Little Women - The Musical, A Matter of Time, Bedtime Stories, 'Twas, Dear Santa and Could You Wait? Other selected directing credits include A Christmas Carol, Sexy Laundry, Mesa, Rope's End, Harvest Moon Rising, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Carol's Christmas, The Kitchen Witches, For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, Test Drive, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline and The Drawer Boy. As an actor, David is familiar to Theatre Orangeville audiences from his starring performances in The Long Weekend, The Love List, Outlaw, Miniputt, Colours in the Storm, The Shooting of Dan McGrew and Jacob Two-Two Meets The Hooded Fang.
David is very proud and honoured to be able to continue to present artists and technicians of such exceptional world-class caliber here on the stage of YOUR theatre!

Rebecca Urion - Academy Director

Rebecca Urion has been involved in theatre for over 10 years, directing, performing and educating youth. She received her University degree with a major in drama and a minor in vocal music and currently teaches grade 8 in Brampton.Rebecca directs musical performances with students at her school and has performed herself in many community theatre productions including 'The Secret Garden' (Marquee Productions), 'Kiss Me Kate' (OMT), and 'The Pyjama Game' (OMT).

Jane Cameron - Academy Director

Jane graduated with an Honours BA in English and Drama from the University of Western Ontario. She earned a Type A teaching certificate in English and an Honours Specialist Certification in Theatre from Althouse College of Education. Upon graduation, Jane joined the New Space Theatre under the direction of Ken Livingstone. The ensemble approach to production allowed Jane the opportunity to begin to hone her skills as an actress, assistant to the director, playwright, stage manager, props mistress and tour manager. Working in London and Ottawa, Jane later focused upon playwriting for theatre for children and scriptwriting for kids' television. Volunteer work under the tutelage of Gary Sarazin led to employment with Theatre Orangeville. Jane is entering her seventh season as a writer and youth director with this great theatre. Specific interests include mask making, mask performance, physical theatre, improvisation, and co-creating comedy with young actors. Central to Jane's work: creative exploration, the unlimited power of the imagination, the joy of expression, humour and the essential ingredient - awesome kids.

Chandra Mulder - Academy Director

Chandra Mulder is an accomplished award winning actress, improviser, director and educator. Chandra has strong backgrounds in musical theatre, improv, and Shakespeare. Her dance training consists of ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, tap, and African. Chandra has been teaching theate for over 18 yrs and loves to watch young and old discover thier hidden talents in bringing to life characters in spoken word, stories, song or dance. As a founding member of 4 Corners Theatre, Chandra has performed and taught improv, and is a long standing member of Blackhorse Village Players. Chandra has been teaching for many years and co-developed The Small Stages Theatre Experience offering the opportunity to explore theatre as a tool for self discovery for kids, adults and businesses.

Chelsea Johnson - TOYS Director

Chelsea is thrilled to be joining TOYS this fall. Chelsea is a graduate of Sheridan College’s Musical Theatre Performance program and in training vocally, has trained with Ray Lyell, Debra Byrd (Vocal Coach to American Idol), and Marie Baron (Head of vocal at Sheridan College). After graduating, she has spent her time performing, directing and teaching professionally in Canada. Some of her theatre performance credits include, Anne of Green Gables (Drayton Entertainment), Scenes from the 19th Hole (Muskoka Theatre Project), A Christmas Carol (UCP), Christmas Express (UCP), and A Gift to Last (UCP) Honk! (DaCapo Productions). Chelsea started teaching vocals at Rayne Records in Hamilton and has gone on to teach with many Studios and youth companies including, Mississauga Youth Theatre, Brampton Theatre School, and Academy of the Performing Arts on Broadway (Orangeville). Her directing credits include, Smokey Joe’s Café (RLA productions), Beauty and the Beast (BTS), Seussical Jr. (BTS) and Little Red Riding Hood (Sears festival), and has just recently Musically directed Alice in Wonderland with Milton Youth Theatre Performers. Looking forward to a fantastic year with TOYS and all the creative energy these youths bring to their performance!

Deb Robertson - Academy Director

At home in the arts since she was a weekend student at the early Young Peoples Theatre inToronto, Deb considers music and theatre the foundation of her true self. She continues her involvement in theatre and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Association of Community Theatres of Central Ontario (ACT-CO). Deb has performed and directed in theatres and summer stock in various Ontario locations as well as writing, recording and performing songs and creating original songs and music for theatre productions. Deb has been a coach and teacher for many years and has developed programs for youth and adults eventually launching Small Stages, a youth theatre company. An award winning director, actor, theatre coach, singer/songwriter, radio host and writer, Deb can be found using her observational humour in her column "The Raod Less Gravelled" for the Regional News or singing with her band. Currently she launched the new venture 'In Studio Be - Body, Art & Soul' an arts and wellness studio, with fellow Academy Director Chandra Pepper-Mulder, offering a permanent home to their new Small Stages Creative Company, as well as many other arts and wellness projects. Deb looks forward to another fun, informative and productive season at the Theatre O'ville Academy!

Pamela is a graduate of the Music Theatre Performance Program at Sheridan College. Credits include - 'Anne of Green Gables' (Drayton Entertainment), 'Emily' (Talk Is Free Theatre), 'A Christmas Carol' (Theatre Orangeville), 'My Fair Lady' (Drayton Entertainment) and 'Tick Tick Boom' (The Rose Theatre) to name a few. Pamela teaches private singing and acting lessons with her company PS Studio and is thrilled to be involved with Theatre Orangeville's Academy Programs- so come on out to play!

Steve Urion - Academy Director

Steve Urion has worked in professional theatre for 15years. He graduated from the University of Windsor with a BFA in Acting and went on to act, sing and dance on a variety of stages. As a performer, featured and favourite roles include The Secret Garden, Singin' in the Rain, Crazy for You, Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Romeo and Juliet. As a director/choreographer Steve has had the privilege of working on The Pajama Game and Kiss Me, Kate. For the past two years, Steve has been the director of Creative Partners on Stage, a collaborative theatre project between Theatre Orangeville and Community Living Dufferin, directing and choreographing Beauty and the Beast and The Sound of Music. Steve also works as an elementary teacher in Brampton.

Ian

Walsh - Academy Director

Ian is the founding Artistic Director of Blackhorn Productions which specialized in Medieval Education and Entertianment. He holds a B.A. in theatre from the University of Windsor and works as a theatre professional in the areas of Stage Managemet, Fight Direction and acting. Over the last 20 years, he has taught and entertained children and adults of all ages across Ontario and Medieval Demonstrations, in Workshops, at Festivals, Feasts, Schools and in Plays. Ian is thrilled to be returning to teach Stage Combat at Theatre Orangeville and he hopes to return to teach many more programs. Ian lives and works in Guelph with his wife Rebeccas and his son Oven Alan.

Andr

ew Welch - Academy Director

Trained in theatre at the University of Waterloo, Andrew comes to us from long Toronto-based career spanning well over 100 productions. Having moved to Caledon just a few years ago, he has slowly begun to share his experience within our community. A founding member of TheatreSports Toronto with numerous film/TV credits, Andrew also has an extensive set and lighting portfolio, with designs seen across Ontario and on tour in the U.S. and Europe - most recently as past Technical Director for the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus. He also has a strong background in experiential education, and is equally comfortable leading youth through a high ropes challenge course or teaching theatre improv to corporate executives.