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 Programming Coordinator/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).   She is constantly looking for ways to get caught up in her love for all things theatre and recently took on the position of Program Coordinator for the Theatre Orangeville Academy.  Rebecca is enjoying organizing all of the incredible theatre education opportunities for youth and adults in this community.

Kristen Buttivant—Academy Director

Kristen has been involved in music and drama since she was in elementary school.  She sang in all the school choirs and took drama lessons with a small theatre group for several years.  Kristen went to Mayfield S.S. where she studied vocal music.  After high school, she went to York University to continue to study French, after being in French Immersion from Kindergarten to Grade 8.  Kristen always knew she wanted to be a teacher, so she continued her education at Teacher's College.  Kristen was hired with the Peel District School Board and she is in her 6th year of teaching.  For her first two years, Kristen taught Grade 6 and 8 Core French, but her last four years she has been teaching Grade 2 and 3 French Immersion and enjoys it very much.  In her spare time, Kristen likes to read, listen to music, and spend time outside with her family and friends.

Jane Cameron—Academy Director—Young Company Drama

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.

Anne Reid—Academy Director

Sitting on the piano bench as a young child and listening to my grandmother as she joyfully played all the old tunes instilled a love of music which has never left. Three years of music lessons gave me the rudiments to play at church and much later, to accompany the cast of musicals we put on at Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth Public Schools. When the opportunity to join the Theatre Orangeville family as the director of musical theatre for young people was presented to me, I could not say yes fast enough. Working with the remarkably talented young people in our community is a constant challenge and celebration.

Deb Robertson—Academy Director

Deb has been involved in the arts since her very early days as a weekend student at the Young Peoples Theatre in Toronto. She has performed and directed in theatres and summer stock in various Ontario locations.  Deb has been teaching for many years and developed The Small Stages Theatre Experience offering the opportunity to explore theatre as a tool for self discovery for kids, adults and businesses.    An award winning, director, actor, singer, songwriter, theatre coach, columnist and radio host, Deb continues to explore the arts in every corner

Gary Sarazin - Academy Director

Gary Sarazin started Drama For Young People with Theatre Orangeville and directed 20 plus sessions over 7 years.  He returns to Theatre Orangeville after 5 years in Dubai with new ideas and fresh enthusiasm!  We look forward to his return!  Gary looks forward to stirring the imagination and stoking the confidence of interested yet inexperienced aspiring actors and kids who want to have fun with a sense of accomplishment.

Pamela Scott—Academy Director

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. 

Andrew Welch - Academy Director - Young Company Drama

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.