Having been a student here for over 12 years, Adrienne (often known as Adi) has grown up at CSOPA. Getting to apply their breadth of theatre knowledge from years of learning to the administrative aspect of the field has already proved to be an interesting venture.
As a creative person, Adi enjoys using their creative problem solving skills to help organize and maintain the school records, bookkeeping, social media, and much more. When not in office, they can often be found engaging in several art forms, learning new things, or snuggled in a pile of blankets. Adi is so thankful for the opportunity to help shape and grow something so important. It is a joy to get to know (and greet!) every incredible person who walks through the door.
Hayley—better known around the CSOPA building as “Bam”—is a theatre technician with a love for set design, stage management, and all things backstage magic. A proud CSOPA alum, she’s thrilled to be back on the other side of the curtain, helping a new generation discover the joy of theatre. Fueled by her own favorite memories as a student, Hayley is passionate about sparking creativity and sharing the fun of the arts with today’s youth. When she’s not at CSOPA, you can usually spot her dashing between productions, hanging lights, designing sets, and collecting new splashes of paint on her shoes. Hayley can’t wait to welcome every student and help them feel at home here at CSOPA.
Natasha has been involved in performance work for 28 years and loves the challenge each year presents as a CSOPA instructor. She believes that one of the most important skills we can learn in life is how to present ourselves. Our body is one of our most incredible tools of communication and acting teaches us those skills that benefit us on stage and off.
Lauren is an amazing vocalist with her masters in music and voice from UBC. She has an incredible list of credits going back years, ranging from Operas to Concerts to Choruses. Lauren is an incredibly experienced teacher and we’re so grateful she has shared her many talents with CSOPA and is helping to build the next generation of musicians.
Phay (she/they) is an intimacy director/coordinator, theatre director, public speaker, and professional actor. We are so happy she has graced CSOPA with her amazing skills as a theatre instructor as well. After starting their training in 2016 with Intimacy Directors International, Phay has trained with organisations and mentors across Canada and North America, and helped in the creation of the National Society of Intimacy Professionals, sitting as co-chair from 2021-2023. They earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English with honours from University of the Fraser Valley.Phay has supported productions all over the Lower Mainland as an intimacy professional in film, television, and theatre.
Shawna discovered a love for Theatre while attending the University of the Fraser Valley. On a whim, she decided to take an acting course as a fun elective and ended up switching one of her Majors to Theatre. She now has a double Major in Theatre and English, a Theatre diploma, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. When not at CSOPA, Shawna is an Elementary School Teacher at Leary Integrated Arts and Technology, where she gets to use her Theatre degree every day! Shawna directed CSOPA’s MainStage productions of Cinderella and Descendants, but this year is switching gears and directing the Intermediate Stage program.
Though this is Jakob’s first year with CSOPA, he’s no newbie to performance. With close to a decade of experience playing music on stage, a handful of years working in community theatre, and even experience wearing a mascot costume, Jakob has experience in the performing arts. Jakob is excited to continue his theatre journey while working to support and inspire a new generation of young actors! Outside of the theatre world, he’s been working towards becoming a high school teacher by volunteering in local schools while he finishes his history and English degrees at UFV.
Every year we get to have Ray Mcneil teaching here at CSOPA is a joy! A former CSOPA student of over 12 years, Ray just can’t seem to escape us here. From keeping the studio afloat with odd jobs, crewing shows, building sets, and now directing. Ray has so much love for their second home here, and all the wonderful young artists in it.
Alexandra is a recent graduate of Opera Performance from the University of British
Columbia, where she studied with Kristina Szabo. At UBC Alexandra has been
privileged to play the role of Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte and Cendrillon in Cendrillon.
Most recently, she performed in the Vancouver Opera Pub, hosted by City Opera
Vancouver. Within the past four years, she has been a proud member of the UBC
University Singers and the Vancouver Youth Choir. She is so excited to be back with CSOPA for a second year of teaching the most amazing tiny performers!
Cameron is a theatre instructor at Imagine High Integrated Arts and Technology, as well as the school’s Indigenous Education Grad Coach. Happily wearing many hats, Cameron loves theatre and has been involved in theatre since his time at A.S.I.A. high school in Abbotsford and for over 10 years since. Cameron also performs frequently in the valley’s local theatres within Abbotsford, Kilby and Chilliwack. He has previously worked as an actor, stage manager, designer, operator and stage hand in over 30 productions! Cameron graduated from TRU with a bachelor of Education, and from UFV with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and History. Cameron hopes to bring his work ethic and sense of humor to CSOPA!
Amelia is 16 years old and has been involved with CSOPA for 9 years. She loves the environment, everyone at CSOPA, the fun everyone has, and even the hard work. In non-work/rehearsal time, she spends her time drawing, reading, and being a total goofball.
This is Jocelyn’s 11th year in CSOPA, fourth year in MainStage, and FIRST year stage managing! She hopes that everyone will enjoy her goofy energy. Jocelyn has always appreciated how she is able to express herself to the fullest onstage! When not at CSOPA, there’s a good chance Jocelyn is doing MORE theatre with her school!
This is Maya’s second year as a stage manager, but she has been with CSOPA for 9 years now! When Maya is not preforming you can find her at home drinking coffee, watching movies, or yelling at her cat to get off her clean clothes. If she had one piece of advice to give it would be to try new things because you may find something you enjoy as much as Maya enjoys theatre.
Rei is super cool ya!
Olyviah has been doing theatre for almost 14 years. This will their seventh year with CSOPA as a student, and second year as a Stage Manager. Olyviah has been on stage basically their whole life, and they don’t plan on getting off it anytime soon.
August is only 16, but she has lived a million lives in her 11 years at CSOPA. From rehearsals after primary school, to joining Mainstage, to meeting her best friends… One thing is clear: She wouldn’t be who she is today without the music and dance that surrounds her.
Leon has been performing since five years old! After four years of creating script masterpieces in CSOPA’s Devised programs, Leon has decided to try assisting others in learning the craft. They’re so grateful for the awesome directors and stage managers they’ve worked with, plus all the great friends they have made along the way!
Mason is a CSOPA alumni who cannot seem to escape this place. When not in the building, he can be found 100% completing several video games, listening to musicals, or having a nap with his incredibly temperamental ragdoll cat, Charlie. When IN the CSOPA building, he can be found stage managing, hiding rubber ducks around the studio, and helping Adi carry things that are too heavy.