TAEA 2026 National Drama Teachers’ Conference
British Columbia

Jeff Gladstone is a Vancouver-based actor, improviser, director, writer and theatre educator with extensive experience in improvisation and ensemble-based performance. He has performed and taught improv professionally for many years, bringing an approach that emphasizes listening, spontaneity, character, storytelling and collaboration. As an educator, Jeff helps performers move beyond short-form games to discover how improvisation can create sustained characters, relationships and stories. He has previously led workshops for TAEA’s National Drama Teachers’ Conference, where his sessions have been enthusiastically received by participating educators.

Jason Goldstein is the co-owner and co-founder of BookTix, an online ticketing platform created with the needs of schools, community theatres, and performing arts organizations at its core. A longtime performing arts producer and entrepreneur, Jason has spent more than 25 years bringing together his interests in theatre, technology, marketing, and business. BookTix itself grew from Jason and co-owner Tim DiVito’s experience developing a ticketing system for an Off-Broadway production and has since expanded to serve arts organizations throughout the United States and Canada.

A sought-after presenter and consultant on theatrical marketing and audience development, Jason has worked extensively with educational theatre organizations and has presented on topics including marketing, ticket sales, leadership, entrepreneurship, and musical theatre. He holds a BA in Theatrical Business and Communication with a minor in Music and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from Rutgers University. His work reflects a longstanding commitment to helping theatre educators and arts organizations build stronger programs, reach larger audiences, and create sustainable performing arts communities.

Michael Coleman is an award-winning actor, writer, director, producer, and educator whose career spans film, television, voice-over, and independent production. As an actor, Michael has appeared on screen in productions including Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, Stargate: SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, Hallmark films, and projects for Disney, Nickelodeon, and other major networks and studios. His extensive voice-over credits include Dragon Ball Z, Hello Kitty, Hamtaro, Inuyasha, The Powerpuff Girls, Gundam, X-Men, and numerous other animated and commercial productions.

Behind the camera, Michael is an award-winning writer, director, and producer whose work has been released and distributed through platforms and studios including Amazon, Apple, Hallmark, Roku, DramaBox, ReelShort, Pocket FM, and others. His work spans scripted film and television, digital series, short-form entertainment, and emerging storytelling formats.

A passionate educator and industry mentor, Michael also brings his professional experience into the classroom, teaching the next generation of actors and storytellers how to build sustainable careers both in front of and behind the camera. He is the founder of Story Institute, where his philosophy is rooted in empowering artists not simply to find opportunities, but to create them.

Dr. Claire Fogal is a Vancouver-based director, actor, theatre educator and creator specializing in acting, collective creation, directing, physical theatre, movement, Shakespeare and text analysis. She holds a PhD in Theatre from the University of British Columbia, an MFA in Directing from the University of Alberta, and a BA in Theatre and English Literature from UBC. Claire has taught at institutions including UBC, the University of Alberta, Douglas College and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. A graduate and former Director of Educational Programming at Tooba Physical Theatre Centre, her work draws particularly on the physical-theatre traditions of Étienne Decroux and Jerzy Grotowski. She is also the Artistic Director of Minotaur’s Kitchen and has extensive experience as a director, performer and creator of original theatre.

Alison Calder is a Vancouver-based drama educator with the Vancouver School Board and an experienced teacher of stage combat and performance. She has led stage fighting workshops for students through TAEA’s STAR Fest West and brings a practical, classroom-focused approach to introducing physical stage combat safely and effectively. Her workshops emphasize creating believable theatrical action while developing student focus, control, communication and trust.

Marÿke has acted professionally for over 30 years, beginning her career in film, television, and theatre. She has lent her voice to thousands of animated episodes, and considers voiceover work her specialty. Her credits include Polly Pocket, Ninjango, and Johnny Test.

Bob Frazer is an acclaimed Canadian actor, instructor, director and theatre creator. A graduate of Studio 58, he has worked extensively in theatre, film and television, with screen credits including The Cannon, Motherland: Fort Salem, Fire Country, Drinkwater, ReBoot: The Guardian Code and Cold Squad. He has performed in more than 100 plays, directed productions across Western Canada and received multiple Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards. Bob is an instructor at Capilano University, where he mentors emerging actors and explores authenticity, individuality and strong physical and vocal choices in performance.

Manami Hara is a Vancouver-based actor, playwright, director, dramaturg, translator/interpreter, and theatre educator who currently serves as Director of Applied Theatre at Presentation House Theatre in North Vancouver. Born and raised in Tokyo, she moved to Canada at 18 to pursue a life in theatre and graduated from Studio 58. Over the past three decades, she has worked with theatre companies across Canada as a performer and creator, including the Arts Club, Firehall Arts Centre, Theatre Calgary, Gateway Theatre, The Cultch, National Arts Centre, and Presentation House Theatre. ([Presentation House Theatre][1])

Her critically acclaimed play Courage Now, inspired by the story of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, premiered at Vancouver’s Firehall Arts Centre, and her work as an artist has earned both a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award and nominations. Alongside her professional theatre practice, Manami is passionate about applied theatre and helping learners of all ages discover acting, storytelling, collaboration, and the transformative possibilities of theatre-making. ([Boca del Lupo][2])

Jason Goldstein is the co-owner and co-founder of BookTix, an online ticketing platform created with the needs of schools, community theatres, and performing arts organizations at its core. A longtime performing arts producer and entrepreneur, Jason has spent more than 25 years bringing together his interests in theatre, technology, marketing, and business. BookTix itself grew from Jason and co-owner Tim DiVito’s experience developing a ticketing system for an Off-Broadway production and has since expanded to serve arts organizations throughout the United States and Canada.

A sought-after presenter and consultant on theatrical marketing and audience development, Jason has worked extensively with educational theatre organizations and has presented on topics including marketing, ticket sales, leadership, entrepreneurship, and musical theatre. He holds a BA in Theatrical Business and Communication with a minor in Music and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from Rutgers University. His work reflects a longstanding commitment to helping theatre educators and arts organizations build stronger programs, reach larger audiences, and create sustainable performing arts communities.

John Lazarus was born in Montreal, graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada, has been an award-winning professional playwright since 1970, and was a founding member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada. His plays — produced all over the world, and extensively published and translated — include Village of Idiots, Dreaming and Duelling, Babel Rap, The Late Blumer, The Nightingale, Genuine Fakes, Homework & Curtains, Medea’s Disgust, Rough Magic, The Grandkid, Trouble on Dibble Street, Exposure, and the TYA plays Not So Dumb and Night Light. He taught playwriting and related subjects for 10 years at Studio 58 and for 21 years at Queen’s University, and is the author of Two Ways About It: The Inside and Outside of Playwriting (J. Gordon Shillingford, Winnipeg, 2023). He is old, white, male, straight, Jewish, and anti-ageist, anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic and anti-war.

Josh Knight is an Australian-Canadian drama educator and professionally trained actor currently teaching with the Richmond School District at Hugh Boyd Secondary School. His background bridges professional actor training with secondary drama education, allowing him to bring practical performance techniques directly into the classroom.

Josh teaches across a wide range of drama and performance areas, with particular interests in acting, sketch comedy, improvisation, TheatreSports, movement for actors, film and television performance, audition technique, and self-taping. His approach draws on his professional actor training as well as his experience working with young performers, with an emphasis on active learning, experimentation, ensemble-building, and developing confident, expressive actors.

Originally from Australia, Josh also brings international training and experience to his work as an educator. He is passionate about giving students practical performance tools while creating theatre classrooms that encourage creativity, risk-taking, collaboration, and play.

Tim Alguire is a Vancouver-based audiovisual and entertainment-technology professional with extensive experience in professional AV, projection, display technology and client solutions. He currently works with Christie Lites and has worked across the audiovisual industry on technologies including large-format displays, projection and integrated AV systems. Tim brings a practical understanding of how professional visual technologies can be adapted to create engaging environments and theatrical experiences.

TBD

Raes Calvert, Associate Director of Studio 58, is a multidisciplinary Métis theatre artist living and working on unceded Coast Salish Territories. After graduating from Studio 58, he became Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Hardline Productions. As a performer he has toured nationally and internationally with such companies as Axis Theatre, Green Thumb Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Urban Ink and Presentation House Theatre. He is a five-time Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominee and two-time recipient. Raes received a REVEAL Indigenous Art Award from the Hnatysyn Foundation in 2017. He also has a BPA degree from Capilano University.

Josh Knight is an Australian-Canadian drama educator and professionally trained actor currently teaching with the Richmond School District at Hugh Boyd Secondary School. His background bridges professional actor training with secondary drama education, allowing him to bring practical performance techniques directly into the classroom.

Josh teaches across a wide range of drama and performance areas, with particular interests in acting, sketch comedy, improvisation, TheatreSports, movement for actors, film and television performance, audition technique, and self-taping. His approach draws on his professional actor training as well as his experience working with young performers, with an emphasis on active learning, experimentation, ensemble-building, and developing confident, expressive actors.

Originally from Australia, Josh also brings international training and experience to his work as an educator. He is passionate about giving students practical performance tools while creating theatre classrooms that encourage creativity, risk-taking, collaboration, and play.

Kerri Norris is a Vancouver-area actor, director, costume designer, producer, educator, and dramaturg, and currently serves as Artistic Director of the Royal Canadian Theatre Company. She holds an MFA in Acting from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Los Angeles and has worked extensively with theatre companies throughout the Lower Mainland.

Kerri has been part of Royal Canadian Theatre Company since its early years and has designed costumes for numerous productions, while also working as a director and performer. Her costume design credits include productions with Royal Canadian Theatre Company, Trinity Western University, and Shadows & Dreams Theatre Company, and she has also directed for companies including Pacific Theatre and Gallery 7 Theatre.

A multidisciplinary theatre artist and educator, Kerri brings a practical understanding of both the creative and logistical sides of producing theatre. Her work reflects a passion for collaboration, storytelling, and helping artists create imaginative, effective theatre with the resources available to them.

Josh Hatt is a theatre educator, producer, technical director, and arts consultant with nearly two decades of experience in educational theatre in Canada and internationally. His work spans theatre production, technical theatre, stagecraft, design, directing, and arts education, with a focus on creating meaningful, hands-on opportunities for young artists. He currently produces and teaches theatre at West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver, leads Steady Voice Consulting, and serves as National Director of Outreach and Partnerships with the Theatrical Arts Education Association, helping expand theatre education, professional learning, festivals, and student pathways across Canada.

Jaime Butler is a performer and graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA), with training in dance, acting, singing, and musical theatre. Her performance experience includes productions such as West Side Story and The Crucible, as well as professional performance work at the PNE. Drawing on her multidisciplinary training, Jaime brings an accessible and practical approach to musical theatre dance, helping performers build confidence with the foundational steps, vocabulary, and movement skills used across musical theatre.

Jim Hoare is Executive Vice President, Education and Community Initiatives at Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) and has been involved in theatre education for nearly five decades.

Throughout his career, Jim has helped create School Editions of major Broadway musicals including Monty Python’s SPAMALOT, The Addams Family, Big Fish, Bright Star, and The Prom. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Educational Theatre Foundation and has presented workshops for theatre educators throughout the United States and United Kingdom.

Jim is the recipient of the New York State Theatre Education Association’s Rod Marriott Award for Lifetime Achievement in Educational Theatre and the Florida Association for Theatre Education’s Outstanding Theatre Arts Advocate Award.

He is also the author of Your High School Improv Show Playbook and Your School Theatre Director’s Playbook, resources created to support educators in building successful and meaningful theatre programs.

Jim’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering theatre educators and expanding opportunities for young people to experience the transformative power of theatre.

Jim Hoare is Executive Vice President, Education and Community Initiatives at Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) and has been involved in theatre education for nearly five decades.

Throughout his career, Jim has helped create School Editions of major Broadway musicals including Monty Python’s SPAMALOT, The Addams Family, Big Fish, Bright Star, and The Prom. He is a member of the Advisory Board for the Educational Theatre Foundation and has presented workshops for theatre educators throughout the United States and United Kingdom.

Jim is the recipient of the New York State Theatre Education Association’s Rod Marriott Award for Lifetime Achievement in Educational Theatre and the Florida Association for Theatre Education’s Outstanding Theatre Arts Advocate Award.

He is also the author of Your High School Improv Show Playbook and Your School Theatre Director’s Playbook, resources created to support educators in building successful and meaningful theatre programs.

Jim’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering theatre educators and expanding opportunities for young people to experience the transformative power of theatre.

Elissa Frittaion is a professional film and television makeup and hair artist, educator, and writer with decades of industry experience. A longtime instructor at Vancouver Film School, she trains emerging artists in professional makeup technique, character creation, and the practical demands of working on set. Her career spans professional screen production, education, and creative writing, giving her a wealth of real-world experience to share with educators and aspiring artists.