Meet the Team
Owners & Admin
Chad Matchette (he/him)
Co-Owner since 2022
Chad is living a lifelong dream of not only working in the arts, but also teaching and helping encourage young people to express themselves and find their voice through musical theatre and dance. He feels so lucky to have such a wonderful team to work with alongside a truly amazing student body. Chad has been involved in the Vancouver theatre scene as an actor, director, producer, writer and teacher for over 35 years. He has produced four critically acclaimed shows for Royal City Musical Theatre in New Westminster: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Will Rogers Follies, Hello Dolly, and Oklahoma. Chad is also the Co-Owner and Artistic Director of Align Entertainment, an award-winning theatre company that produces large scale family Broadway Musicals out of the Michael J. Fox Theatre.
Acting highlights include: Lenny in Of Mice and Men (CTC Award Winner – Best Actor), Ray in Lonestar (CTC Nomination – Best Supporting Actor), Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (CTC Award Winner, Ovation Nomination – Best Actor), Daddy Warbucks in Annie (CTC Nomination – Best Actor).
Directing highlights include: Anne of Green Gables (CTC Nomination – Best Director), Shrek (Ovation Nomination – Best Director), The Addams Family (Ovation Nomination – Best Director), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Ovation Nomination – Best Director).
Erin Matchette (she/her)
Co-Owner since 2022
Erin has contributed to numerous theatre productions since starting drama class at the age of 10 and winning an aggregate award at the Prince George Drama Festival in 1986. Training includes the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, UBC, and the William Davis Centre (now Vancouver Film School). Erin has attended master class with Peter Jorgensen, Robert McQueen, and Miriam Fond, but is especially indebted to Sandra Head (who may be a certified guardian angel). Mostly an ensemble player but favourite roles include: Miss Hanigan, Ursula, Alice Bieneke, Miss Stacy, and Sister Robert Anne. Erin appeared in Align Entertainment’s first ten shows, seven shows with the now defunct Footlight, and an enjoyable five summers at Theatre Under The Stars (three onstage).
Sam Judd (she/her)
Instructor since 2012 | Studio Manager since 2022
Miss Sam has been a Senior Instructor at Showstoppers for over 13 years and made the jump to the role of studio manager! She has many years of dance and acting experience and is a Showstoppers alum. She attended the Broadway Teachers Training Program and Student Summit in New York City and continues to supplement her training in both dance and voice. She also has experience choreographing and teaching for various theatre and dance companies in the Lower Mainland, including TIC, Gallery 7, The ACT Arts Centre, and JAM Dance. Sam strives to be an inspiring and enthusiastic teacher, and loves to share her passion for the stage with her students. She could not imagine doing anything else with her life, and is grateful every day for her incredible students!
Select Director/Choreographer credits include: Matilda JR, Once on this Island JR, The Drowsy Chaperone JR , Alice By Heart (Showstoppers Academy), Pride and Prejudice (Gallery 7), The Man Who Stole Christmas, Elf the Musical (Theatre in the Country).
Jessica Allen (she/her)
Instructor since 2015 | Show Photographer since 2021 | Stage Manager & Administrator since 2025
Jessica has been with Showstoppers Academy since 2011 firstly as a student then started teaching in 2015. This is her 11th season teaching! She has had a passion for the arts since a very young age and before she joined Showstoppers was a competitive dancer focusing in Jazz, Ballet and Lyrical. Jessica also was a competitive Figure Skater in her earlier years. Jessica is very passionate about youth theatre and wants to recognize how lucky she is to work with such talented kids every year! Jessica also takes all of our show photos! Jessica is thrilled to be back for another year at Showstoppers Academy and can’t wait to see what the year ahead holds.
Select Performing credits include Elsa in Frozen Jr, Fiona in Shrek the Musical Jr, Gabriella in High School Musical JR, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast Jr.
Select Director credits include: Xanadu JR, Willy Wonka Kids, Shrek Jr, A Year with Frog and Toad Kids, Lion King JR, and Seussical Jr&Kids.
Instructors
Dara Coulter (she/her)
Instructor since 2017
Dara began as a student of Showstoppers Academy in 2012 and started assisting classes in 2017. She has extensive dance training from a young age and loves to perform. She loves teaching the Stage Stars and is always excited to introduce the younger generation to the world of musical theatre! Her favorurite thing is to share her passion for the stage with her students and watch them grow into talented younger performers. Dara also loves to dabble in the world of costume design and construction.
Select director credits include: A Year with Frog and Toad KIDS, and Winnie the Pooh KIDS.
Select performing credits include: Wendy in Peter Pan, Ti Moune in Once on This Island, and Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast.
Jesse Alvarez (he/him)
Instructor since 2022
Jesse is a graduate of the musical theatre program at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy LA/NYC and has performed on stages across North America and Europe. Jesse is glad to be a part of the Lindbjerg/Showstoppers family and hopes to inspire and nurture the next generation of aspiring performers. Some notable performance highlights include A Night with Stephen Sondheim (CityOpera Vancouver) and sharing the stage with legendary Soprano Marni Nixon for Lincoln Centre’s Winter’s Eve Festival.
Some show credits include: Starwalker (Urban Ink), Seussical (SaskExpress), Miss Saigon, Godspell, and The Wiz (Interlakes), Barber of Seville (Vancouver Opera), LIFT (Awkward Stage), Joseph (Align Entertainment), Facing East, A Chorus Line (Fighting Chance), and Rock of Ages Renegade).
Kim Bunka (she/her)
Instructor since 2023
Kim is thrilled to be part of the Lindbjerg Academy teaching team! Kim began her musical theatre training in 1998 with The Linbdbjerg Academy and has been in love with theatre ever since! She grew up performing all around the Lower Mainland and is a graduate of Grant MacEwan’s Theatre Arts program in Edmonton. Fresh out of theatre school Kim began teaching voice lessons and musical theatre for the Lindbjerg Academy where she did a combination of direction, music direction and and choreography for such productions as Bugsy Malone Jr, Annie Jr, School House Rock Jr, Beauty and the Beast Jr, and There’s No Business Like Show Business, a review style show which she also wrote. She has performed in over 45 plays and musicals around the Lower Mainland and Edmonton, with various choirs and has studied private voice lessons for many years. Kim took a leap of faith, trust and pixie dust and left teaching to pursue her dream of working for Disney Cruise Line. That dream came true and she ended up working for The Mouse for 8 years, first as a performer and then as an Entertainment Officer in charge of overseeing all the ship wide entertainment.
Since returning home she has been so thrilled to be back teaching with Lindbjerg and adding Showstoppers Academy and Evergreen Cultural Centre to the mix too! She also recently became a published author! You can keep up with her author adventures by searching “Kim Bunka Author” on your favourite social media app. Kim loves using her over 25 years of training and experience to inspire the next generation of “theatre kids”.
Dayton Gill (he/him)
Instructor since 2024
Dayton is a Showstoppers alum having joined the academy way back in 2007! He has performed in many shows with notable roles such as “Shrek” (Shrek 2015), Mufasa (Lion King 2016), and Buddy The Elf (Elf 2019). Dayton expanded his accolades the following years by releasing original music on streaming platforms. His talent and love for musical theatre allowed him to venture into teaching, starting his class “Acting FUNdementals” at The Act in 2023 working with local youth performing his original scripts. This is Dayton’s second season teaching at Showstoppers and he could not be more grateful for the opportunity to pass on his love of musical theatre with a new generation of young actors!
Madison Raybould (she/her)
Instructor since 2025
Madison is a dancer, singer, actor, and choreographer from the Tri-City area. Madison is a recent graduate of Capilano University’s Musical Theatre program and a recipient of the Aida Broadbent Award from Professional Conduct and Performance!
Selected credits include Serena in Legally Blonde (TUTS), Alice Spencer in Alice by Heart (Capilano Theatre), Sandy Cheeks in The SpongeBob Musical (FVMT), the assistant choreographer for Cinderella: The Magical Pantomime (DCS), and the choreographer for The Sound of Music (TIC). When not performing on stage or teaching at the studio, Madison can be found painting, colouring, or cross-stitching!
Lochlan Oulton (he/him)
Instructor since 2025
Lochlan has been dancing for 11 years, training in a wide range of styles and competing in contemporary, hip hop, and jazz. Throughout his competitive career, he has earned multiple standout recognitions and high-scoring awards. Alongside his dance journey, Lochlan also coaches elite-level swimming, where he brings the same dedication, discipline, and passion for growth that he carries into the studio. As a teacher, he is most excited to nurture a love for dance in young performers, helping them build confidence, artistry, and a lifelong passion for movement.
Ellie Ramsay (she/her)
Student Teacher since 2024
Ellie began as a student at showstoppers in 2014 and started assisting classes in 2021. Before she was at showstoppers she was a dancer and loves to preform. She loves teaching and sharing her passion of musical theatre with her students. This year Ellie is also going to be working on the props team. Ellie is ecstatic about being back for another year at showstoppers and can’t wait for an incredible year!
Select preforming credits include:
Bert in Mary Poppins jr, Mal Beineke in Addams Family jr, and Tottendale/Gangster 2 in the Drowsy Chaperone.
Madison McNee
Student Teacher since 2024
Madison's passion for the arts ignited at the age of four, and she has been captivated by the world of musical theatre ever since. She began her journey at Lindbjerg Academy in 2011 and became part of the Showstoppers family in 2016. Her involvement with Showstoppers has included volunteering backstage with younger classes and now participating in the Adult Musical Theatre class. With training in Tap and Jazz, Madison continues to develop her skills as both a dancer and an actress. Some of her favourite roles on the stage include Simba in The Lion King Jr, Asaka in Once on This Island, and Lefou in Beauty and the Beast. Madison has found a second home in Showstoppers, where she has built lasting friendships, found a supportive community, and nurtured her love for the theatre. Madison is so excited to join the Showstoppers team and looks forward to inspiring students and contributing to the artistic environment she has long cherished.
Behind The Scenes
Dan Wiebe (he/him)
Set Construction since 2022
Dan has been involved in musical theatre for the past 15 years. It all started with Lindbjerg Academy where his children joined, and fell in love with singing, dancing and acting. Over the years, and through the help of talented individuals, he has learn the trade of set building and design, and Assistant Stage Management. Past shows include, Align’s The Little Mermaid, Joseph, Legally Blonde, Shrek, and A Christmas Story as ASM, Legally Blonde, Shrek, and A Christmas Story as set construction, numerous Lindbjerg Academy productions as Set Design and ASM, Naked Goddess Productions The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Bring on Tomorrows Fame and 13, and Snapshot Collective’s Sweeney Todd. Bring on the show!
John Bradbury (he/him)
Set Construction since 2022
Learning to build with his grandfather as a child resulted in over 20 years of set design and carpentry for John. In addition to Lindbjerg Academy, he has enjoyed working with Align Entertainment and Boone Dog Productions as well as other Vancouver theatre companies. Select list of building projects include The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Tarzan and Peter Pan. John has loved being a part of the Lindbjerg Family for the past 10 years.
Jan Ballard (she/her)
Makeup and Wigs since 2022
Jan has worked with the Lindbjerg Academy for many years. She, and her husband Ian, supply, style and work at the shows putting wigs and makeup on for the many different varieties of performances. Jan is very proud to be working along side such a great group of people. She is also a stage manager during showtime - helping with picking up, setting up, and taking down sets. During shows you can always find Dan or Jan on one side of the back stage or the other.
Alex Godlewski (she/her)
Co-Head of Costume Department since 2023
In 2020, Alex completed the Costuming for Stage and Screen diploma program at Capilano University. Throughout the program, she gained extensive experience in designing and sewing a variety of modern and period costumes. Now, with over five years of experience designing, sewing and working in film and theatre, she is thrilled to be part of this new chapter and looks forward to contributing to the artistic vision of Lindbjerg and Showstoppers.
Megan Wiebe (she/her)
Co-Head of Costume Department since 2023
Elisabeth Pollock (she/her)
Head of Props Department since 2022
Elisabeth was a student at Lindbjerg Academy for eight years and was a TA for four. She participated in musical theatre, ballet, lyrical, tap, hip-hop and jazz classes. She joined the Lindbjerg team in 2022 as a student teacher and part of the props department and is excited to be continuing this year as head of the Props Department. Select stage credits include Tatiana in Anastasia (Theater in the Country), Flower Seller in Beauty and the Beast (Align Entertainment), Lumière in Beauty and the Beast, Tanya in Mamma Mia (Lindbjerg Academy) and Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone (Rivers Edge theatre). Elisabeth has also had the pleasure of working backstage as a stagehand in credits such as Annie and Shrek the Musical (Align Entertainment). In her everyday life, Elisabeth is a French Major at SFU. Elisabeth is excited to continue to share her passion for theatre and creativity with others.
Katelynn Schmidt (she/her)
Props Department since 2025
Katelynn started taking musical theatre classes at Showstoppers Academy in 2013. In addition to performing at Showstoppers, Katelynn trained in jazz, lyrical, ballet, and tap dance styles. In 2021, Katelynn decided to explore her passion for musical theatre further by becoming a teaching assistant at Showstoppers. Katelynn loves sharing her passion for theatre with the younger kids at the studio and is grateful to have the opportunity to support them and the TA’s by joining the prop team this year! She is so excited to get started on the new season!
Select performing credits include: Alfred Hallam in Alice By Heart, Janet Van De Graaff in The Drowsy Chaperone Jr, and Pugsley in The Addams Family Jr.