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 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).

Miss Sam has been a Senior Instructor at Showstoppers for over 12 years and made the jump to the role of studio manager! She has many years of dance and acting experience and is a Showstoppers alumni. She attended the Broadway Teachers Training Program and Student Summit in New York City in both 2017, 2018, and 2023. 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 coworkers and students!

Select Director/Choreographer credits include: Matilda JR, Once on this Island JR, Beauty and the Beast JR, The Drowsy Chaperone JR (Showstoppers Academy), Pride and Prejudice (Gallery 7), The Man Who Stole Christmas, Elf the Musical (Theatre in the Country).

Jessica has been with Showstoppers Academy since 2011 first as a student, then as a teacher in 2015. 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! In her free time Jessica has been teaching herself how to play various instruments including guitar and piano. Jessica is thrilled to be back for another year at Showstoppers Academy and can’t wait to see what the year ahead holds. Select Director credits include: Shrek Jr, A Year with Frog and Toad Kids, and Seussical Jr. Select Performing credits include: Elsa in Frozen Jr, Fiona in Shrek the Musical Jr, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast Jr. 

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 Stagestars 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. 

Emily is so excited to be joining the wonderful team at Showstoppers. A graduate of the Lindbjerg Academy of Performing Arts, the Musical Theatre program at Capilano University, and the Bachelor of Performing Arts Program at Douglas College, Emily is passionate about youth theatre and youth in the arts. She is also a personal trainer and youth fitness specialist.

Select performing credits include: Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical the Musical (Align Entertainment - upcoming Jan/Feb 2023), The Mad Hatter/Ensemble in SHREK the Musical (Align Entertainment), Ensemble in Mamma Mia (Arts Club Theatre Company), Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Exit 22), and Lou Ann in Hairspray (Theatre Under The Stars).

Choreographer/director credits include: Frozen Jr (Lindbjerg/Showstoppers), Peter Pan Jr (CTORA), American Idiot (URP - Ovation Nomination for Best Choreography), Thoroughly Modern Millie JR (Lindbjerg Academy), Cinderella (CTORA), Draining the Swamp (Curious Creations), and Ten Blocks on the Camino Real (Arbutus Studios).

Jesse is a graduate of the musical theatre program at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and has performed on stages across North America and Europe. He shared the stage with legendary Soprano Marni Nixon for Lincoln Centre’s Winter’s Eve Festival and was a part of the audience chorus for “No Time At All” on the 2013 Broadway cast recording of Pippin. Jesse is excited to join the Showstoppers family and hopes to inspire and nurture the next generation of aspiring performers.

Some performance highlights include: Miss Saigon, Godspell, 42nd Street, and The Wiz(Interlakes), Barber of Seville(Vancouver Opera), LIFT(Awkward Stage), Joseph(Align Entertainment), FAME(Bring On Tomorrow), A Chorus Line(Fighting Chance), Rock of Ages(Renegade), HAIR(SOOP).

Kim is very excited to be joining the Showstoppers Academy teaching team! Kim began her musical theatre training in 1998 with The Lindbjerg 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 starting this year Showstoppers Academy too! Kim looks forward to using her over 20 years of training and experience to inspire the next generation of “theatre kids”.

Alyssa is a passionate dancer, choreographer, and performer from Vancouver, British Columbia. Having begun dancing at the age of 3, Alyssa has since competed at the highest levels in various styles. She continued her training with The Source Dance Company out of Harbour Dance Centre, in downtown Vancouver. Alongside her dance background, she also has extensive circus training, adding a unique dimension to her performance style. Currently, Alyssa is a professional dancer for the Vancouver Warriors lacrosse team and performs for the Vancouver Canucks during playoff season. Since 2015, she has been choreographing across multiple styles, sharing her creative vision with a wide range of dancers. New to Showstoppers Academy, Alyssa is thrilled to inspire the next generation of dancers with her love for the art!