ABOUT

Who We Are
Staff & Teaching Artists

Staff &
Teaching Artists

Staff & Teaching Artists

NICOLE STRAWBRIDGE

Founding Artistic Director

Director/Choreographer:
Early Stages • Musical Theatre • Company • Dance

Nicole started training in classical voice at the young age of 7. After completing her voice exams with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Nicole contemplated auditioning for Opera Performance programs or Musical Theatre. Ultimately, her passion led her down the musical theatre path and she ended up studying at the Randolph College for the Performing Arts, graduating in 2009 with a "Triple Threat" diploma.

Favourite stage credits include: Miss Honey in Matilda, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Julia in The Wedding Singer, the title role in Mary Poppins, Laurey Williams in OKLAHOMA!, Cosette in Les Miserables, Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls, Natalie Haller/Ed in All Shook Up, Maria in West Side Story, Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense II, Audrey in Little Shop Of Horrors, Jo March in Little Women and both Carmen Diaz and Serena Katz in FAME! The Musical.

It's a dream come true for Nicole to be able to share her knowledge and passion with young artists, preparing them for the crazy world we call theatre!

COLIN FROTTEN

Executive Director

Musical Director:
Early Stages •Musical Theatre • Company

Originally from Nova Scotia, Colin is a pianist, tenor, music director, vocal coach and educator who graduated from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. He performs regularly throughout Ontario and in the Atlantic provinces and has an active piano/voice studio. Colin also works as the Director of Communications for both Choral Canada and CAPACOA (Canadian Association for the Performing Arts).

Favourite operatic roles include Camille in The Merry Widow and the title role in Händel's Acis and Galatea (Maritime Concert Opera), Don Basilio/Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro (Opera York), and Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni (Opera by Request). Recent musical theatre credits include Anthony in Sweeney Todd (First Act Productions), and George in The Wedding Singer (Curtain Call Players). Colin also recently acted as Music Director of First Act Productions’ Dogfight (2019) and their youth production of Theory of Relativity (2020).

Colin looks forward to working with FAYC students and helping to propel the organization into a new generation!

BENJAMIN CONROY

Technical Director

Director/Choreographer
Early Stages • Musical Theatre • Company • Dance

Benjamin is a First Act Youth Company alumni and is excited to now be a part of the staff as Technical Director. Benjamin first collaborated with FAYC completing a high school co-op program. He attended the specialized arts program at O’Neill C.V.I. while also taking voice lessons and participating in many productions at First Act. Prior to that Benjamin took 2 years of intensive dance training at Hoofers Performing Arts in Oshawa, ON.

In 2019, Benjamin moved to Victoria, BC to continue his post secondary studies at the Canadian College of Performing Arts where he spent his days studying acting, dancing and singing. While absolutely loving studying away from home, he was always eager and excited to come back during school breaks to share his knowledge and passion with the young artists at FAYC. Now that he is officially a graduate of the program, he can’t wait to continue his work with these incredible young artists as both theatre technician and workshop leader.

JOEL SCHMIDT

2024-2025 Apprentice

Director/Choreographer/Assistant Stage Manager:
Early Stages • Musical Theatre • Young Company

Joel originally did not pursue his love of performing until age 11, before that he was skating on the ice and running on fields playing soccer and hockey competitively. He then quit sports to perform on stage and it only went up from there. Over the past seven years Joel has performed in 23 productions. Some of his past roles include Lawrence in School of Rock, Schroeder in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Adam in Freaky Friday, Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde and most recently Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz. Joel recently graduated from O’Neill C.V.I where he was a part of the Performing Arts Program for Drama and Vocal. He has a background in singing, acting, dance, playing various instruments.

Joel is absolutely thrilled to receive the opportunity to become a teacher at FAYC. Over the years, performing has helped him realize he wants to pursue a career teaching Drama and other subjects. He wants to teach everyone how he was taught to love Musical Theatre, help them find their inner performer, and for them to realize that there may be more deep down than what they think when it comes to their talent. Joel wants all the kids to feel included as well as feel seen with what they are all bringing to the program and is super excited to teach them, and not only that, learn from them too.

ISLA SWEMMER

Classroom Assistant

Classroom Assistant:
Young Company

Isla Swemmer is 17 years old and currently in Grade 12.

She has been involved with musical theatre from a young age, and loves performing on stage. She has been in many local productions, most recently Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde, Nancy in Oliver Jr., Hannah in Freaky Friday, and Narrator in Into the Woods. Isla has lots of experience working with youth, and hopes to pursue concurrent education post-secondary. She is extremely excited to be joining First Act Youth Company this year both as a student and classroom assistant!

We regularly invite guest teaching artists (who are currently working in the industry) to offer workshops in various disciplines. Some of our past artists include:

Guest Teaching Artists

Interested in teaching a workshop?

We would love to hear from you!

Send us your ideas and let us know what you’re thinking. Get in touch with Artistic Director Nicole Strawbridge at nicole@firstactyouth .ca or give us a call at (905) 431-7164.