Centre Stage Theatre School

Helen’s students work on professional stages in Canada from Charlottetown to Vancouver, in the U.S. from Broadway to L.A., and in film and television in Canada and the U.S. Others work professionally as stage and video directors, lighting and sound designers and technicians, set designers, and stage managers. A number of her former students work as directors of their own theatre/film companies or in community and studio theatre programs with young people. Her students also teach in and through the arts in Canada, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Helen was the founder and artistic director for Centre Stage Theatre Productions, Burlington, Inc., an intergenerational community theatre, which, in addition to 21 years of summer shows in Burlington, has performed in fringe festivals, for the Halton Social Justice Coalition, and as Canadian representatives at the Liverpool International Theatre Festival. 

At Centre Stage Theatre School, she coached students in drama and speech arts, leading to awards from the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Burlington Rotary Festival, and the Ontario Music Teachers’ Association Provincial finals; she has developed curricula for ten drama and performance courses and directed and produced 26 student productions.

Helen was a winner of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Excellence in Teaching award, the Ontario government’s Volunteer Service Award, the Hamilton Spectator Community Service Award, Theatrefest Awards for Best Director and Best Production, the Halton Award for Creativity in Education, the Community Child Abuse Council’s Service Award, Halton District School Board’s Recognition of Excellence, Brock University’s Best Practices Award, the American Alliance for Theatre and Education’s Outstanding Thesis Award, and she was co-winner of Burlington’s first Arts Person of the Year award. Her sincere belief in the value of the arts in education is clearly evident in the number of graduates who have made a significant impression on the arts community, and her belief in the importance of quality teaching is evident in the faculty she has assembled at Centre Stage Theatre School. 

Sara graduated from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Music, Minor in Theatre and Film, and from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Education (music and drama), a music specialist certificate, and special education qualifications. She has her Grade 9 Royal Conservatory Piano.

For Centre Stage Theatre Productions, Sara has worked as an actor and as Music Director for numerous shows; For the Halton District School Board, she has worked as a
music director, a theatre director, and a conductor of both bands and vocal ensembles.

Nicole has been involved in multiple productions including Little Shop of Horrors, The Wiz, Beauty and the Beast, Seussical the Musical, Once on This Island, and Cabaret. She also worked as Musical Director in Waterdown’s Village Theatre production of Anne.
Nicole graduated from the Broadcasting Television program at Fanshawe College. While in college, she helped run the college tv station and has since worked as camera operator for Rogers, production assistant with Holiday Films, and technical director for the Braz for the Cause event. Currently she’s a Master Control and Ingest Operator for Zoomer television. She has also studied at the Royal Conservatory for voice and theory and continues to actively participate in both the music and theatre community.

 Adam is also a graduate and Burlington Central High School’s Central Company and has a B. Ed from Brock University.  Adam is also proud to be one of the founding members of Centre Stage Productions.  Currently, Adam is entering his tenth year teaching Special Ed. at T.A. Blakelock High School in Oakville.