History & Team

Rachel, a native of England, has been involved in Musical Theatre since the age of 4, having starred in many performances with Uk theatre companies and dance schools. She made her first television appearance at the age of 9. After extensive vocational training and many examinations leading to qualifications with, The Royal Academy of Drama, Royal Academy of Dance and singing exams with The Royal Academy of Music, she then went on to professional training with several drama schools in England, including the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and Hertfordshire Theatre School.

This led to her starring in many performances across the UK including the Edinburgh Festival and the Shakespeare Festival. Among her favourite UK stage highlights are Sandy in Grease, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Victoria in Cats and Potiphars wife in Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Rachel appeared in two well-known British series, Eastenders and The Bill, and also had roles in two major motion pictures, Judge Dredd, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. 

As a teacher in the Uk, Rachel worked for various dance schools and Britain’s biggest children’s theatre school as a dance instructor and choreographer. In 2001 Rachel and her husband Blake emigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she opened and successfully ran for 12 years StageCraft Theatre School, in various locations around greater Vancouver, Kelowna and Whistler BC.

2013 brought Rachel and her family across the country to a new home in beautiful Ottawa. Stagecraft Ottawa was launched and this Season SCTS celebrates their 11th Anniversary in this wonderful capital city.

However Rachel’s biggest achievement to date was the birth of her beautiful daughter Poppy in 2010, being a mummy is the most rewarding, exhausting and hardest role of her life! 

Hannah has been working for StageCraft Theatre School since its inception. First as a drama teacher, then as a director and now as office manager. 

Having spent most of her youth in theatre playing roles such as Christine in Phantom of the Opera, Mimi in Rent and Nancy in Oliver; Hannah decided she preferred working behind the scenes. She began working with young actors in Hollywood North coaching onset, working on projects such as The Tooth-fairy, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and The Time Travellers Wife. 

After earning a degree in Creative Writing from Oxford University in the United Kingdom she returned to Vancouver to begin working as a full time writer. 

Her passion for the work StageCraft Theatre School does in the lives of children called her back to the company in 2022. She now manages the office from her home in Vancouver. 

Josh Rigo is a director, actor, and choreographer who has been actively involved in the arts since a young age. He holds a degree in music and theatre, as well as a master’s degree in theatre education. Currently, he is busy launching his latest project – the opening and first season of Elevator Theatre Company (ETC). In addition to his role as Owner and Artistic Director for ETC, Josh is actively involved in teaching and directing with other local theatres across the Ottawa region. Visit www.ElevatorTheatreCompany.ca to learn more about ETC, and visit www.JoshRigo.ca to learn more about Josh!

Rachel has had a love and appreciation for dance since the age of 4. She has danced at both the recreational and competitive level in numerous styles including musical theatre, jazz, lyrical, ballet, tap, modern dance, hip hop, and more. Rachel attended  Canterbury High School in the dance program where she got the opportunity to practice her dance technique each day, learn about the history of dance, take dance exams, perform in front of large audiences, and work with different choreographers. 

Rachel found a special love for musical theatre dancing and getting the opportunity to play different characters on stage. She has played many different roles in musical theatre numbers receiving overall awards at competitions and even special recognition for story telling. She loves all aspects of dance, especially getting the chance to be apart of a team to make and share something magical.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Wendy moved to Ottawa nineteen years ago to pursue a Masters degree in classical piano performance. She side-stepped into musical theatre in 1998 for a production with Orpheus Musical Theatre Society and has since gone on to work nationally and internationally as a musical director and pianist. Favourite credits include the Australian premiere of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” (Spotlight Theatre), “Little Shop of Horrors” (Okanagan Stage), The Centre Stage Cabaret Series (Zucchini Grotto), and “Grease – Das Musical” (European Tour.) Wendy’s is the Ottawa Franchise Musical director for The Confidential Musical Theatre Project in Ottawa.

Charlotte Thompson is a prairie girl born and raised on Treaty 1 territory, growing up in Portage La Prairie and Winnipeg. After graduating from high school she studied at The Canadian College of Performing Arts, where she received an Enriched Diploma in Performing Arts and the Company “C” Studio Ensemble Diploma. Studying at CCPA she really came into her own as a triple threat, all the while learning new disciplines such as stage combat, physical theatre, clowning, acting for camera and devised theatre.

Most recently, Charlotte has received further training with The Village Conservatory where she was given the opportunity to write, direct, choreograph and perform in her own original work. With all of this training this flatlander has worked across Canada performing with company”s such as The Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival, Dry Cold Productions, Winnipeg Studio Theatre and many more. Over the past few years Charlotte has found a passion for teaching young emerging artists with credits including Industria Dance Studio, Stoney Brooke Dance Company, Studioworks Academy, Summer Studioworks and Made in Manitoba Masterclass.

Charlotte’s favourite part about what she does is sharing important human experiences through the act of storytelling and making meaningful connections along the way. Most recently Charlotte was in Elevator Theatre Company’s production of “Spring Awakening”. Coming up, you will see her singing the anthems at Sens games throughout the year. She is very excited to be joining the SCTScommunity and is looking forward inspiring the next generation of theatre kids in Ottawa.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Emma is a multidisciplinary artist with a passion for inspiring and educating young artists on the magic of theatre. She holds an Honours Bachelor degree in Music Theatre Performance from Sheridan College, where she honed her skills as a performer, learning many techniques and skills she is eager to pass on to emerging artists. With background in all three musical theatre disciplines (Acting, Singing and Dancing), Emma has had the privilege of performing in a wide variety of shows in both Toronto and Ottawa. She hopes through both performing and teaching she is able to bring the joy of theatre to young performers, and ignite and support their journeys.

Pascale has been part of the amazing Stagecraft family for many years, as both a student and a staff member. She started ballet at 5 years old at ODCS (Ottawa Dance Center School) and joined the jazz classes soon after. Pascale worked on improving her acting skills whilst she was in the theater program from grade 8 to grade 12 at DLS. She is currently in the musical theater program at St.Lawrence, where she has the chance to work with many different teachers, present pieces on stages, and strengthen her abilities. 

Maddie is a passionate and experienced dance teacher, specializing in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, and contemporary dance styles. She has an extensive background in ballet, having studied the Russian, Cecchetti, and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabi. Maddie trained at L’École Supérieur de Ballet du Québec in Montreal before coming back to Ottawa to dance competitively and graduate from Canterbury Arts High School’s dance program.

Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education at McGill University, Maddie combines her love for dance with a commitment to teaching and inspiring the next generation of performers.

Carmyn is currently in Grade 12 at Canterbury high school in their Drama program. She has a strong passion for the arts whether it be Drama or Visual Art. There is a tie for her favourite musical which is either The Phantom of the Opera or Something Rotten!

Carmyn is invaluable member of our Sunday Star Kids Team!

Be a part of this dedicated team

Do you have a passion for teaching and Musical Theatre? We would love to hear from you!

Contact the Artistic Director with your resume and information, look forward to connecting.

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