INSTRUCTORS
Jessica Kelly she/her
FOUNDER,
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR,
INSTRUCTOR
Jessica Kelly has been an arts educator for over 15 years and brings thousands of hours of teaching experience as well as her fun, energetic, and supportive personality to all her camps and classes.
From a young age, Jessica trained in Musical Theatre, Jazz and R.A.D Ballet at the Douglas Ballet Academy (now Dance Collective). There she was blessed with many opportunities to travel the world sharing dance in her youth, and won many awards for her performances. Commitment, teamwork, dedication, inclusion, friendliness and a love of self were ingrained in Jessica during the countless hours she spent in the studio training each week; core principals which she stands by and brings to each one of her classes.
Jessica went on to study Musical Theatre at Capilano University and work as a professional performer in and around Vancouver.
At the age of 21, she suddenly and unexpectedly lost her father which resulted in depression and anxiety. It was those feelings that pushed her to try her first yoga class , which allowed her start to feel like herself again. Jessica became a yoga teacher in 2014 and carries a designation of ERYT-550 with the Canadian Yoga Alliance.
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Learning to channel her emotions through voice and movement has been a huge asset to Jessica and she is passionate about sharing her love of the arts with young performers.
James’ professional training includes Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop/Commercial, Musical Theatre, Singing and Acting at the world renowned Bird College - Conservatoire for dance and musical theatre in London, England.
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At Bird he received a 1st Class (Hons) degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. During his training he performed in 9 to 5, Sister Act and 1984 and has performed on live television as a backing dancer and soloist for different artists and programs.
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James moved to Vancouver in 2019 and found his love for teaching dance. James is excited to share his passion for musical theatre with our students
James Furnell
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER,
INSTRUCTOR
Hannah Shepheard she/her
OPERATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER ,
INSTRUCTOR ,
STAGE MANAGER
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Hannah lives for the magic behind the curtain, working as a stage manager, and a very proud instructor with Group 3 and the Ensemble. She is also the Operations & Communications Manager for Act Alive.
Over the years, she’s gained a wealth of experience, having served as President and Director of a Performing Arts Society, where she produced and managed biannual productions, as well as stage managing and supporting production on previous Act Alive shows.
When she’s not calling cues or making copious amounts of spreadsheets, you’ll find her onstage with Act Alive’s adult musical theatre program, Troupe, recently as as Margot in Legally Blonde, and previously as Julia Guglia in The Wedding Singer. Other previous roles include Booth in Assassins, General Matilda Cartwright in Guys & Dolls, Éponine in Les Misérables, and Jenna in Waitress. Hannah looks forward to continuing her journey in helping others discover the magic of theatre.
With a Master in Fine Arts from the Guildford School of Acting, Claire has acted, sung and danced her way across stages from BC to the UK and has transformed her passion into a vibrant teaching career.
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She began performing at the age of 6 and trained extensively in Dance (Highland, Jazz, Tap, Ballet) Voice (Estill, Linklater) and Acting.
She firmly believes that anyone with a desire to grow their vocal ability can benefit from focused and purposeful training.
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Always ready to collaborate on a new project, she is thrilled to be back at Act Alive bringing exciting and vibrant Musical Theatre to the Sea to Sky corridor!
Claire Stewartshe/her
INSTRUCTOR
Fiona Ferguson they/she
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Fiona is a classically-trained musician with a background in orchestral and contemporary performance. She studied under Canadian flautist Camille Churchfield while pursuing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Ottawa, during which time she was fortunate to benefit from the mentorship of Canadian musical talents such as Laurence Ewashko and Sean Rice.
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Fiona has seen more musicals from the orchestra pit than from the audience, having provided live music for a host of productions including Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, and Bare. In 2014, Fiona was a founding member of Breathless, an Ottawa-based woodwind quintet for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Whether recording backing instrumentals for an indie-pop single or supporting an all-kindergartener production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical (yes, really), Fiona brings creativity, enthusiasm, and joy to every project. In her free time, Fiona enjoys hiking, biking, and solo car karaoke.
Paige Gibbs is a professional actor and coach who has been working in Vancouver’s film, television, and theatre industry since 2016, with credits on shows like Yellowjackets, Animal Control, and Invasion. She studied theatre at the University of Victoria and has been involved in various stage productions in Vancouver such as Peninsula Production's Belfast Girls (2017), Sea of Stories (2018) and Western Gold's Rumors (2018). Paige has experience coaching young performers ages 8–19 at Vancouver’s King and Kot Creative studios, helping students develop confidence, technique, and joy in performance. With a background in dance, singing, and improv, she loves creating a supportive and fun environment where kids can explore their talent and shine.
Paige Gibbs she/her
INSTRUCTOR