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Fall 2010 (Sept - Dec)
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Performance Information
Fall
2010 (Sept - Dec)
Principals' Profiles
Rachel Cushnie
Principal & Artistic Director
Rachel, a native of Salisbury England, has been involved in Musical Theatre since the age of 4, having starred in many performances with amateur theatre companies and dance schools. She made her first television appearance at the age of 9.
Rachel then studied with several drama schools in England, including the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and Hertfordshire Theatre School, and went on to star in many performances across Britain including the Edinburgh Festival and the Shakespeare Festival.
Her stage highlights include Grease, Cabaret, and 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. Recently, Rachel has been working on various projects and performing in productions around Vancouver, e.g. Don’t Dress For Dinner, Me and My Girl.
As a teacher, Rachel worked for Britain's biggest children's theatre school as a dance instructor and choreographer, and now brings all this experience, both on and off stage, to Vancouver and StageCraft Theatre School.
Blake Cushnie
Business Manager
Blake grew up in Northern Ireland where he got involved in music at an early age. He learned to play the trumpet/cornet at 9 years of age and went on to play in many different bands. After becoming the lead solo trumpet player for the South Ulster Concert Band, Blake then played with the Ulster Orchestra, which is a full professional Symphony Orchestra.
His connection with Musical Theatre has been in the form of orchestra pit work with several theatre companies.
Heather Hardy
School Administrator
Heather arrived in Canada from London shortly after Rachel and Blake, and has been the main contact and administrator of StageCraft Theatre School ever since. As a vital member of this family-run business, Heather works hard to keep things running smoothly.
Rachel and Blake opened StageCraft Theatre School in January 2001, and they have consistently brought together great teachers, students, and supportive parents to develop the confidence and artistic abilities of young children. Through regular classes scheduled during the school year and summer camps, StageCraft spreads the love of the arts to children and teens in the Lower Mainland.
In addition, StageCraft strives to give back to the community in terms of charitable donations of profits, to help children across the province. Past organizations that benefitted include the Downtown Eastside Christmas Hamper drive, Canuck Place Children's Hospice, Kelowna Toy Bank, BC Cancer Foundation, Autism Society of British Columbia, BC Children's Hospital - critical care baby ward, and Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.