OUR TEAM
General/Artistic Director
| Drawing from studies in education and social anthropology (University of Melbourne, Australia), as well as extensive work with troubled youth and street kids, Kendall is committed to designing unique, innovative programs whereby students are challenged to grow and reach their full potential. Kendall has been working in the professional musical theatre industry since the age of six, having gained solid experience in performing, directing, teaching, writing and producing in South Africa and Australia before moving to Montreal in 1999. Favourite musical theatre roles include: Fantine (Les Miserables, Australian Touring), Maria (Sound of Music, Australian Touring & Cape Town), Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady, Sydney Cast), Frenchie (Grease, Australian Touring), Miss Hannigan (Annie, Melbourne). Other musical theatre credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene), Cats (Grizabella), Oliver, West Side Story, Cabaret, Chicago, Ipi Tombi, The Wizard of Oz, Anything Goes. Kendall has also worked in straight theatre, television and the music industry. |
François Blouin
President/Music & Production Director
François seems to have been in the arts industry all his
life, with his fingers in all the pies! He began, at an unusually young age,
touring around Quebec as a guitar player in various bands before moving on
to become a studio musician and a producer. Graduating from the University
of Montreal with a four year degree in Music, he then managed various recording
studios and production companies while directing, composing and recording
for many artists in Canada and Australia. He has also worked as a composer
for theatre, video, and publicity projects and as a cultural journalist (written
& radio). After completing an MBA at HEC-Montreal in 1999 where he received
the « Coup d’Éclat » MBA Medal, he became the managing
director for the Orford Arts Centre, supervising the Summer Music Festival
and the Summer Academy (over 500 students). Over the past 6 years, he has
concentrated on writing and directing contemporary theatre plays and Musicals,
as well as producing many artists and soundtracks. He also manage and supervise
a business consultant group and an Import-Export Wine company.
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Vocal Director/Assistant Director
Alan has a Bachelor of Music from Mount Allison University, NB and is trained in opera performance. He has worked extensively as both music and vocal director for a number of full-scale musicals, has coached choirs at the school level and has been teaching voice privately since 2003. His vast work both on and off stage awarded him the J.E.A. Crake Award for top graduating music student, and the Ethel Peake Prize for excellence in voice (both from Mount Allison University). On stage credits include Emcee (Cabaret), Cinderella's Prince/The Wolf (Into the Woods), Bob (The Old Maid and the Thief), Matt (The Fantasticks) and Student Teacher (Maritime premier of "All the Great Books (abridged)"). In addition to his voice training, Alan has 13 years of Ballroom dance training (competing at the national level), and is trained on saxophone, piano and violin.
Jacqueline van de Geer
Acting Coach
A graduate of the Willem de Kooning Art Academy in Rotterdam and the Rob van
Reijn Pantomime Academy in Amsterdam, Jacqueline has over 20 years experience
teaching drama to children, teens and adults. In addition to her tertiary studies in Education and Acting, she has studied and teaches pantomime, clowning & mime and mask. Jacqueline has extensive experience as a performer, writer and director in both theatre and film in Europe and Quebec. She has also trained in acrobatics, dance expression, modern dance and Argentinian tango.
Jonathan Bateman
Choreographer
Doreen Fagan
Special Need Integration Aide
A graduate from Concordia Major in Theatre Acting & Directing, Doreen has
studied a wide variety of techniques and styles in Canada, England and The
United States. Further theatre studies include Directing at Yale School of Drama,
Meisner Technique at the Neighbourhood Playhouse, New York and Acting
Technique at The National Shakespeare Conservatory, New York. She has
extensive experience as a performer in theatre, musical theatre, radio, television
and film. Drawing from studies in Education, Doreen has comprehensive teaching
experience with problem children, teens, adults and special needs populations.
Her favourite musical theatre roles include: Hoddle (Fiddler on the Roof), Mother
Abbess (Sound of Music) and Eleanor Roosevelt (Annie). Other musical theatre
credits include: Sleeping Beauty, Wizard of Oz, Threepenny Opera, The Great
Houdini, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.
Purple Dragon Theatre & 42nd Street
Tel: (514) 995-9924
Email: purpledragontheatre@gmail.com