Erin Newton, (she/her)
Artistic Director
Erin has trained in Dance and Theatre since childhood. During her early education, she received training at local dance and vocal studios, performed as a member of the McMaster Dancers, and took classes at Randolph Performing Arts in Toronto, Steps on Broadway, and the Broadway Dance Centre in NYC. Before pursuing secondary education, she owned a successful chain of three dance studios for ten years.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from McMaster University. Erin also holds a Bachelor of Education and a Certificate in Enterprise Education from Brock University. She is a member of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and holds an International Baccalaureate Teaching Certification in Dramatic Arts from the International School Theatre Association.
After completing Teachers College, she was honored with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation Award for Excellence in Teaching Practice. Additionally, she holds a Professional Teaching Certification in Jazz, Tap, and Stage Dance Arts from the British Association of Teachers of Dancing. She has judged dance competitions, taught at dance studios across Ontario, and recently completed her 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification with additional certifications in Level 1 and 2 of Trauma Informed Movement Practice. Erin integrates mindfulness practices into every classroom and rehearsal space, and is celebrating her 20th year of arts education with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board.
Cydney London-Speers, (she/her)
Music Director
Cydney London Speers is one of Canada’s most respected teachers of voice and piano. Educated at the University of Alberta and Grant MacEwan University, she has taught in Edmonton, Calgary, Phoenix, and Hamilton. Her students have been accepted into top programs like the Glenn Gould School, U of T Opera School, Indiana University, COC’s Young Artist Ensemble, and Berklee, and have gone on to perform internationally. As a pianist and répétiteur, she has worked with The Phantom of the Opera tour, Calgary Opera, the National Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, the Kirov Ballet, and more. She was rehearsal accompanist for the 1988 Winter Olympics and the opening of Calgary’s Jack Singer Concert Hall. Cydney has served in music ministry in multiple cities and currently plays for both English and Portuguese services in Hamilton. She maintains a private studio in Ancaster, teaching voice and advanced piano.
Michael Hannigan, (he/him)
Director (The Man From Earth)
Instructor (Adult Acting classes)
A graduate of the Sheridan College Theatre program, Michael has worked on professional stages throughout the province of Ontario, as well as with many of the community groups in the GHA.
He spent several seasons as an Artistic Associate at the Tivoli and Citadel Theatres in Hamilton, where he directed productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Jekyll & Hyde:The Musical, Deathtrap, Misery, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Shane, Laughter On The 23rd. Floor, Waiting For The Parade, Mass Appeal, Crossing Delancey, and To Kill A Mockingbird. He also served four years as an instructor/facilitator with Hamilton Urban Theatre’s Summer Shakespeare Camp
He is a frequent Guest Artist in area classrooms with Shakespearience and is an active supporter of the SOF and SAC Declaration of Reasonable Doubt.
His onstage Shakespeare credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Macbeth, Othello, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, Richard III, and Much Ado About Nothing.
Jody Boston, (she/her)
Program Facilitator
(Drama Jam and Theatre Mix )
Jody Boston is an award-winning artist with eighteen years of experience teaching drama, music and movement in Hamilton’s primary and secondary schools. A guest artist at McMaster University, Jody also privately teaches Improv and Clown. Holding a post-graduate certificate in social therapeutics, Jody is the program director of Under the Willows, where she guides an ensemble of professional, multi-disciplinary artists to create outdoor arts, garden and play programming for children who access out-of-home, mental health support.
A certified therapeutic clown practitioner with Red Nose Remedy, Jody has two clowns; Dr. Kimmy, serving pediatric clients with medical vulnerabilities and Ruby, dedicated to individuals facing dementia. In the theatre, Jody is a triple-threat performer. She provides dramaturgy for new play development and pre-production clown consultation. Her recent theatre highlights include FArts Comedy, Open Hearts, Aeris Körper, the Art Gallery of Hamilton and FiXT POINT. She pursues studio training in singing, dance, movement, mime, improv and theatrical clown. Jody is re-energized by belting show tunes with her teenager in the kitchen.