2025 Playbill
PRESENTED BY
THE DANCERS' CHOICE ASSOCIATION
The Dancers’ Choice was formed to promote healthy not-for-profit competition in the arts. It consists of a small group of individuals who are not associated with dance studio’s, choirs or glee clubs but have acquired years of experience in live theatre, professional show and events, judging, choreography, vocal arrangements and the arts teaching field. The experience that makes up the board include all areas of the performing arts.
Of note, this includes choreography experience on Broadway and UK’s West End. Years of commercial experience in theatre and television. Musical direction, stage direction and choreography in live theatre. Judging experience across North America. Guest teacher for Universities and Colleges. Worked with some of Canada’s top artists including Karen Cain. All together over a hundred years of experience in theatre and all aspects of the performing arts.
Peter Aylin, Producer
Peter Aylin has been working as a Musical Director for over forty years. Born and educated in the UK, Peter conducted his first show at nineteen. He has performed for the late Princess Diana and accompanied Britt Ekland, Cilla Black, Bonnie Langford, Wayne Sleep and Victor Spinetti. Peter conducted Dora Bryan in the UK revival tour of Hello Dolly and led the Players Theatre ( West End ) at the piano for many years.
In this thirties, Peter moved to Canada and was one of the conductors for the National Tour of “Tommy the Musical”. In 2006, he conducted Rex Harrington, Evelyn Hart and Louise Pitre in the Canadian Premier of “Song & Dance”. Since then, Peter has been Musical Director for numerous shows all over Canada. He’s worked with the Canadian Tenors and on many of the major shows in Toronto.
He has been Music Director for both the Canadian hit show of “Menopause the Musical” and the US and Canadian “Menopause 2, Crusin’ through the change”.
da Costa Talent Management
da Costa Talent Management is a leading talent agency with a reach beyond borders. With offices in Toronto and Vancouver, and a network of contacts in Los Angeles and New York, da Costa Talent Management enjoys a boundless presence that benefits its eclectic roster of award-winning talent—actors, singers, dancers, choreographers in all styles of dance, voiceover and movement- based artists who work across every genre and platform.
Clients enjoy a one-on-one mentoring relationship with an aim to envisioning, meeting, expanding and even exceeding their career goals. This approach has reaped the rewards of long-term client loyalty, some dating back to the agency’s inception in 1998.
The agency is proud of its long history of guiding the careers of a selective roster of emerging and established performers. da Costa clients share some common traits: courage to embrace opportunity, aptitude to explore untapped potential, and passion for lifelong learning. Under the guidance of the da Costa team, clients have secured roles in productions in all of the major theatres across Canada, as well as Broadway, U.S. National Tours and London’s West End; national and international on-air commercials; and film and television credits range from independent films to episodic television and notable feature films.
Peter da Costa, Executive Producer
As founder and agency director of da Costa Talent Management, Peter da Costa leverages his entrepreneurial expertise and business management acumen to build the careers of da Costa clients. Under his leadership, da Costa Talent Management has grown from the country’s first agency to represent dancers for all areas of the entertainment industry to an industry-leading agency with a roster encompassing some of Canada’s leading talents who work across disciplines and platforms.
Peter is the co-founder of Show Choir Canada and Podium Concert Productions, and a Canadian Screen Award Winner as creator and co-producer of the TVO documentary Unsung: Behind the Glee. He also sits on the advisory boards for The Underground Dance Centre and Randolph College for the Performing Arts.
SCHOLARSHIPS
THE MASTER CLASS SERIES
- One Triple Threat Intensive half Summer Scholarship ( a $425.00 value! )
SCHEDULE AM
10:00am
Doors Open
10:30am
Opening Welcome
10:40am
All Saints Catholic School “Flair”
Director: Stephen Roloson
Choreographer: Sarina Gallippi
Choreographer: Brianna Nieu
Junior Director: Lolita Mitchison
Junior Choreographer: Chloe Covello
Junior Choreographer: Sienna Ceson
11:20am
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School “The Pitches”
Show Co-Director: Anne-Marie Kane
Show Co-director: Ken Chamberland
Student choreographer: Ella Davis
Student vocal arranger: Daniella Regalado
11:45am
Fame School of Performing Arts “Fame”
Show Director and Choreographer: Theresa Di Meglio
12:20pm
Music Academy of Western New York “Roar”
Co-Director: Jennifer Cuttitta
Co-director/Choreographer: Marten Linnan
Assistant Director: Brooke Kauderer
Stage Manager: John Cuttitta
Costume Coordinator: Lindsay Weisenburg
Costume Coordinator: Kim Greenway
12:45pm
Lunch Break
SCHEDULE PM
2:00pm
St. George’s School of Montreal “G Major”
Director: Candace Grynol
Assistant Director: Aaron Stamboulieh
Choreographer: Sandra Beaulieu
Choreographer: Alexia Gourd
Choreographer: Jason Franco
Choreographer: Giulia Tripoli
Choreographer: Stephanie Paquet
2:30pm
Pickering High School “Euphonix Show Choir”
Choir Director: Lynne Smythe
Choreographer: Anayah Rene
Choreographer: Jathavan Pasanesan
Choreographer: Owen Fisher-Wilks
Choreographer: Olivia Appleton
2:55pm
Music Academy of Western New York “Shout”
Director: Jena Abati
Costume Coordinator: Lindsay Weisenburg
Costume Coordinator: Kim Greenway
Choreographer: Steffahn Rashaud
3:25pm
Guest Performance
Carter Musselman
3:30pm
Intermission
3:45pm
Awards
4:15pm
Show End
HOST—CARTER MUSSELMAN
Carter Musselman is an experienced but young face in the industry. Originally from Kitchener, he grew up training in all styles hip hop, jazz, contemporary, tap, and ballet at Bojangles Dance Arts. Over the years Carter has been able to train or work with some of the best choreographers in the business. Such as Ian Eastwood, Draico, Marty Kudelka, Amy Wright, etc.
At the age of 12 Carter had his first professional opportunity. Dancing rhythm nation along side Janet Jackson during her 2015 unbreakable tour. Since then he’s worked very steadily. Appearing on seasons 6, 7, and 8 of The Next Step as Heathcliffe. Carter has worked on countless other productions, such as Zombies 3, IT as the headless boy, Bring It On, Locke and Key and so many more.
Carter now resides in Toronto where he continues to train as a dancer but has also made the switch to acting.
JUDGE—DEAN DEFFETT
Dean is a four-time BroadwayWorld Award nominated theatre maker from Toronto with over a decade of professional experience as a director, actor, and writer. Dean is a graduate of Wexford School for the Performing Arts, and Sheridan College where they received their Bachelor Degree of Musical Theatre Performance. Other education includes studying both Voice and Musical Theory through The Royal Conservatory of Music, and direction for the stage at The Brechtian Directors Workshop in Hamburg Germany.
Select performance credits include We Will Rock You, Rocky Horror (Magnus Theatre); The World Goes Round (Gravenhurst Opera); Pure 90’s (Stage West Calgary); Summerland, The Fence, CHOIR (Edge of the Sky); Der Weltenwandler, Songbook: Brian Adams (AIDA). Select Direction credits include CHOIR (Edge of the Sky) Cinder-ELLIE {BroadwayWorld Award Nomination}, The Lion of Oz {BroadwayWorld Award Nomination}, A Christmas Carol (Tweed&Co). Upcoming: Blackbird (Talk is Free Theatre). Above all Dean is an impassioned educator for young artists prioritizing finding voice and individuality through performance.
JUDGE—JONATHAN STAHL
JONATHAN STAHL is a New York-based Director, Choreographer and teacher. Although he started as a performer, his career now mostly consists of directing and choreographing—everything from Ballet to Broadway and from Denver to Dubai.
His approach to theater is centered around one key principle: telling the story. He believes in the transformative power of storytelling and strives to create productions that engage and resonate with audiences.
Drawing from his background as a performer, he approaches directing and choreography with the same dedication and honesty. Jonathan understands the importance of connecting with audiences and evoking emotions through the theatrical medium.
One pivotal moment that shaped his career was the opportunity to direct and choreograph the musical NINE at Westchester Broadway Theater. It garnered rave reviews and generated significant buzz within the regional community.
For more about Jonathan, please visit jonathan-stahl.com or #fromballet2broadway on Instagram
JUDGE—JACQUELINE SADLER
In a career spanning 25 years, Jacqueline has performed across Canada, from multiple seasons with The Charlottetown Festival to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and everywhere in between. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in Voice Performance.
Very selected credits include: Rachel in Two Pianos, Four Hands, educator and choral conductor (including a spin at Carnegie Hall with DCINY), composer of two musicals, an oratorio, and numerous choral selections which can be found on Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus.
Jacqueline is an avid distance runner and Registered Yoga Teacher, and she combines all her passions in Yoga for Singers, a workshop for vocal health and mindfulness. Jacqueline lives on a farm in Eastern Ontario, where she raises chickens, milks cows, makes cheese, and sings to make her gardens grow.
THANKS
CREDITS
Producer
Peter Aylin
Co-Founder / Consulting Producer
Peter da Costa
Stage Manager
Ivan Stanic
Assistant Stage Manager
Frank da Costa
Sound Design
Craig Goddard
Sound Technician
Dan Dowey
Photography
Abigail Matheson
SPECIAL THANKS
To Cawthra Park S.S. for co-hosting, especially Stacey Tiller and Erin Vardy along with all our amazing volunteers, family and friends.
MISSION
To play a vital role in the development and support of show choirs in Canada by creating opportunities, including live competition-format presentations, that inspire youth participants to not only work together through song and dance to achieve a common goal of excellence but also grow and develop as individuals while sharing in the creative process.