For over 30 years, Megan Davis has dedicated herself to working with young people in the performing arts. She is co-owner of Charactors Theatre Troupe in Thornhill, and Co-Artistic Director and Musical Director of City Youth Players, where she's spent more than 25 years training and mentoring some of the most remarkable young performers around the GTA. Megan also shares her passion for music and theatre as a guest instructor in the Regional Arts Programs at Westmount CI, Earl Haig, and Baythorn Arts Elementary School.
Megan musically directs all programming at Charactors and takes great pride in helping her students bring their characters to life through song. She also takes on the occasional private student and offers private audition prep classes. A classically trained piano and voice instructor, Megan loves empowering young people by helping them find their voice — both literally and figuratively.
Wayne Davis has worked with young performers in theatre, TV, and film for over 20 years, and has spent the past 30 years working professionally as an actor on both stage and screen. He is co-owner of Charactors Theatre Troupe and co-Artistic Director of City Youth Players and Charactors Studio Theatre.
Wayne has served as a high school guest instructor for dialect coaching and Shakespeare, and has coached students privately for auditions and productions. He has worked as the on-set acting coach for two Emmy-nominated children's television programs, as well as a minors coordinator and child welfare specialist, and has consulted for a New York ad agency, helping to support emerging film directors. Wayne has also worked with actors and casting directors — including Mirvish and Montreal's Segal Centre for the Performing Arts — on the recent Toronto productions of The Lion King, Titanique, and & Juliet.
Sid Kroach is a multidisciplinary choreographer, director, stage manager, dancer, and actress with over 40 years of experience. Starting to teach at 15, she has always been passionate about working with kids and driving the next generation of actors and dancers. She strives to help children blossom into young actors who are confident, creative, and committed.
Sid started her journey as a young actress for film and television, as well as musical theatre — the arts have been her passion since she was a kid. From there, she went on to study Musical Theatre and Drama, receiving a Diploma in Musical Theatre from Sheridan College and an Honours BA in English, with minors in Drama and Art History, from McGill.
Sid has been part of the Charactors team for over 25 years, and the studio is a second home to her. She always looks forward to collaborating and creating with her fellow staff and dear friends — Megan, Wayne, Sharon, and Sheridan. Sid has also been part of many opportunities stemming from Charactors, including Judy and David's Troupe, City Youth Players, and, most recently, Charactors Studio Theatre.
Sid has also been a guest teacher in the drama, vocal, and dance departments of school arts programs for over 16 years, including Claude Watson School for the Arts, Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, Westmount Collegiate Institute, and Newmarket High School.
Sid often says, "I just do the dances" — but she's so much more than that. She's well known at the studio for leading fun acting games, creating camp crafts, making show props, doing hair and makeup, and stage managing the end-of-year shows. Sid loves teaching and sharing her knowledge and creativity with her students, and she adores watching them grow as both people and actors.
Sharon Lindsay is a choreographer and dance teacher in the Greater Toronto Area. She received her formal dance training in Toronto, studying Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Acrobatics and Musical Theatre under the direction of Susan Spring. She has successfully completed both R.A.D. and B.A.T.D. dance exams, receiving honours on her teaching exam. She currently holds the position of Department Head for Musical Theatre and Jazz at the Woodbridge School of Dance, where she also continues to teach and choreograph.
As a dancer, Sharon had the opportunity to participate in many local and North American dance competitions and conventions, and continues to attend workshops and master classes. Sharon's choreography credits include "Chicago", "Into the Woods" and "Honk" for City Youth Players. Additional credits include the "Once upon A Time" series for Education Arts Canada and "Ricky's Room", a PBS children's show. She continues her long standing association with Charactors Theatre Troupe, where she has choreographed such favourites as "Legally Blonde", "13", "Addams Family", "Matilda" and "Alice in Wonderland".
In addition to her other work, Sharon teaches dance workshops and serves as a choreographer for local schools.
Sharon strives to share her passion for dance and theatre with each and every one of her students.
Sheridan Riggillo is a Charactors alumna and trained competitive dancer who now works as Choreographer for the Saturday Junior & Senior Musical Theatre programs. She began as a student at the age of eleven and worked her way up to instructor, teaching various programs from summer STAR Camp to full-year classes. Sheridan has loved watching so many Charactors students grow throughout the years, both artistically and personally, through these programs. As a professional in children's and family entertainment, she has worked for leading companies such as CBC Kids, Sinking Ship Entertainment, and — most recently — Disney Cruise Line Entertainment.