COLIN FROTTEN

Executive Director

Pianist, tenor, music director, vocal coach, and educator.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Colin is a pianist, tenor, music director, vocal coach and educator who graduated from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. He performs regularly throughout Ontario and in the Atlantic provinces and has an active piano/voice studio. Colin also works as the Director of Communications for both Choral Canada and CAPACOA (Canadian Association for the Performing Arts).

Favourite operatic roles include Camille in The Merry Widow and the title role in Händel's Acis and Galatea (Maritime Concert Opera), Don Basilio/Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro (Opera York), and Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni (Opera by Request). Recent musical theatre credits include Anthony in Sweeney Todd (First Act Productions), and George in The Wedding Singer (Curtain Call Players). Colin also recently acted as Music Director of First Act Productions’ Dogfight (2019) and their youth production of Theory of Relativity (2020).

Colin looks forward to working with FAYC and helping students be the best that they can be!

Nicole Strawbridge

Artistic Director

Singer, dancer, actor, producer and youth educator.

Nicole started training in classical voice at the young age of 7. After completing her voice exams with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Nicole contemplated auditioning for Opera Performance programs or Musical Theatre. Ultimately, her passion led her down the musical theatre path and she ended up studying at the Randolph College for the Performing Arts, graduating in 2009 with a "Triple Threat" diploma.

Favourite stage credits include: Miss Honey in Matilda, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Julia in The Wedding Singer, the title role in Mary Poppins, Laurey Williams in OKLAHOMA!, Cosette in Les Miserables, Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls, Natalie Haller/Ed in All Shook Up, Maria in West Side Story, Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense II, Audrey in Little Shop Of Horrors, Jo March in Little Women and both Carmen Diaz and Serena Katz in FAME! The Musical.

It's a dream come true for Nicole to be able to share her knowledge and passion with young artists, preparing them for the crazy world we call theatre!

DANI RITO

Creative Director

Dancer, actor, singer, director, writer, and teacher.

Dani discovered her passion for performing at a very young age when she took her first dance class. Dancing and singing her way through high school, she continued on into Sheridan College's Performing Arts Preparation program. While there, she directed her first full production; a self adapted script of Mean Girls. With everything she learned there, she went on to study at St. Lawrence College in their Musical Theatre Performance program where she graduated with an Advanced Diploma. While in school, she fell in love with directing, and has since directed over 15 productions.

Most memorable performances include: Gabrielle Jodoin in Les Belles Soeurs, Betty Rizzo in Grease, Mimi Marquez in Rent, Anita in West Side Story, Diana Morales in A Chorus Line and starring in the ensemble for many other shows including Mamma Mia, Rocky Horror, Matilda and many more!

Dani loves teaching and is very excited to share everything she has learned with this next generation of fabulous performers!

Staff & Board