Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Sean Bayntun

Music Director, Music Arrangement, Band Leader

A descendent of Ukrainian, Austrian, and British immigrants, Sean grew up, and currently resides, on the ancestral and unceded lands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples (Burnaby).

Having grown up steeped in classical music, Sean made his orchestral debut at 16 with the White Rock Symphony, and at 18 performed as a soloist with the VSO. He graduated from UBC with a BMus before attending Rice University (Houston) on full scholarship studying with Dr. Jon Kimura Parker, who encouraged him to explore genres and performance beyond classical piano.

Returning to Vancouver in 2006, Sean joined a pop/rock band as a keyboardist/writer and began freelancing as a session and performance musician. He’s played in tons of bands and is currently an active member of Leisure Club and DAñSE.

In 2009, he music directed Songs for a New World (Not Another Musical Co-op), and the following year was the MD for PSP’s production of Bat Boy. As an MD, his many nominations and awards include The Wild Party (Pint-Size Tall), The Light in the Piazza and Herringbone (PSP).  Recent work includes Into the Woods (Studio 58) and CATS (Theatre Under the Stars).

Sean is very excited to be back (under) the Gateway stage after having music directed Anne of Green Gables and Cinderella the last two seasons.

Nicol Spinola*

Choreographer

Nicol is a multi-award-winning choreographer excited to return to the Gateway this holiday season. Select credits include Cinderella, Anne of Green Gables, Joseph (Gateway Theatre); Ring of Fire, Million Dollar Quartet (Arts Club Theatre Company); Jesus Christ Superstar (Thousand Island Playhouse & Western Canada Theatre); Something Rotten, Cinderella, Mary Poppins (Theatre Under the Stars); Mamma Mia! (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Into the Woods (Studio 58) Parade, Cabaret, Company, Sweeney Todd (Raincity Theatre); Shrek, Legally Blonde, Annie (Align); Seussical (SaskExpress); 9 to 5 (Capilano University) Nicol is the Co-Managing Artistic Director of Raincity Theatre and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Camp Cue. www.nicolspinola.com

Sophie Tang†

Lighting Designer

Sophie Tang is an award-winning lighting and set designer working in Theatre, Opera and Dance. She has worked with companies including Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Electric Company Theatre, Vancouver Opera, Arts Club Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Citadel Theatre, Canadian Stage, Theatre Replacement and so on. Credits Gateway Theatre: Yoga Play, A Broadway Holiday, Cinderella, Anne of Green Gables. Other Recent credits: East Van Panto: Robin Hood (Theatre Replacement),  The Lehman Trilogy (Theatre Calgary), Jersey Boys (Arts Club Theatre), Salesman in China (Stratford Festival), Three Musketeers (Citadel Theatre x Arts Club Theatre), Twelfth Night (Bard on the Beach), Michel(le) (Théâtre la Seizième), Portfolio website: sophieyufeitang.com

Mandy Huang*

Stage Manager

Mandy is a local stage manager holding a B.A. in Theatre Studies and Sociology from UBC. She couldn’t be more excited to return to Gateway Theatre this holiday season – it’s a dream come true to stage manage at the theatre where she grew up performing. Some favourite stage management credits include 9 to 5 (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Cinderella (Gateway Theatre), The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (CTORA), Anne of Green Gables (Gateway Theatre), Naked Radio (Chemainus Theatre Festival), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Arts Club), and Made in Italy (Arts Club). Mandy feels so grateful to be part of this wonderful team of artists and is endlessly thankful to her family and partner for their love and support every step of the way.

Mike Kovac*

Co-Fight Director

A certified Fight Director and Instructor with Fight Directors Canada, Mike is also active as a stunt performer and actor in the Vancouver film and television scene. Other shows at Gateway Theatre he’s been a Fight Director for include BASKERVILLE, CINDERELLA, and CRAZY FOR YOU. If you ever see him onstage or screen, he’s probably about to get beaten up.

Devon Vecchio*

Assistant Stage Manager

Devon (she/her) is a Theatre BFA graduate of the University of Victoria. Selected credits: Cinderella (Gateway), Jersey Boys, Every Brilliant Thing, Me Love BINGO!: Best In Snow (Arts Club), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Stage West), The Phantom of the Opera (Grand), Dido and Aeneas, Orpheus and Eurydice (Opera Atelier), Gaslight (Vertigo), The 39 Steps (The Grove), Bury the Hatchet (Culture Den Society/Belfry), Summer Bucket List (Collectivus), Comic Potential, The Drowsy Chaperone (Phoenix), and Oink, Oink (SATCo). Many thanks to Mandy, her favourite partner in crime, who without Gateway, she never would have met. Love to Mom, Dad & Nessarose.

Alyson Vance

Instructor
she/her

Alyson is a multidisciplinary performance artist with the privilege of creating and playing in Vancouver, on the unceeded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Alyson is a graduate of Studio 58 as of last spring, where she found both her craft and community. She had the honour last season of making her Gateway debut in the ensemble of Cinderella and is thrilled to be back to the familiar space, now teaching for the first time. She is so excited to encourage joy through her teaching practice and hopes the joy will always remain.