Cast 2025

2025 Creative Team and Cast

Katy Bowen-Roberts - Artistic Director, Creator & Producer
Raised on Vancouver Island, Katy Bowen-Roberts first established herself as a vocal performer both in Canada and Europe. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Opera Performance from the University of British Columbia.
Katy’s select performance credits include Musetta in La Bohème (Czech Republic), Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi (London, UK), Serpetta in Die Gärtnerin aus Liebe (Germany), and lead vocalist in the Thursford Christmas Spectacular (Norfolk, UK). Local audiences will remember her as Anna in The King and I, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre.
Beyond the stage, Katy has become a celebrated producer and director. She produced the Port Theatre’s 10th Anniversary Celebration Show and co-created and produced Blackstones & Bathtubs in honour of Canada’s 150th anniversary.
Katy lives with her family in the Comox Valley, where she teaches music in a French Immersion program for School District 71. She also holds a Bachelor of Education from Vancouver Island University.
Most recently, she directed, choreographed, and produced large-scale school productions of Willy Wonka Kids (2024) and Seussical Kids (2025), featuring over 80 young performers.
Katy works year-round creating and producing the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular, now celebrating its 17th season. With another incredible audition turnout this summer, she’s thrilled to once again collaborate with many of British Columbia’s most talented professional artists to bring this beloved holiday tradition to life.

James Mark - Music Director, Arranger & Violinist
Born and raised in Nanaimo, British Columbia, James Mark began violin studies at age four and has performed with the Vancouver Island Symphony since 1994. His musical path led him through studies at Vancouver Island University, York University, and the California Institute of the Arts, where he completed graduate work in the Performer/Composer program. A versatile artist, James has composed for dance, film, and large ensembles, and he serves as Musical Director for the beloved Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular.
In addition to his active performing and composing career, James has taught for nearly two decades, first at Vancouver Island University and now at Brentwood College School and Aspengrove School, where he is developing innovative music programs. Recent highlights include appearances with the international Candlelight Concert series, bringing music to audiences in unique and inspiring settings.

Lindsay Sterk - Choreographer & Co-Director*
Lindsay has performed and taught throughout Canada. He has been the owner and Artistic Director of Pantuso Dance since 2007 in Courtenay, where his school was awarded Small Business of the Year by the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and has received numerous accolades. His musical theatre credits include roles with the Arts Club, Showcase Festival, Chemainus Theatre Festival, Gateway Theatre, and Vancouver Playhouse. Highlights include “Hero” tapper in the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies and Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain for Theatre Under the Stars. Theatre choreography credits include: Newsies, Urinetown, Chicago, Catch Me If You Can, Fiddler on the Roof, Thoroughly Modern Millie, West Side Story, Shrek, Les Miserables, Legally Blonde, The Prom, and Crazy for You. As an adjudicator and teacher, he has worked across Canada with credits including Harbour Dance Centre, Van Tap Dance Society, Capilano College, and several other West Coast studios. In 2015, Lindsay was awarded the West Coast Tap Collective's Teacher Scholarship, which took him to New York City to study at the Manhattan Tap Intensive with Heather Cornell. Lindsay is absolutely thrilled to be returning to YPCS! Love to Nicole and his boys, who are everything to him.

Singers:

Maren Richardson - Soprano
Maren is a lyric soprano from Toronto, she has been described as “a colorful, dynamic soprano and musician”. She has performed leading roles such as Emma (Jekyll & Hyde), Laurey (Oklahoma!), Kathy Selden (Singin’ in the Rain), and Miss Dorothy (Thoroughly Modern Millie). A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Bachelor of Music in Classical Vocal Performance program, Maren has sung in concert with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Edmonton Pops Orchestra, and performed live with Andrea Bocelli at Scotiabank Arena. With a background in ballet, jazz, opera and musical theatre, Maren is thrilled to be in this year's production of Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular.

Shaughnessy O'Brien* - Alto
Shaughnessy (she/her) is a Vancouver-based stage and screen actor. Recent credits include Anne of Green Gables: The Musical (Gateway Theatre), and She Kills Monsters, Rochdale, Love’s Labour’s Lost (Studio Theatre). She is a proud alumna of the 27th Street Theatre Co. and the University of Alberta’s BFA-Acting Program. Shaughnessy is thrilled to return to the stage as part of the 17th annual Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular and has immensely enjoyed getting to experience and be a part of the vibrant artistic community on Vancouver Island. She thanks her family and friends for their support - and you, for supporting live theatre.

Caulin Moore* - Tenor
Caulin would love to thank Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular for their warm welcome this holiday season! Caulin has worked on stages across the country and is thrilled to be here on Vancouver Island for the first time.
Selected Theatre: Ogie in Waitress, Prince in Rapunzel: A Merry Hairy Holiday Panto (Capitol Theatre), Prince Eric in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Persephone), Galileo Standby in We Will Rock You (North American Tour), JukeBox Hero (Ed Mirvish Theatre/Canadian Premiere), Schroeder in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Featured Soloist in Step By Step: Evolution of the Greatest Boy Bands (Stage West), Tenor in Music of the Night (Sound the Alarm), Clyde in Giants in the Sky Festival (Talk Is Free Theatre), Jack in Jack and the BeansTalk Panto (Torrent Productions), Pepper in Mamma Mia!, Sound of Music (Drayton Entertainment), Romeo in This Way Madness Lies, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance (Korda Artistic Productions).
Other: Thank you to the wonderful team at The Talent House. A big thanks to mum, dad, and Fal for everything. And much love to Jason, always.

Gabriel Macdonald* - Baritone
Gabriel is a Toronto based performer. He grew up in Nelson B.C. where his passion for music and performing began at a very early age. He is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts, where he received the “Founders Award” for achievement in musical theatre performance. He has since played lead roles in shows such as Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, and Rocky Horror. As a vocal soloist, Gabriel has toured internationally, performed the baritone role in Carmina Burana and has shared the stage with artists such as David Foster, Rajaton and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.

Dancers:

Kyla Couper-Cruickshank - Dance Captain and Dancer
Kyla started dancing at the age of four, and her love of dance took her to New York City at age 15 to train for four years at the Joffrey Ballet School. Since graduating with a Certificate in Dance, Kyla has performed with DansArts et al., Ballet Kelowna, Coastal City Ballet, CollabArt Creations, and her own performing company, Coupé Dance & Co. Kyla holds a Bachelor’s Degree of General Studies in Education from Simon Fraser University, has been teaching dance for eight years, and runs her own dance studio in Richmond, BC. Kyla is excited to be back in the YellowPoint Christmas Spectacular for a sixth season!

Camély Rouleau - Dancer
Camély is a bilingual multi-disciplinary artist from Gatineau Qc. After graduating from the Canadian College of Performing Arts, she moved to Vancouver to keep following her dreams. Since moving there, she has been acting and dancing on stage and on screen. She has recently danced in an episode of Connexion at CBC-French. Some of her other dance credits include Lovers Fighters presented at the Innovate Dance Film Showcase, the PNE fair day shows, 1000 Pieces of Pi ,Chiaro:Scuro and Knotted with Broken Rhythms Victoria. Camély is very excited to be back at YPCS for her second season!

Mikalina Rylance - Dancer
Mikalina Rylance is a professional dancer whose career includes performing with Royal Caribbean and Step One Dance Company, where she also served as Dance Captain. She has appeared in a Hallmark series, danced in a ByteDance production, and performed for Hermès Canada. Her diverse training includes ballet, jazz, hip-hop, ballroom, and many more. She’s also an experienced adjudicator, having judged national competitions like Candance. Mikalina brings passion and professionalism to every performance, whether on stage, on screen, or behind the judge’s table. She is so excited to be part of this year’s Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular!

Abby Salva - Dancer
Abby is a 23-year-old dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Qualicum Beach, BC, with over 19 years of extensive training and performance experience. Abby excels in technical dance styles such as ballet, contemporary, and jazz, and she has over six years of musical theatre training. Her dance journey took her to London, England, where she studied contemporary dance at the esteemed Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Upon returning to Canada in 2020, she joined The Source Dance Company, where her dedication and leadership led to her appointment as dance captain in her second season. She has had the pleasure of working with and assisting The Source Dance Company as well as Groove Street Productions regularly since her graduation from The Source in 2022. Abby is living in Vancouver, where she continues to dance and create as much as possible.

Haileigh Feduniak - Dancer
Haileigh found her love of movement at the age of three in her hometown of Cold Lake, Alberta. Alongside training at her local studio she dedicated much of her time traveling for training opportunities, including scholarship programs in New York City and Los Angeles. In 2022, Haileigh relocated to Vancouver BC to join Harbour Dance Centre’s Intensive Training Program. Her favourite projects include the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Lola Colette’s music video “Loveland”, and Polly Pierce’s short film “Revenge Body”. Haileigh strives to be the best person and artist she can be and is thrilled to be joining YPCS again this season!

Musicians

Dave Baird - Electric and Double Bass
After developing a passion for music as a teenager, he bought a bass guitar and joined every band Woodlands Secondary School had to offer. There he also met many like minded friends, and the jams continued afterschool almost daily. He then enrolled in Malaspina Colleges famous Jazz diploma program where he developed a passion for the Upright Bass. Since then he has played with a multitude of bands from rock to jazz, both locally and abroad. He has also played on cruise ships and for theatre companies. Dave is also an avid Birder and Disc golfer. He is excited to join the YPCS for another season!

Adam Robertson - Drums
Born and raised in Powell River, BC, Adam Robertson is a versatile drummer, percussionist and composer with strong West Coast roots. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Vancouver Island University and regularly performs with artists and ensembles spanning the worlds of both popular and art music. Since moving to Vancouver Island in 2016, Adam has gained notoriety for his interactive approach to the drum set, combining elements from a variety of contemporary and world music genres into the jazz drum set tradition established by the masters. In addition to leading his own groups, Adam can be heard in venues across Vancouver Island with an eclectic mix of artists and ensembles including Keanu Lenco, Andrew Homzy’s NOLA Nighthawks, and free-jazz-noise-rock trio Dry Goods.

Brad Shipley - Guitar
Brad makes his home on Gabriola Island when he’s not rehearsing and performing with a diverse makeup of musical projects on Vancouver Island. Sometimes a sideman playing guitar, mandolin, banjo and lap steel and sometimes a music director. He enjoys jazz and bluegrass, rock & roll and the blues, classical and musical theatre. Brad is currently the music director of the Gabriola Chamber Ensemble.

James Darling - Keys
James spent a decade working on cruise ships in lounge bands and showbands. He has played the piano for several musicals. He has accompanied numerous choirs over the years including The VIU vocal jazz choir from 2018-2024. Since 2015 he has been performing with local cover bands Johnny Inappropriate and Wunderbread. James has also been fortunate to work with many of the best jazz musicians on the island in clubs and at festivals. In addition to performing, James is also passionate about teaching music.

Technical Team

Hilary Britton-Foster - Lighting Designer
Hilary is excited to return to the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular, bringing over a decade of lighting design experience back to this vibrant and heartwarming production. Her creative approach blends technical expertise with a genuine love for storytelling and the festive spirit of the holidays. Having previously contributed to the show's unique visual magic, she's eager to once again collaborate with the talented team to illuminate the stage in dazzling new ways. For Hilary, the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular isn’t just a show—it’s a celebration of joy, connection, and tradition, and she’s honored to help bring that to life once again.

Steve Adamson - Sound Designer
Starting at the age of 17, Steve has been involved in live sound for 20 years. Owner and operator of VI Sound for 10 years and a technician at Nanaimo's Port Theatre since 2009. He has been responsible for providing sonic support for a wide variety of productions with artists including The Tea Party, Carly Rae Jepson, Aaron Pritchett, Jojo Mayer, Vancouver Island Symphony and many more. Steve is glad to be onboard the crew again for Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular!

Shelby Matthews - Stage Manger & Lighting Technician
Shelby has lived on Vancouver Island all her life and graduated in 2013 from Vancouver Island University with a degree in Theatre. After graduation she continued to work in the Nanaimo arts community, stage managing for the Vancouver Island Symphony, The Nanaimo International Jazz Festival Association, youth theatre, as well as event manager and board member for The Nanaimo Fringe Festival. Shelby first worked with Razzle Dazzle Productions in 2017 on Nanaimo’s historical show Blackstone’s & Bathtubs and is excited to be back working with them on this years Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Joanne Swain - Costume Alterations
Joanne is please to be joining this year's Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular. Her past experiences have been in the wardrobe department at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, and has filled in as properties co-coordinator at Chemainus Theatre. She is currently volunteering as Head of Wardrobe at the Nanaimo Theatre Group where she oversees the costumes and contributes to various productions. After watching the previous Christmas Spectaculars, she’s excited to get up close and to work on the fabulous outfits you see today.

*The participation of this Artist is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors' Equity Association under the provisions of the DanceOperaTheatre Policy (DOT)