Acting Grads
The cold and snowy weather of his hometown, Edmonton, Alberta never dwindled the flame that was Zac Bellward’s passion for the arts. From a young age, it was clear he would pursue a career in the performing arts as he found the most joy in entertaining those around him. Music has been a constant in Zac’s life and he found his voice through piano lessons and his involvement with the Kokopelli choir organization over the course of many years. Attending Victoria School of the Arts from grades 7 to 12, he further developed his passion for the performing arts, starring in shows such as Beauty and The Beast, West Side Story, Shrek: The Musical and In the Heights. Zac is grateful to practice on the unceded traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. He is the 2022 recipient of the Sydney Risk award, and his recent credits include Everett Lily (The Bright Young Things, Studio 58), Chorus (Everybody, Studio 58), Jesse/Actor 1 (Six Of One: New Play Festival, Studio 58), and Dr. Frank N. Furter (The Rocky Horror Show, Studio 58). Zac feels privileged to be in this line of work where he can express his complete self and tell meaningful and impactful stories. He is deeply appreciative of the guiding forces he’s met along the way and thanks Studio 58 and its faculty for being an integral part of his journey.
Sarah Conway (she/her) is an actor, writer, and comedian living between so-called Vancouver and Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland). She is grateful to find home and community on the lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Beothuk, and Mi’kmaw Nations. Select credits include Gonzalo/Iris (The Tempest, Perchance Theatre), Jackie Coryton (Hay Fever, Perchance Theatre), Narrator (The Rocky Horror Show, Studio 58), Reporter (Son of a Critch), Diana Hudson (The Bright Young Things, Studio 58 Risky Nights), and writer/performer (GoFundYourself, Ottawa Fringe). This year she made her playwriting debut with Budding which premiered as part of the Six of One: New Play Festival at Studio 58. Sarah has been a member of the Shit Hot Shit Show and Black Box Comedy sketch troupes. She has performed at the Ottawa, Montreal, and Baltimore improv festivals.
Diving into the abyss of artistry, Rhys graduates Studio 58 aspiring to nurture his insatiable curiosity. As a performer on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, his recent stage credits include, TomorrowLove, The Rocky Horror Show, Six of One: New Play Festival (Family Christmas) and Blue Stockings, all performed under Studio 58. Discovering a creative outlet, Rhys adored theatre in high school, igniting sparks that would soon become a fiery passion. Equipped with a craving for artistic development, he enrolled in Studio 58 to stoke, and launch, his upcoming acting career. Rhys would like to thank the Studio 58 faculty, as well as the lifelong friends he’s made along his schooling career. This would otherwise be a cold journey without them, and the continual glowing support from his mother.
Emma is an artist grateful to be working on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Recent stage credits include Librarian (Blue Stockings, Studio 58), Sophie (How to F*ck Up a Funeral, Studio 58), Actor 3 (Everybody Loves a Mystery), Usherette/Phantom (The Rocky Horror Show, Studio 58), Mind (Everybody, Studio 58), Olivia Ross (The Bright Young Things, Studio 58) and The Good Fairy (King Arthur’s Court, Metro Theatre). Most recently, she worked on Studio 58’s production of Metamorphoses. She is a proud recipient of The Sid Williams Memorial Scholarship (Theatre BC) and the Phyllis Taylor Scholarship. She is an avid maker in many areas including costume, props, set, graphic and character design. Her most recent endeavour has been puppet making. Combining her crafting skills with her love of physical theatre, her one-woman puppet show The Whispering Underground debuted this December during Studio 58’s Solo Shows.
Samantha (she/her) has been acting, singing and dancing since age five. Born and raised in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), she is grateful to live here now, on the unceded traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Samantha is incredibly thankful for the training and guidance she has received from the faculty, staff and guest professionals while at Studio 58. In fall 2021, she was awarded the Gertrude Langridge Memorial Theatre Arts Scholarship for strong and consistent contribution to the ensemble. Among other learning opportunities, she previously trained at the Stratford Festival’s theatre arts programs. This summer Samantha had the pleasure of teaching for Arts Club Education and is also one of the brains behind Studio 58’s social media. Select past theatre credits include: Le merveilleux voyage d'Inès de l'Ouest (Emilie Leclerc, Théâtre La Seizième), for which she was nominated for a Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Performance, East Van Panto: Alice in Wonderland (Roe/Elliot/Testini, Theatre Replacement/The Cultch), Risky Nights: I, Myself, Am Strange and Unusual (co-creator, Chris Lam, Studio 58) and Fancy Nancy: The Musical (Cameron/Terriault, Segal Centre/CSLDS). Samantha is a multifaceted artist; she looks forward to continuing to build a lifelong career as a performer, director, writer and arts educator. Samantha would like to thank her mum Gloria and her big brother Jake. She owes everything she is to Michael Ian Levy. I miss you, Daddy. I carry your love with me.
Kevin is a first generation Vietnamese-Canadian artist based in Vancouver. After falling in love with acting in high school, Kevin decided to further his training at Studio 58’s professional theatre program. He has co-created and appeared in works such as Away with Home (Miscellaneous Productions), The Bright Young Things (Risky Nights, Studio 58), Everybody (Studio 58), The Rocky Horror Show (Studio 58) and Trailer Variations (Workshop). Kevin was part of the 2022 Riotous Youth ensemble at Bard on the Beach. He is also a playwright, having co-written The Banyan Tree, an original short play which featured at Studio 58’s Six of One: New Play Festival. Kevin is the 2022 recipient of the United Players Andrée Karas scholarship award. He plans to utilize his Studio 58 training to continue devising, writing and acting after graduation.
Shaye Steele is a multidisciplinary artist who currently resides on the unceded, traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations in Vancouver, BC. She originally hails from Mayne Island. Some recent Studio 58 credits include: Miss Blake in Jessica Swale’s Blue Stockings, The Plant in Sarah Conway’s original play Budding, Actor Number Four in Tristen Foy’s original play Everybody Loves a Mystery, and Columbia in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show. Shaye was also a chorus member in Brandon Jacob Jenkins’ Everybody and took part in the creation of the play The Bright Young Things, a Risky Nights fourth term project. Film credits include Al in Specaedes, (Vetito Media Production) and Charlotte in Charlotte (Vetito Media Production). Shaye recently made her teaching debut with an improv class, led by herself and Sebastian Ley at Mayne Island Little Theatre. After graduation, Shaye is excited to delve further into the world of film and TV, devising theatre from the ground up, burlesque, and at some point, starting a caravan travelling circus cabaret.
Adam began his acting career in Kelowna, where he performed in shows such as Glen Garry Glen Ross (Fred Skeleton), Liberation Days (New Vintage Theatre), and Late Company (Theatre Kelowna) for which he won the 2019 Okanagan Zone festival award for best supporting actor. Before attending Studio 58, Adam worked as a freelance voice over artist. His previous Studio 58 credits include The Bright Young Things, Everybody, The Rocky Horror Show and How to F*ck Up a Funeral, written by fellow classmates Abi Padilla and Zoë Autumn. He has been grateful to finish his final semester by working as a chorus member in East Van Panto: The Little Mermaid (Theatre Replacement). He hopes to continue to challenge himself in the future as a theatre maker and film/TV actor.
Production Grads
Rachel E. Ross is a stage manager, theatre technician and classically trained musician. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, they now live and work in Vancouver on the stolen land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Passionate about all things music, theatre, and arts related, they previously earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory before moving to the West Coast to continue their education. They discovered their passion for stage management while at Studio 58 and worked as the Stage Manager for Blue Stockings and The Rocky Horror Show, and as the Assistant Stage Manager for Everybody. Rachel also found fulfilment working as a technician—they were the Set Crew Head for Six of One: New Play Festival and the Lighting Crew Head for Cerulean Blue. They are the recipient of the David Pritchard Stage Management Scholarship for outstanding achievement in the field. Outside of Studio 58, they have had the pleasure of working with Bard on the Beach and Arts Umbrella, and they recently stage managed the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Angel’s Bone. Rachel is endlessly thankful to the instructors of the Production program and to their remarkably supportive friends that have kept them afloat these past two years.
Howling from the western sky of the Pacific Ocean, Jason is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist and a storyteller based in Vancouver, BC. During his early years, Jason constantly found himself surrounded by books, poetry and tales from across the sea. Such fascination has enlightened him to be expressive of himself and appreciate the great value stories hold. His little adventures in storytelling became the root of his profound love for theatre. His passion lies in the visual and musical aspects of theatre, such as set design, sound design, as well as playwriting. He believes that with a little bit of wackiness and a whole lot of magic, theatre can create life-changing moments. His most recent works at Studio 58 include: Production Assistant (Metamorphoses, directed by Daniela Atiencia); Assistant to the Lighting Designer Hina Nishioka (Blue Stockings); Assistant to the Projection Designer Candelario Andrade (Six of One: New Play Festival); Assistant to the Technical Director Kevin MacDonald (The Rocky Horror Show); and Assistant to the Sound Designer Andrew Creegan (Everybody). Jason is also the recipient of Boca Del Lupo's SLaM scholarship for his strong dedication and skill in theatre design. Aside from pulling the strings behind the curtain, he also enjoys performing magic for others. Jason is thrilled to keep growing and continue his journey of creating immersive theatrical experiences with stories that bring us all together. So come along and let's spread the magic!