Acting Grads
Since needing an arts credit in the tenth grade, Zoë has been unequivocally devoted to theatre. Originally from Kelowna, she has worked both on and off stage in a variety of local productions. Select Kelowna credits include Shelby (Steel Magnolias, Kelowna Actors Studio), Claire (Little One, Mad Fox Theatre) and Clarice (Adrift, Fred Skeleton Theatre Company). Since moving to Vancouver and attending Studio 58, Zoë has explored the theatrical world as an Assistant Stage Manager, a playwright and performer. Last season, Zoë and creative soulmate Abi Padilla wrote How To F*ck Up A Funeral, which was produced for the Six Of One: New Play Festival. Select performances include: originating the role of Dawn (Aftermath, Studio 58), a play written by fellow classmate Ben Brown; Tess (Blue Stockings, Studio 58); and most recently, The Professor et al. (Metamorphoses, Studio 58). Zoë is excited to take on the professional world as both an actor and writer after graduating this spring. She would like to thank all the faculty and staff who have made school a life changing experience, and to her friends and family who have helped her so much along the way. And to her dog, Linus. She loves her dog.
Artist and actor Kahlila Ball (she/her) was born and raised on the unceded Coast Salish land of Salt Spring Island. On the Island, she quickly formed a tight-knit creative community. Her experience ranges from annual musicals and Shakespeare productions with exitStageLeft to collective creation and physical theatre training with the Gulf Islands School of Performing Arts. Kahlila was also fortunate to compete in the National Improv Games winning silver and gold consecutively, as well as the Spirit of the Games Award. This summer, she worked as a teaching artist at Bard on the Beach with Riotous Youth. Kahlila’s most recent credits include Ensemble (Metamorphoses, Studio 58), Maeve Sullivan (Blue Stockings, Studio 58), Tortoise & Actor 2 (Six of One: New Play Festival, Studio 58), Romeo (Romeo and Juliet, exitStageLeft) and Martha Bessell (Spring Awakening, exitStageLeft). Recently Kahlila's love of performance has expanded to include extra-curricular pole and burlesque training. As she emerges from her education at Studio 58, Kahlila plans to hone her skills as an actor, movement artist and deviser. Her current creative philosophy is built around playfulness, ensemble and leaning into what terrifies her most.
Kate Berg is a graduating student of Studio 58, located on the unceded and ancestral lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. They are originally from Win-nipi (Winnipeg), Manitoba, located on Treaty 1 Territory and home of the Métis Nation. Kate grew up being drawn to performing, they always had an inkling for theatre since childhood and at the University of Manitoba their passion was cracked open, completing their bachelor’s degree in theatre. She is passionate about feminist, Shakespearean and experimental theatre while providing accessible spaces for everyone to enjoy. Previous select credits include: Carolyn (Blue Stockings, Studio 58); Lady MacDuff (Macbeth, University of Manitoba); and Nancy (Pitch!, University of Manitoba). Kate is thankful for her learning opportunities with Studio 58 and the support of her friends and family in both her Prairie and mountain homes. Catch them onstage in their graduating solo show this April. Kate is always seeking out their next adventure and is excited to discover what lies on their path ahead!
Ben Brown is a Vancouver-based actor and writer originally from St. Albert, Alberta. Though he grew up playing hockey, Ben always had a passion for performing and eventually gave up athletics to pursue acting. Throughout high school, Ben starred in a variety of productions with the St. Albert Children’s Theatre and Paul Kane High School Theatre, including Tuck Everlasting, It’s A Wonderful Life, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and The Little Mermaid (twice!). His desire to improve naturally led him to Studio 58, where he has had the opportunity to push himself outside of his comfort zone and gain new confidence in his artistic ability, all while falling in love with the city of Vancouver. Studio 58 credits include: Frank (The Kitchen), Al (A Chorus Line), Ensemble (Metamorphoses), Mr. Banks (Blue Stockings) and Ben/The Mouse (Budding). As a playwright, Ben had his one-act comedy, Aftermath, produced in Studio 58’s Six of One: New Play Festival; it was a dream come true to see his peers acting in a play he wrote. Looking beyond Studio 58, Ben is excited to continue acting, writing and learning more about who he is as an artist.
Spending much of his childhood moving from one city to another, Ethan spent his awkward teenage years in the Northern town of Smithers, BC. Though a piece of his heart remains there, he is grateful to find a home and community on the unceded traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. His recent credits include Holmes (Blue Stockings, Studio 58), Cephalus, et al. (Metamorphoses, Studio 58), Mark Anthony (A Chorus Line, Studio 58) and Buggy Moore (Trailer Variations, Veda Hille, Amiel Gladstone). As he moves forward, Ethan hopes to pursue and create work that shares his love of life and the gift of experiencing it with others.
Cassidy Hergott was born and raised in Kelowna, BC on the unceded land of the Sylix/Okanagan people. She grew up playing the piano and singing, which progressed into a love for musical theatre. Cassidy was heavily immersed in the Kelowna theatre scene, as she was involved in various productions, attended a performing arts high school and taught children’s theatre classes. She then moved to Vancouver for Studio 58's acting program. Select credits include Bebe and Cassie u/s (A Chorus Line, Studio 58), Ensemble (Metamorphoses, Studio 58), Maeve u/s, Mrs. Blake u/s and Minnie u/s (Blue Stockings, Studio 58), Doris (The Stranger, Peninsula Productions) and Natalie (Next to Normal, Kelowna Actors Studio). Cassidy spends her free time taking dance classes including pole, jazz, ballet and tap. After graduation, Cassidy is excited to dive into the world of theatre and film, while exploring burlesque and other movement styles.
Brodie is a performing artist who creates and plays on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. At a young age, Brodie decided that being an actor would be easier and more fun than chores. He was right about one of those things. With aspirations of becoming an actor, Brodie was also intrinsically drawn to music and singing, this led him to take Capilano University's Musical Theatre Program. He feels as privileged to have started his theatre training there as he does with finishing his time at Studio 58. The tools and skills he gained from his first program have only been nurtured and refined during his time here. His select credits include: Don (A Chorus Line, Studio 58), Professor Collins (Blue Stockings, Studio 58), Sparky (Forever Plaid, First Impressions Theatre), Josh (9 to 5, CapU Theatre), Otto Kringelein (Grand Hotel, Arbutus Studio) and Phoebus (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Secondary Characters). Brodie is also a proud recipient of the Cheryl Hutcherson Memorial Award (APPLAUSE! Musicals Society). Big thank yous to friends old and new that have made this season of his life brimming with joy, and a special thank you to David, “for loving and supporting me.”
Sebastian is an actor working on the lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, or Vancouver. He comes from Alberta’s Treaty 6 territory, but despite his cowboy roots, favours playing the sort of high-status villains who might want to bulldoze a scenic pasture on Heartland. Outside of Studio 58, he has most recently played in A Life in the Theatre at the Edmonton Fringe and Vetito Media’s Finn Slough and Honey, I’m Home! At Studio 58, he has appeared as Bob in Aftermath and Stage Directions in Everyone Loves a Mystery (Six of One: New Play Festival), Professor Radleigh in Blue Stockings, Zach in A Chorus Line and as Assistant Director for Metamorphoses.
Brian Martinez is a multidisciplinary artist from the beautiful and chilly province of Alberta. He was raised in Amiskwaciy-Wâskahikan (Edmonton). He started dancing at age 11, learning styles such as hip-hop, salsa, bachata and contemporary. Brian attended Victoria High School of the Arts, where he fell in love with acting and never turned back. He performed as an ensemble member in musicals such as In the Heights and Mary Poppins. His recent stage credits include Gavin (C.A.T.S. - Creating A Transformative Space, Studio 58), Little Man (Old Man Little Man, Studio 58), Billy (Blue Stockings, Studio 58), Orpheus/Phaeton/Ensemble (Metamorphoses, Studio 58) and Paul (A Chorus Line, Studio 58). Outside of acting, Brian enjoys photography and writing/filming/directing/acting in short films, alongside a group of friends on their collective YouTube channel (Chocolate Milk Art Collective). Brian is beyond grateful to be able to learn, perform and practice on the unceded traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. He was a 2020 recipient of the Bob Maskell Scholarship. Brian hopes to continue growing and challenging himself as a performer and artist on stage and in the film and TV world.
Abi is a Filipino-Canadian theatre actor, filmmaker and writer. Select acting credits from Studio 58 include Connie Wong (A Chorus Line), Celia Willbond (Blue Stockings) and Diana Ross (The Bright Young Things). Outside Studio 58, she has performed as Adella (East Van Panto: The Little Mermaid, Theatre Replacement), Thu/Flower Girl (Vietgone, United Players of Vancouver) and Joy/Josie (buto/buto: Bones are Seeds, SEACHS). The two short plays she co-wrote, The Banyan Tree and How to F*ck Up a Funeral have been staged at the Six of One: New Play Festival. Her short film directorial debut Thank You, Mila has been showcased in the Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon 2020 under the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. Abi’s multi-disciplinary work is deeply rooted in the immigrant experience, community reconciliation and cultural collaborations.
Brandon is a multidisciplinary artist born under the weird and rainy skies of Vancouver. He lives and works on the unceded traditional lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Brandon started singing at a young age. He toured the world as part of the British Columbia Boys Choir, singing in locales such as Italy, Croatia, Slovenia and Scotland as well as opening the 2014 Canada Day Parliament Hill Ceremonies. Yet, Brandon’s penchant for performance and storytelling was not quenched with only singing. He soon fell in love with acting. In his senior year at Handsworth Secondary, Brandon co-wrote, performed in and penned the lyrics for an original musical, No Idea. Recent stage credits include Mark (C.A.T.S. - Creating A Transformative Space, Studio 58), Tom/Boyfriend/Ensemble (Trailer Variations, Workshop), Edwards (Blue Stockings, Studio 58), Baucis/Apollo/Ensemble (Metamorphoses, Studio 58) and Roy/Al and Bobby’s Understudy (A Chorus Line, Studio 58). After graduation Brandon is excited to progress as an actor on the stage and screen, as well as a writer and a composer. Brandon showcased his offbeat creative spirit in his multimedia absurdist piece The Looking Room during Studio 58’s Solo Shows.
Trinity Richardson is an artist born and raised in Lions Bay, a small village in West Vancouver, BC. Acting, singing and dancing have been a huge part of her life for as long as she can remember. After spending most of her elementary and high school days involved in dance lessons and competitions, choir (school and the West Vancouver District Honour choir), drama class and her high school theatre company, she decided to further her education at Studio 58’s professional theatre program. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to spend the last three years working, learning and growing here on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Her recent credits include: Elizabeth (C.A.T.S. - Creating A Transformative Space, Risky Nights, Studio 58), Flo (Trailer Variations, musical workshop), Lady in the Café & Carolyn u/s (Blue Stockings, Studio 58), Ensemble (Metamorphoses, Studio 58) and Judy (A Chorus Line, Studio 58). Once graduated, Trinity hopes to continue to grow her passion for the arts by pursuing a career in theatre, as well as in film and TV. Trinity would like to express great appreciation for all the wonderful teachers, faculty and friends she has met during her time at Studio 58. She wouldn’t be where she is without them.
Daniel is an actor and director originally hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba but is happy to now call Vancouver home. Select acting credits include: Gregory Gardner (A Chorus Line, Studio 58), Procris (Metamorphoses, Studio 58), Professor Anderson (Blue Stockings, Studio 58), Mr. Bidwell (Trailer Variations, Veda Hille & Amiel Gladstone), Jerry (The Zoo Story, Winnipeg Fringe Festival) and Willy (Doubtful House, Black Hole Theatre Company). As director, his proudest achievement was directing the sold out run of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for the Black Hole Theatre Company in 2015. He is grateful to the staff & faculty at Studio 58 for all their guidance, his family & friends for their endless support and, of course, to his new family in Vancouver for always being there for him.