Meet the Instructors for our 2021 Virtual Workshops

MIKE BUTLER

Directing for the Stage and Auditioning for the Stage

Mike Butler wears many hats but never actually wears hats! Mike works at TAN Coffee in Wolfville, works part-time at the constituency office of MP Kody Blois, hosts at the Church Brewing Company, guides on the Magic Winery Bus in the Summer, and in Fall 2020, was elected to Wolfville Town Council. He also writes for the Grapevine (and other local publications) and in his spare time (HA!) Mike's true passion and love is the theatre.
Since December 2009, Mike has been a part of 75 productions in the capacity of acting, directing, producing, marketing, and stage managing. His involvement with theatre has given him the chance to work with CentreStage Theatre, Valley Ghost Walks, Edalene Theatre, Quick as a Wink, some local schools, The Fezziwig Society, and Mike was the owner and operator of the Wolfville Theatre Collective for 5 years.
Mike brings knowledge and experience to the table with each production he's a part of and although acting is what he prefers, he's never shy to direct a project that is passionate to him. With boundless energy, organization, and an endless appreciation for community, Mike is excited to get back on stage!
Mike has two plays and four musicals under his directing belt including Grease and Shrek, and he's excited to share his knowledge of being in the director's chair with everyone!

RICK COURTNEY

Auditioning for Film & Television

IMDB Link

Rick Courtney was born in Newfoundland, Canada. He first appeared on camera in a high school production called Consumer Checkpoint, which aired on a local community cable TV channel. He graduated from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, NS with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Physiology, and Criminology. He holds a Master’s in Adult Education from Saint Francis Xavier University. Rick has appeared in several TV commercials, TV shows, Feature Films, Radio, and Internet voiceovers. Rick has worked both as an Actor, Voice Actor, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Assistant Director, Casting Director, Locations Manager, and Writer. He has appeared as a lead and Executive Producer in the upcoming feature film by Scott McKone called Surface Tension (2021). Rick appears as the lead in Did He Do it? Poetic Justice for Discover ID Channel (2015), Mr. D on CBC (2016), Titanic (1997), Lead actor and Executive Producer and Director in A Titanic Voyage (1998), Lexx the Dark Zone (1996), Rohan Fernando's Fade to Black (2003), Time of Death (2015), Neurodiversity (2016). Rick studied as a method actor at (most notably) Playhouse West Acting School in Pasadena, California, and has taken numerous acting classes over the years. This sought-after actor/producer is known onscreen for his serious method acting but has hilarious comedic timing. 

EMILY JEWER (SHE/THEY)

The Art of Stage Makeup

Emily Jewer (she/they) is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They studied visual arts at Mount Allison University and since graduating has worked in a variety of artistic fields including theatre, film, visual arts, and design as an actor, director, photographer, and artist. 
Emily has had an interest in special effects makeup since she was young and began to build on her skills in university while working in Mount A’s theatre department. They are a self-taught makeup artist and have built up their skills through practical application and online classes and tutorials. They have worked with several local theatre companies as a makeup artist and consultant including Two Planks and a Passion, The Doppler Effect, and Taboo Theatre, and on several short films and a children's web series. 
For the last eight years, Emily has frequently worked with Dalhousie Medical School helping to create and apply medical simulation makeup to replicate injuries and illnesses in workshops and exams for doctors and other health professionals. 
Emily loves to share her work and is excited to work with Quick As A Wink to offer this workshop on theatre makeup and basic special effects.