Donna Douglas, BMUS, B Ed,

is an elementary school teacher with the Hastings-Prince Edward District School Board. She is a Queen’s University Music Program Alumni, who majored in piano. During her time at Queen’s she was the rehearsal accompanist for the Cantabile Children’s Choir, the orchestra pianist for the Queen’s Symphony, and the pit orchestra pianist for the Queen’s Musical Theatre. In recent years, she has produced a number of school musicals, and directed numerous children’s choirs. This is her first year as accompanist for YPC, and she looks forward to being a part of the organization for many future productions.

Steve Forrester B.A., B.Ed., OTC

Steve has been active in theatre in the community since 1971 when he became the Theatre Arts teacher at Moira Secondary School- a position which he held for thirty one years. In that period he directed many shows- varieties, plays and musicals and in his last two years there he, along with his wife, Moira, (see above) started the Musical Theatre Programme at the school.
He has also been involved at the Belleville Theatre Guild (non-stop) since 1972 as actor, director, designer, set-builder and whatever. He has competed in a number of EODL Drama Festival presentations and was responsible as director for our only two Best Play wins- a feat he hopes to achieve again this year.
Steve got involved with YPC helping Moira back when it first began with Flapper and this year is expanding his role by helping in the direction of Littlest Angel which he is sure will be a "biggest" success.

Liane Ireland:Tap, Jazz, Stage & Ballroom
Fellowship B.A.T.D. Stage Associate B.A.T.D. Modern

Liane is a certified dance instructor and the owner/director of the Liane Ireland School of Dance for over 20 years. She has always wanted to offer the Quinte area a venue where young people could experience and be taught the 'Triple Threat' (dance, song, drama). She formed YPC with Moira Forrester in 2006 and the dance school officially changed to Ireland Academy of Dance and Performing Arts where dance, voice and drama lessons are taught. Liane choreographed both of YPC's musicals Flapper and The Mikado. She will also be helping with the many dances in Meet Me in St. Louis.

Carol Peoples

began her work and theatre production experience with YPC. As a parent of one of the cast members she was asked to help out. The help that was needed was as stage manager. Her agreement to be stage manager for YPC's first production, Flapper, was contingent on the fact that no one would be upset that she did not know what she was doing. Carol learned a lot from both Moira and Liane during the inaugural year and she was 'hooked'. Since that time Carol has helped out on productions at the Belleville Theatre Guild such as; Oklahoma, Monkey Soup, Gypsy, and A Little Night Music. Carol sits on the the board as Treasurer for YPC and has enjoyed being stage manager for YPC's version of the musical The Mikado and most recently the play You Can't Take It With You. Carol is still amazed at everything from auditioning the young people, through the rehearsal process, to the finished product for YPC productions. She has always enjoyed working with young people and YPC offers that opportunity. Carol is looking forward to the next production which will once again be a musical. Meet Me in St. Louis is shaping up to be YPC's best production yet.

Moira Nikander-Forrester BA, B Ed, OTC,

is a qualified Ontario Music and Drama teacher. She is recently retired from the Hastings and Prince Edward Board of Education where she taught in both the Elementary and Secondary panels for many years. Along with her husband, Steve, Moira developed and instituted the first 4 credit Music Theatre course in Belleville at Moira Secondary School in 2000. Currently, Moira is the conductor and sits on the board of Command Performance, a community choir based in Prince Edward County. Moira has been active with the Belleville Theatre Guild as actor and director for over 25 years. Moira has written 2 successful musicals with partner David Farmer. In 1999 she was awarded "Best Actress" by Theatre Ontario for her portrayal of Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. In 2006 she was awarded the Quinte Arts Council's Arts Recognition Award for her contribution to the arts in the community. Moira is the proud mother of 4 children, James, Alexandra, Douglas and Miles, and grandmother of Nickolas. She is happiest when working in the arts, and when she isn't rehearsing she can be found happily knitting something for someone in the family.