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Performers and Staff
Shows like this can't make it to the stage without a great team working together.
Our team is more like a family, and we want you to be a part of that family too.
Chris Lake
Performer
Chris has been passionate about the drums since he was a small child when his uncle gave him his first set of sticks at the age of seven. He also has a passion for extreme sports and spent three years following a dream of professional snowboarding in Whistler, BC before returning to Newfoundland with his partner, Jennifer in 2008. As he was unable to take his drums to BC, his mother gave him a Horner accordion and a tin whistle, which he became proficient at playing while living away.
Taylor Groves
Performer/Server
Taylor was born and raised in Forteau, Labrador and moved to Corner Brook to pursue an Acting Degree at Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus. She grew up performing music all along the southern coast for events such as The Bakeapple Festival as well as working closely with the CYN putting off shows and musical performances for tourists and young children. Performance is Taylor’s passion, and she plans on nurturing that part of her for the rest of her life.
Lauren Gillingham
Performer/Server
Lauren is excited to return for another run with the New Found Family Drama Company! Growing up in small town central Newfoundland, Lauren always knew her passion was with the performing arts since she was a kid. She began by dancing with the Gander Dance Studio, and her love of stage continued to blossom as she worked in several productions with Grenfell Theatre, and has also worked with Shakespeare By The Sea, Beyond The Overpass, along with a stage management debut with The Off Broadway Players most recent productions (Tick, Tick... BOOM!, Stop Kiss). It doesn’t matter where she is, Lauren just loves to be included in creative spaces of all sorts. She looks forward to another incredible summer season!
Violet Cummings
Performer/Server
Violet was born and raised in Corner Brook, NL. She became involved in the theatre community in grade six once attending classes at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. She has since partaken in training in other music and theatre companies as well such as Graham Academy, Lock and Keynote and Camber Arts. Her most recent roles include Shanawdithit in the film Shanawdithit: A Beothuk Story, Sam in Our Little Life, and Clown in The Winter's Tale. A couple of her favourite shows she has worked on have been Tick, Tick...BOOM! with the Off Broadway Players and Seussical the Musical with Graham Academy. Violet is currently studying acting at Grenfell University and is very excited to join NFFD Co. for her third year, playing the character Martha.
Alex Hancock
Performer/Server
Alex was born in Corner Brook, NL, moved to Quebec and then back to Corner Brook in Grade 4. He became involved in theatre through school during a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Since then, Alex has done many shows with such companies as The Graham Academy, Dance Studio West, Lock and Keynote, and Gary Bennet Music. Some of his recent roles include Willard in Footloose, Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Oaken in Disney’s Frozen, and Lukas Beneike in the Addams Family. Alex is currently finishing Grade 12 and is pursuing theatre at Grenfell for post-secondary education. He is beyond excited to be back for another year and is thrilled to bring some entertainment to Corner Brook with the amazing crew at New Found Family Drama Company.
Micah Squires
Performer/Server
Micah is a performer from Pasadena, NL. He grew up surrounded by actors and musicians which had a profound impact on him. In his free time he loves playing the bass, drums, and guitar, with a special interest in bass, and hopes to someday incorporate this into his future career. This is Micah's first summer with New Found Family Drama Company and he can't wait to get started.
John Fawcett
Performer/Server
John is a Musician/Storyteller from Corner Brook, NL. He has been playing music and performing for crowds all over Canada for the last 20 years and has worked with some of Canada’s top talent as both musician as well as Audio Engineer. John met his wife while Living in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and he is a proud Father of three. Since moving back to Corner Brook in 2022, John has been performing around the west coast and is currently the lead singer/frontman in local hard rock band THE MILL. John has always been a huge fan of Johnny Cash and is excited to be a member of the Leroy’s Diner crew.
Kassie Lukeman
Stage Manager
Kassie is a theatre practitioner with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Memorial University’s Grenfell campus. Born and raised in Corner Brook, NL, her playwriting deals with themes of identity and history on the west coast. Some of her past credits include writer/actor for “Un/Settling” (2021) for the CB Nuit After Dark festival; as well as guest director for "Turncoat Hill" and “Shellbird” (2021) for Theatre Newfoundland Labrador. In addition she has produced, directed, and written for Seasonally Disordered 2018 and 2019, a showcase of original short plays from artists local to the west coast. This is her second summer with New Found Family Drama as Stage Manager and she is very excited to see what this season holds!
Sandra Schwartz
Chef
This is Sandra’s first season with New Found Family Drama Company. She is a self-professed “behind the scenes person” who thrives in those environments. Originally from Newfoundland, Sandra spent the last 15 years in Iqaluit, NU with her husband and three small children. After working as a Nurse for the last 10 years, she has decided to take a break and return to an old passion of cooking. Sandra loves to feed people. “Any food can become fine dining when made with love and eaten with friends”. Welcome to the family Sandra!
Past Performers & Staff
We are sad to see them go,
but wish them all the best.
We couldn't have done any of our shows without these fine folks on our team.
Good luck in your next adventures everyone!
