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Creative Career Catalyst Sessions - For Theatre Makers
Dream it!
Build it!
Share it!
Scroll down for more information on each program and to register
The Creative Career Catalyst series is a hands-on training program for adults (18+). It is designed for performing artists, theatre-makers, and creatively curious community members who want to deepen their theatre practice, develop original work, and/or build confidence in performance. You can take the full series for a step-by-step learning experience or sign up for individual sessions that interest you.
Sessions are led by working artists and industry professionals, emphasizing real-world experience over abstract ideas. The series prioritizes experiential training, creative community building, reciprocal learning, inclusivity, and representation,
This is more than a skills program—it’s a space to connect, question, and grow as a theatre practitioner right here on PEI. Participants leave not only with new tools, but with a stronger sense of their own artistic agency and a network of peers invested in each other’s success.
Phase 1: Dream it!
Participants learn to prepare and present professionally, refine audition material, create strong headshots and resumes, approach audition rooms, find opportunities from local calls to self-submissions.
Phase 2: Build it!
❋ Authentic Acting (Meisner) Essentials
A four-session introduction to Meisner-based acting, focusing on presence, responsiveness, and truthful performance. These tools support participants in creating work that is grounded, dynamic, and connected.
Phase 3: Share it!
❋ Authentic Acting II (Meisner in Practice)
A performance-focused course applying acting techniques to scenes and original work. Participants deepen their ability to sustain presence, build relationships, and elevate stakes in preparation for sharing their work publicly.
❋ Start Anywhere: Beginning the
Creative Process
A one-night session to spark creativity, helping participants generate original stage material and turn ideas in their heads into tangible performances through practical, experiential techniques.
❋ Challenging the Status Quo:
Centering Underrepresented Voices
A focused creation workshop centering artists often excluded from mainstream spaces, supporting bold personal storytelling rooted in lived experience and challenging dominant narratives through authentic perspectives.
❋ Making it a Reality: Self-Producing
for the Stage
This session covers theatre production logistics, including budgeting, scheduling, venues, marketing, and roles of collaborators, helping participants understand responsibilities and build effective, supportive creative teams.
❋ Musical Theatre Audition Essentials
A two-night intensive focused on performance authenticity, storytelling, and instinct-based singing. Participants reconnect with presence, voice, and risk-taking in performance
❋ Audition Ready: Preparation
and Presence
Musical Theatre Audition Essentials
A two-night intensive focused on performance authenticity, storytelling, and instinct-based singing. Participants reconnect with presence, voice, and risk-taking in performance.
Instructors:
Kathy Zaborsky is an Alberta-based actor, director, musical director, composer, and choreographer. Her music direction includes Million Dollar Quartet, Buddy Holly, and 70+ revues. She works with New West and Jubilations Theatre, and has composed and designed sound for award-nominated and experimental theatre productions across Canada, including Toronto premieres.
Jay Whitehead is a queer theatre artist based in Charlottetown, working as a performer, director, choreographer, writer, and educator. He holds a BFA and MFA in Acting from York University, co-founded Theatre Outré, has taught at multiple universities, and has performed and collaborated with companies nationally and internationally.
September 6 & 9
6:30 - 9:30pm
Fee: $120
Start Anywhere: Beginning the Creative Process
A one-night session to kickstart the creative process with an emphasis on generating original material for the stage. Participants will learn practical and experiential ways they can take what’s in their heads (and even discover what they don’t know is in their heads) and begin the process of making them tangible for the stage.
Instructor: Benton Hartley
A member of the popular improv group POPALOPALOTS, who have been a staple at The Arts Guild for 15+ years. Rob brings extensive experience to the table and is ready to show you the basics of improvisation through games strictly focused on laughter and fun.
October 26, 2026
6:00 - 9:00 pm
Fee: $60
Audition Ready: Preparation and Presence
Learn how to prepare and present yourself professionally, including selecting and refining audition material, building a strong headshot and resume, and understanding how to approach the audition room. The session also covers how to find and access audition opportunities, from local calls to self-submissions.
Instructor: Jay Whitehead is a queer theatre artist based in Charlottetown, working as a performer, director, choreographer, writer, and educator. He holds a BFA and MFA in Acting from York University, co-founded Theatre Outré, has taught at multiple universities, and has performed and collaborated with companies nationally and internationally.
November 18, 25 & December 2
6:30 - 9:30
Fee: $180
Authentic Acting (Meisner) Essentials
A four-session introduction to Meisner-based acting, focusing on presence, responsiveness, and truthful performance. These tools support participants in creating work that is grounded, dynamic, and connected.
Jay Whitehead is a queer theatre artist based in Charlottetown, working as a performer, director, choreographer, writer, and educator. He holds a BFA and MFA in Acting from York University, co-founded Theatre Outré, has taught at multiple universities, and has performed and collaborated with companies nationally and internationally.
January 10, 17, 24 & 31
6:30 - 9:30
Fee: $240
Challenging the Status Quo:
Centering Underrepresented Voices
A focused creation workshop centering artists whose voices are often excluded from mainstream spaces. It is designed to support bold, personal storytelling from artists with lived experience of marginalization. Participants will develop work that challenges dominant narratives and reflects their own perspectives and realities.
To foster safer, more intentional creative environments, the workshop is offered in two dedicated streams.
Two sessions for BIPOC artists (March 22 & 29)
Two sessions for artists living with disabilities, including those who are neurodivergent (April 5 & 12)
BIPOC ARTISTS
Instructor:
Your instructor, Trilby Jeeves, is a specialist in Bouffon—a classic style of performance that celebrates delightful characters, playful mockery, and shared laughter. This workshop is all about the "happy accident" and exploring your most mischievous, creative self in a supportive, low-pressure environment.!
NEURODIVERGENT AND ARTISTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES Instructor: Jay Gallant
Your instructor, Trilby Jeeves, is a specialist in Bouffon—a classic style of performance that celebrates delightful characters, playful mockery, and shared laughter. This workshop is all about the "happy accident" and exploring your most mischievous, creative self in a supportive, low-pressure environment.!
April 5 & 12
6:30 - 9:30
Fee: $120
March 22 & 29
6:30 - 9:30
Fee: $120
Authentic Acting II
(Meisner in Practice)
A performance-focused course applying acting techniques to scenes and original work. Participants deepen their ability to sustain presence, build relationships, and elevate stakes in preparation for sharing their work publicly.
Jay Whitehead is a queer theatre artist based in Charlottetown, working as a performer, director, choreographer, writer, and educator. He holds a BFA and MFA in Acting from York University, co-founded Theatre Outré, has taught at multiple universities, and has performed and collaborated with companies nationally and internationally.
April 25, May 2, 9, & 16
6:30 - 9:30
Fee: $240
Making it a Reality:
Self-Producing for the Stage
This session breaks down the logistics of producing theatre, offering a clear overview of what it takes to get a project on its feet. Participants will explore key producing responsibilities, including budgeting, scheduling, venue considerations, and basic marketing and outreach. The seminar also introduces the roles and functions of common collaborators—director, stage manager, designers, performers, and producers—clarifying how each contributes to the process and how to build a team that supports the work.
Instructor: Grace Kimpinski (she/her) is a passionate arts leader, producer, and stage manager who champions inclusive, transformative performance. Based in Charlottetown, PEI, she leads the Island Fringe Festival, supports equity work nationally, and brings over a decade of experience creating bold, community-rooted performances. She mentors artists and manages productions with care.