Brian Gallivan was asked to create a youth drama program at Cape Breton University in the fall of 1995 due to the enthusiastic public response to his stage production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at the Boardmore Playhouse the previous spring and summer. From humble beginnings, this program has grown into a dynamic family in which young girls and boys discover their creative power. Brian had also been the founding artistic director of Faith Drama Works, which produced community theatre involving adults and teens.

Brian made his CBU Dramagroup acting debut as Geronte in Jim Dale’s comedy Scapino. His acting credits include The Diary of Anne Frank, Merry Molly Malone, Much Ado About Nothing, A Christmas Carol, A Man For All Seasons, Henry IV Part I, and The Princess Bride. Brian’s directorial credits include Be My Baby, A Christmas Carol, The Mousetrap, My Fair Lady, The Canterville Ghost, The Velveteen Rabbit, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and many more. He has also directed numerous open air drama presentations for the Sydney Action Week Festival, facilitated drama workshops at the McConnell Library in Sydney, and conducted a week long youth drama camp at the Markland Resort in the summer of 2003.

Brian continues to share his passion for theatre with his students in Class Acts Drama School where he teaches acting, directing, and other theatre skills. He is proud of all of our students, including those who have moved on to pursue careers in the field of theatre arts in Newfoundland, Quebec and Ontario, as well as the many more who have been inspired to believe in themselves and follow their passion with confidence and conviction.

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Acting out plays in front of her stuffed animals since she was a toddler, Erin Gillis has always had an interest in theatre. While she acted in school plays here and there as a child, she did not become completely involved with drama until she joined Cape Breton Univeristy's group at the age of fourteen. A year after participating in her first drama camp, she became an assistant for both the camps and classes. After directing a children's play in the Youth Festival for three consecutive years, she became an instructor in 2006.

On stage, Erin recently performed in Mike McPhee's Now-Nothing and the Cape Breton Regional Library fundraiser Found Out: A Library Murder Mystery. Other favorite parts over the years include her recurring role as Maria in Ken Chisholm's and Paul MacDougall's O Night Devine series, as well as her award-winning comedic performances in the one-act plays Variations on the Death of Trotsky and Zombies vs. Robots. Off-stage, she is currently stage-managing The Rover and is the Secretary/Treasurer for the Cape Breton Stage Company Co-operative.

Erin received her Bachelor of Education degree and her undergraduate degree in Literature and Languages from Cape Breton University and is at the beginning of a career in teaching with the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board. In addition to this, she looks forward to many more years of teaching with Class Acts Drama School!

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As far back as he can remember, James FW Thompson has enjoyed making people laugh, which is probably the main reason he got involved with theater in the first place.  Over time he has tried his hand at pretty much every job the theater had to offer.  He has acted in such plays as The Mousetrap, The Wizard of Oz, Macbeth, The Princess Bride, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, That Scoundrel Scapin, Cop Life, A Christmas Carol and various Monty Python/Kids in the Hall sketches.

Perhaps his favorite role, however, has been that of playwright and director.  He has written and directed The Restaurant, Deep Enough Yet, and the award winning Slackers and My Fourth Play. He also wrote Robot vs. Ninja, Pepsi Guy, and worked with others on the "All Title, No Practice" series, a number of variety shows, and the play Start Over. In December 2008 he directed his first full-length play: Class Acts Drama's production of A Christmas Carol as a dinner theatre at the Southend Community Centre. James is also a member of the comedy group Improv U which gives him a chance to write, act, film, and (obviously) improv. 

James received his Bachelor of Arts degree from CBU in 2006, and his Bachelor of Education from MUN/CBU in 2007 with a focus on Engligh, history, and drama.  Teaching is a dream job for James, so he is currently happily teaching with Class Acts Drama School, as well as substitute teaching with the CBVRSB.

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Suzanne Doane was taken to see the movie Mary Poppins too many times as a toddler and she attributes her lifelong fascination with musical theatre to this oversight!  Directing backyard shows, writing plays for family performances, and bossing siblings, cousins, and neighbors around took up most summers of her younger years; she has continued writing, arranging, and directing theatre productions ever since.

She has written five full length musicals, as well as numerous songs, instrumental pieces, and short plays. Many of her shows have been written for and inspired by, students, including 'Rumplestiltskin', published by Tall Timbers Productions in 1998, which has been performed in Canada and the U.S.A. as well as overseas.

Ms. Doane received her Bachelor of Music Education from Dalhousie University in 1985, with a major in percussion.  She is thrilled to be part of the CADS team.  Current projects include: teaching classroom music with the CBVR School Board;, musical theatre, recording and composing, practicing ukulele regularly, and trying not to kill her plants.