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Story Institute

Story Institute Acting School

Acting School & Acting Classes | Vancouver
Acting School Vancouver - Story Institute

Faculty

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Jon Cor

Jon Cor booked his first audition for a major film franchise while courting multiple agencies at the end of the second year of a Theater Arts and Performance program. Since then, he has gone on to win increasingly key, diverse, and demanding roles in projects such as Warner Bros., Berlanti Productions, DC Entertainment, and the CW’s The Flash, ABC Disney and Freeform’s Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, Syfy’s Dark Matter, Hallmark’s Crosswords Mysteries: Riddle Me Dead, and CBC’s Trouble in the Garden. His dynamic performances and dedication to his craft have earned him a significant following and respect in the entertainment industry.

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Tasya Teles

Currently playing Nat on the hit comedy, Jonesy, and recently sas Echo on the CW series, The 100, Tasya has fast become a performer with lots of eyes on her career, Known for her extensive training and ability to make the difficult seem effortless, this creative powerhouse is now expanding her creative energies to writing and producing as well. Her training in Los Angeles and Vancouver has been diverse and consistent.

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Max Lloyd-Jones

With roles on both Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett as Lt. Reed, and Blue Eyes in the War for the Planet of the Apes, Max has been a part of some amazing franchises.

 His impressive resume is reflective of his work ethic and commitment to being a story teller’s story teller. We are thrilled to have him share his knowledge and wisdom with our students and community.

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Cassidy Bot-Devire

Cassidy was born in New Westminster and raised in the small Portside town of Port Moody. She is an only child and began acting in her early childhood with small roles in films such as Night at the Museum (2006) and Deck the Halls (2006). Cassidy graduated from Capilano University with a degree in Acting for Screen and Stage. She later attended Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2020 and completed her advanced diploma from the same school in 2021.

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Lee Tockar

Lee was honoured with a 2013 Emmy nomination for his performance as Pronto in “Slugterra,” a performance that also achieved the 2012 UBCP/ACTRA award for Best Voice Artist of the Year and the 2013 Leo award for Outstanding Performance in an Animated Series. Lee is also a writer of children’s literature, a musician, sculptor, illustrator and collected painter.

Joanne Wilson

Joanne brings a wealth of experience to the classroom, both as an acting instructor and a working actor. Most recently, she has been seen in supporting-lead and major principal roles for Hallmark, GACTV, Lifetime and various streaming platforms. Selected credits include Cranberry Christmas, Christmas Star, Love at the Ranch,Open for Submission, Tron Legacy, The Mermaid Chair, Trophy Wife, and Augusta Gone. Selected TV credits include Motive, The Intruders, Arrow, The L Word.

Dan Payne

Dan Payne is known for his commanding presence and versatile performances across film and television. With a career spanning more than two decades, he has appeared in a wide range of projects, from action and science fiction to heartfelt dramas and romantic features. Payne is widely recognized for his roles in The Descendants,  Stargate Atlantis, Watchmen, The Good Doctor, and numerous Hallmark Channel movies. A former professional football player, he brings physicality, warmth, and authenticity to his characters, making him a familiar and trusted face to audiences internationally.

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David C. Jones

David C. Jones is a Coach, Teacher, Keynote Speaker, Actor, Filmmaker, Host/Emcee, Improv Artist, and a “Comic Chameleon”. David is a world class improvisor and one of Vancouver’s top comedic talents. David’s classes have been described as ‘an inspiring combination of hilarity, gentleness and challenge’.

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Devyn Dalton

Devyn is an accomplished actor,  stunt performer, and voice-over artist. She’s worked closely with Steven Spielberg on The BFG, with Andy Sirkis on The Planet of the Apes, and performed roles on the animated series My Little Pony and Beyblade Burst. Some of Devyn’s more noteable credits include Godzilla, Once Upon a Time, Skyskraper, Supernatural, Arrow, Leminy Snickets: A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Predator, and X-Files, X-Men: Dark Phoenix.

Voice-Over Demo

Michael Coleman

An award winning writer/actor/producer, Michael has performed professionally on television, film, stage, video games, radio, and cartoons. He is the founder of Rebel West Pictures. Michael’s played the dwarf, Happy, on ABC’s Once Upon a Time. Michael has also performed roles on X-Men: Evolution, Hello Kitty, DBZ, Inuyasha, Hamtaro, Supernatural, Smallville, Stargate, and many other popular shows. Show Reel

Voice-Over Demo

Siobhan Williams

Siobhan was first seen on the CBC’s internationally acclaimed series, ‘Heartland’, followed by a recurring role on The Cartoon Network’s live-action series, ‘Level Up’. She has performed leading roles on numerous films and series, notably John Cassar’s ‘Forsaken’ with Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, and Demi Moore, and AMC’s acclaimed series ‘Hell on Wheels. Siobhan has recently played lead and regular roles on ‘Scared lies’, ‘The Deadly Class’, ‘ Billy the Kid’, and the exciting new video game ‘The Quarry’.

Rusty Nixon

Rusty Nixon is an award-winning filmmaker known for Candiland (2016), which stars Gary Busey and won the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, and Residue (2017), which features Matt Frewer and William B. Davis. His film A.M.I. (2019) gained widespread attention on Netflix, while Death Rumble (2023) was recently picked up by CW.

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Dayleigh Nelson

Dayleigh Nelson is a Canadian actor, writer, and director based in Vancouver, BC. With small-town roots and an insatiable curiosity, he brings a refreshing blend of insight, satire, and offbeat humour to his work. Whether crafting layered characters or mining tension for comedy, Dayleigh has a knack for blurring the line between fact and fiction in bold, original ways.
A seasoned performer across stage and screen, Dayleigh’s work has given him the privilege of performing internationally. He began in theatre, sketch, and improv, later expanding into film and television while staying deeply connected to his independent storytelling roots.
He has written several award winning short films, and branded advertising content.
His screen credits include Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Arrow, Firefly Lane, and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency.

Nikko Harris

Nikko found success in film and television before he graduated his own diploma program with a great role on a popular animated series. After graduating Nikko has found more success on shows like the CW’s Nancy Drew and he now developing his own comedy series

Kirsten Van Ritzen

Kirsten has appeared in TV series for Hallmark, Disney, YTV, UP- TV, Lifetime, CBC, APTN, Own and Netflix. Kirsten is a co-creator of Victoria’s SIN CITY IMPROVISED SERIAL (Nominated for ‘M’ Awards Favourite New Production and Top Improv/Sketch Troupe); Toronto’s SIN CITY IMPROV andEdmonton’s legendary DIE-NASTY IMPROV SOAP OPERA, both nominated for Canadian Comedy Awards. Her comedy credits include LAUGH OUT LOUD (CBC Radio), Sketchfest Orlando, Solo Fest Chicago, MARCH OF DAMES Toronto and FUNNY WOMEN FESTIVAL in Victoria, where she was nominated for an ‘M’ Award ‘Top Comedian’.

 

Joe McCoy

Joe McCoy is the Senior Educational Administrator of the Academy. A graduate of the William B. Davis Centre for Actor’s Study, he is a gifted teacher of the craft he has been honing for many years as an actor and as a director. He is known for his humour, insight, and absolute passion as an educator. Intuitive and knowledgeable, he works in a relaxed and often hilarious style that allows students to feel safe and free from judgement.

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Ian Ferguson

Ian Ferguson won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour for Village of the Small Houses and is the co-author, with his brother, Will, of How to Be a Canadian, which was shortlisted for the Leacock Medal and won the CBA Libris Award for non-fiction. His latest book I Only Read Murder which he will be reading from is also co-authored with Will Ferguson. Another book of note is his Survival Guide to British Columbia. Ian is a writer and creative director in the film and television industry.

Joel McCarthy

Joel McCarthy

Joel is an acclaimed director/writer with a string of accolades under his belt. With three feature films, numerous short films, documentaries, and two award-winning web-series to his credit, Joel’s portfolio speaks volumes. Renowned for his thought-provoking feature films like ‘Taking My Parents to Burning Man’ and ‘Shooting the Musical’, along with the semi-autobiographical web-series ‘Inconceivable’, which earned a nomination for the prestigious Gotham Independent Film Award, Joel’s creativity knows no bounds.

James Challis

James Challis is known for Yellowjackets (2021), Salvation (2017) and When We Rise (2017).

James is the founder of Studio for Actors and creates some of the most sought after demo reels in the industry.

James ia  versatile actor, instructor, filmmaker with solid foundations in the craft. James is also the frontman for the Vancouver indie rock band, Colour Tongues where expands his creativity to the music industry as well..

Adam Thomas

Adam is a professional actor and has been active in the entertainment industry since 2003. Some of his film, TV and voice acting credits are associated with production companies such as Fox, Netflix, Hallmark, Forbes Books and Nintendo. Adam won the Best Supporting Actor Award at MainStage BC in 2016. Adam wrote, directed and produced a 5 time, award-winning science-fiction short film called “Seeing Red“ which was featured in festivals around the world.

Kirby Morrow
Emeritus

Kirby Morrow trained in theatre at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. Throughout his career, he also trained in Vancouver, Paris, Dublin, Toronto and Los Angeles. Reaching a successful stature in both on camera and animation voice-overs, he was a highly sought-after guest at animation, science fiction and Comicon conventions around the world.

Explore the Kirby Morrow Full-Ride Scholarship

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Voice-Over Demo

Peter New

An award winning actor and screenwriter, best known for his roles as Big McIntosh in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and Sunil Nevla in Littlest Pet Shop.

In 2007, New’s script “The Bar” won the first annual Hot Shot Shorts Film Contest. His short film “Woodman” was a 2017 selection at the LA Shorts Fest.

New has spent most of his career as a voice actor, providing voices for many cartoon and anime series. He received a 2002 Leo Award for Best Screenwriter (Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series) for episode #112 of Point Blank.

 

 

New locations coming soon with an expanded instructor roster already in development.

New locations coming soon with an expanded instructor roster already in development.