George Curtiss Randolph, Jr. President and Founder
George Randolph’s commitment to the arts has taken many forms, from dancer to choreographer, director, producer, and educator. A former principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble (New York) and Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, George has over 25 years of international dance performance and education experience in Canada, Europe, and the U.S. His expertise has been leveraged as an adjudicator for many dance festivals across Canada. Since 1992, he has led the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts as President/Founder.
View George's full bio here.
Darlene Spencer Artistic Director
Darlene Spencer received a Master of Fine Arts Degree from York University in Theatre Performance and is a graduate of the University of Waterloo Drama Department.
She has been a director for the past 20 years of theatrical productions, documentaries, educational and industrial films, and digital videos. Selected directorial credits include Falling; A Wake by Gary Kirkham, Sister Annunciata's Secret by Nonnie Griffin, Pride and Prejudice adapted by Christina Calvit, String of Pearls by Michele Lowe, Three Cities in the Life of Norman Bethune by Tim Brady and Bradyworks, The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman, Our Country's Good and The Grace of Mary Traverse by Timberlake Wertenbaker, Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind, Les Belles Soeurs by Michel Tremblay, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Water by Brad Curtain, as well as the musicals Little Women, Nunsense 2, and The Apple Tree.
Darlene is an actor who has performed in theatres across Canada, and for television and film. Lastly, she is an educator who has taught at the University of Waterloo and York University.
Ron Singer Artistic Director Emeritus
Ron Singer was Artistic Director of the Randolph Academy of the Performing Arts from 1992 to 2009. Ron trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama (London, England), Neighborhood Playhouse and HB Studios (NY) and at the Michael Shurtleff Studios (Los Angeles).
As a professional actor, Singer has performed in feature films, TV series and commercials. Singer has directed more than 30 professional theatre productions, serving as Director of Actors Workshops (Stratford), Artistic Director of Young Companies (National Arts Centre, Ottawa), the first Artistic Director of Young People's Theatre (Toronto), and Associate Director (Toronto Arts Productions, St. Lawrence Centre).
In television, Singer assisted the director of the award- winning ABC series, Barney Miller, and was the director of a documentary special for Group W Cable TV (Los Angeles).At Expo '67 in Montreal, Singer was Assistant Head of Theatre. He has also served as Assistant Head of Productions (National Arts Centre), Executive Director of Group W Cable TV (Channel 10, Los Angeles), Producer of Citypulse News (CITY-TV, Toronto), producer for TV production development (Solnicki Productions, Toronto), Production Co-ordinator on Double Your Money quiz show (Rediffusion TV, London, England) and Vice-President of the Entertainment Division (Seabaco Group, Toronto and Moscow). For Seabaco/SAV Entertainment, Singer completed a 30-month consultancy in Canada, the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe where he was engaged in the development of major entertainment projects.
Five of Singer's plays for young people have been produced across the country. He has also worked as an entertainment critic (CFRB Radio and Standard Broadcast News), arts and entertainment reporter (CBC Variety Tonight), Director of Research for the Sadat mini-series (Columbia Pictures Television, Los Angeles), and Casting Director for Funny Farm (CTV).
Ron Singer is now Professor Emeritus in the Department of Theatre at York University and over his 32-year tenure at the University, he held positions as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Director of the Graduate Program in Theatre (two terms) and Chair of the Department of Theatre (two terms).
Presently, Singer is one of the Executive Producers of the critically acclaimed series Life's Little Miracles. He was one of the Executive Producers and co-creators of the series Class Act, which showcased the trials and tribulations of those trying to break into the world of show business and the rigors of their training at the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. Additionally, Singer is Executive Producer and Producer on the TV series Med Students, Heartbeats, Trauma Team, Situation Critical (Discovery US) and Plastic Makes Perfect (Slice).
Grace DeLottinville General Manager
Grace DeLottinville is the General Manager of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. Grace has nine years’ experience in arts administration and was most recently Director of Administration and Development for the Canadian Children’s Opera Company. Prior to that position Grace was Operations Director for Ballet Jörgen Canada and the Executive Director of the Oakville Arts Council, where she was instrumental in securing additional municipal funding for the arts.
Prior to working in the arts, Grace specialized in marketing and communications for KPMG and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, and was also formerly the Director of Marketing for the Industrial Accident Prevention Association.
Grace also had a successful career in educational publishing, both in the United States and Canada, with Addison-Wesley Publishers. Her work included both editing and presenting workshops to teachers nationally and internationally. She has a Masters degree in Drama from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor’s degree in Education, with a specialty in English, from Northwestern University, Evanston IL.
Lauren Randolph Admissions and Financial Aid Officer
Lauren Randolph is Admissions Director and Financial Aid Officer for Randolph Academy for the Arts, and is responsible for administering the government student loan program. She joined the Randolph Academy in 1997 after a lengthy career in rhythmic gymnastics as an athlete and a coach for Team Canada. Lauren was the Managing Director of the Randolph Academy for 12 years and conceived and developed the well-respected Randolph Kids program.
Elaine O’Neal Communications & Alumni Affairs
Prior to joining the Randolph Academy in October 2007, Elaine O’Neal served as Communications Specialist for VLPR, a public relations agency serving the arts and entertainment and hospitality industry. Before that, she was Communications and Development Director for Soundstreams Canada, a groundbreaking new music concert and festival series.
Elaine hails from New York where she held several senior communications positions, including executive speechwriter, with Viacom and NBC. Elaine developed her writing and editing skills at publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Elaine’s own background in the arts includes directing, producing, and performing in theatrical productions. Elaine holds a B.A. in English and Economics from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Adam Zarboni Communications & Alumni Affairs
Adam Zarboni was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, and was educated at Carleton University. Here he gained two undergraduate degrees in History and English. He quickly found work with the Federal Government in various positions, and under various portfolios, including Agriculture Canada, Public Safety, and the Privy Council Office.
He began a secondary career as a freelance journalist. During this period he moved on to communications division of Public Safety Canada, where he played an integral part in the development of speeches, presentations and events for the Minister of Public Safety and those representing the portfolio. Leaving this position Adam continued to pursue his career working in communications, public relations and journalism in the Toronto area. He had great success as the Public Relations and Communication Manager for MAGIX AG, a professional audio and video software developer based out of Berlin, Germany.
Before coming to the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, Adam was also the Editor-in-Chief of a monthly business magazine based in Sydney, Australia.
Rebecca Lovering-Spencer Student Services
Rebecca works as a liaison between students, faculty and administration to encourage open lines of communication and unbiased treatment of the student body. She also provides resources to students related to housing, health, welfare and special needs in addition to mentorship on a variety of industry related questions and concerns.
Laurie Ma College Events and Administration
Laurie Ma is not only an alumnus of the Randolph Academy College Program, but also of the Kids Program. Laurie literally grew up at 736 Bathurst, and eventually was hired as an administrative assistant for the summer camp program. In October 2009, she became student events coordinator and was promoted in January 2011 to college events and administration. She began her career in the performing arts as a child, appearing in PSAs, commercials, and Canadian television programs between the ages of 8 and 12; more recently she has appeared in episodes of the Teletoon series My Babysitter’s a Vampire.
College Program
Rosanna Saracino Coordinator—Acting Division
Italian-Canadian director/writer/dramaturg Rosanna Saracino (MFA Directing, York U.) is a co-founder and Artistic Director of REDHANDED film and theatre. Director credits in theatre include: The Vagina Monologues (VDay, St. Lawrence Center featuring Rachel McAdams, Judith Thompson, and a cast of 33 women, hosted by Shirley Douglas), Savage/Love (Factory Theatre Mainspace), BROTHERS by Wendy Lill (Glenn Gould Studio Theatre), Smut Boy and My Sad Penis by Stephen Massicotte (Nightwood Theatre), DEATH: a comedy (at Motel, in association with One Yellow Rabbit).
Director credits in film include: …things that go bump in the night, featuring former RWB prima ballerina Evelyn Hart in her acting debut (shot on 16mm, BravoFACT!), The One (shot on 35 mm), The Ring (featured at the Hysteria Festival, shot on 35 mm), pilot episode for Gears TV The Gears meet Mother Superior (screened at Sons and Daughters, shot on HD), music video for The Gears, and a PSA and a Documentary for Ernestine’s Shelter (both screened at the opening of the new shelter).
Mark Wilson Coordinator —Vocal Division
Mark Wilson is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Opera Division, has an Artist Diploma from U of T, as well as an honours B.F.A from York University. He sings with the Canadian Opera Company as a long time member of its chorus. He has been a company member of the Stratford Festival, and has sung in opera and in concert with the Manitoba Opera, Vancouver Opera, Festival Canada, Festival of the Sound, Aldeburgh Festival, New Music Concerts, and Westben Arts Festival, among others.
Sandra Long Coordinator—Dance Division
Sandra Long (A.R.A.D., A.I.S.T.D.) has been inspiring young dancers with her highly creative and energetic style for 20 years. Ms Long is a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD). She has trained students in all levels of examinations including the very prestigious Solo Seal Award. Sandra has trained with the top Ballet and Modern dance professional in Canada, the United States and England and is a graduate of the Royal Ballet School in London, England. A celebrated Choreographer, Ms Long has created pieces for performance in many countries including Spain,England, Greece and the United States. Ms. Long is also a Can Fit Pro Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor.
Deborah Tennant Coordinator—Vocal Tutorial
Deborah Tennant is in her 15th year teaching voice and audition technique at the Randolph Academy and is the coordinator for the Vocal Tutorial Area.
Deborah has a busy and varied career as an actor, singer, teacher and writer. She graduated from the respected Studio 58 Theatre program at Vancouver Community college, where she was on the Dean's Honours List and received the VCC Scholarship for academic achievement. Since graduating she has continued her training at the Banff Centre (Young Professionals Master Class, Bernard Hopkins, David William); Workshops for Professional Actors (Carol Rosenfeld, David Craig); Equity Showcase (Patsy Rodenburg, John Karr, David Rotenberg, Arnold Mungioli); and private vocal work with David Dunbar and Cornelius Reid.
Deborah has worked at theatres from Vancouver to Halifax in everything from Shakespeare and Moliere to Gershwin, Burt Bachrach and Gilbert and Sullivan. Favourite roles include Ruth in Blithe Spirit, Maria in The Sound of Music, Elmire in Tartuffe and Marilla in Anne of Green Gables. She has been a member of the Stratford Festival Company, playing Sister Margaretta in The Sound of Music and appearing in Inherit the Wind.
She has a long list of TV and Film credits including A—The Scarlet Letter, Due South, Sister Mary Explains it All, The Newsroom, Sue Thomas F.B.Eye, Martha Behind Bars and Degrassi, as well as commercials.
She has done workshops on Vocal Presentation for Second City, been a guest lecturer at George Brown College, and has a lively private studio.
Kids Program
Kelly Fletcher Director, Kids Program
Kelly Fletcher started her professional career as a Swing in the North American Premiere of Mamma Mia, and went on to become the Dance Captain of the U.S National Tour and Broadway Company. Kelly was also the Dance Captain/Swing for the Toronto production of We Will Rock You. Other credits include: Luanne in the feature film Hairspray with John Travolta. Kelly has always had a passion for choreography, and now works very closely with one of Canada's leading choreographers Tracey Flye, assisted on projects such as RAPA's Thoroughly Modern Millie ('06), Ross Petty Productions' Peter Pan and Robin Hood, and the North American Premiere of The Boys in the Photograph. Kelly is currently working as assistant choreographer for Kiss Me Kate and Evita at the Stratford Festival.
Kate Keenan Kids Program
Kate's passions are theatre-arts and working with children. After having trained as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and George Brown Theatre School, Kate co-founded Shrimp Magnet Theatre Company in 1999. An audience and critic favourite, Shrimp Magnet performed original musical comedies for families on Centre Island and at the Toronto Fringe for 10 years. Kate has enjoyed singing and dancing her way across the continent in kids' shows such as Little Bear and Caillou, to teaching workshops to kids of all ages to being a therapeutic clown at Sick Kids Hospital to writing for children's television, to playing in a kids band (with lots of producing and administrating along the way).
