Michael Fera – Director

Michael is thrilled to be back again this summer with a new play called The Emperor’s New Threads.  Last year he directed Munsch at Play for Place des Arts’ 2025 Summer Theatre Troupe, a program that is near and dear to his heart. 

Michael has been working as an actor, director, producer and an arts administrator for over 40 years. Michael has received a number of Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominations (Significant Artistic Achievement and Outstanding Production) and he is a recipient of the 40 Under 40 ‘Business in Vancouver’ Award. For the past 17 years Michael was the Program and Events Coordinator at Place des Arts but recently retired.  

Favourite directing credits include Seventeen (Western Gold Theatre), Salt Water Moon for The Arts Club on Tour, A Christmas Carol, Kindertransport, A Boston Marriage (United Players, UP), Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Corpus Christi, Balthazar and the Mojo Star, Tartuffe, three heads talking, The Herbal Bed, The Belle of Amherst, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding (Seattle, Winnipeg, Edmonton), Romeo and Juliet, The Maids, Macbeth, Life After Hockey, Teechers, Molly Sweeney and Medea. 

Hana Lowey – Production Stage Manager
Hana Lowey is a technical production student at Sheridan College with a focus in stage management and design. This will be her fourth year with the Summer Theatre Troupe, first as an actor and now a technician. She has previously worked on In Real Life and Legally Blond at Sheridan College, Mean Girls at Gleneagle Secondary, as well as last year’s STT performance, Munsch at Play. Hana is honored to be a part of the team and hopes you enjoy the show!

Charlie Balser:
Charlie is a passionate actor who has developed a love for bringing memorable characters to life while continuing to learn about acting through theatre, improv and stagecraft. He has been a member of the Place des Arts’ Theatre Youth Ensemble for 3 years where he has played the roles of the henchman, Davey Cricket and Willy Weasel. He also participated in some of his school’s plays, where he has played the roles of Santa and Alex. After a short break from acting, Charlie is excited to be able to work again and grow alongside his fellow actors in this year’s Summer Theatre Troupe!

Richard Mikkelsen:
Richard has gone through multiple years in what’s now Place Des Arts’s Youth Theatre Ensemble—most recently as Mr. Toad in a production of The Wind in the Willows—and is a well-rounded performer as a result, but this is his first time in the Summer Theatre Troupe. He has high hopes for The Emperor’s New Threads and wishes especially for young audiences to be inspired by seeing theatre in action.

Hannah Flett: @hannahbanana091
Hannah is super excited to be a part of the Summer Theater Troupe this year! This is her first year in the troupe but does theater at her school. Hannah is very passionate about theater and loves listening to musicals in her free time. Hannah is looking forward to learning and growing in her skills, and bringing her character to life!

Maya Asuncion-Brown:
Maya is an eager actress who loves to work on the stage and is excited to return to the Summer Theatre Troupe 2026! She is actively involved in her school’s musical theatre program and attended Vancouver Young Actors’ School as well as Place des Arts’ Coquitlam Youth Theatre (now called Youth Theatre Ensemble). Some of her past performances include, Seussical the Musical Jr. (Summit Middle School), Who Killed Kevin? (Summit Middle School), Once Upon a Pine; the Adventures of Pinocchio (Place des Arts) The Thirteen Little Pigs (Place des Arts), Guys and Dolls (Pinetree Secondary), and The Wind in the Willows (Places des Arts).

2025’s Summer Theatre Troupe – Munsch at Play