Artistic Director

Varya is an award-winning actor, singer and multi-instrumentalist whose passion for excellence and creativity is present in every element of her work. A graduate of York University’s theatre program, Langara Film Arts and the National Voice Intensive, Varya has been working in the performing arts for more than three decades.

Founding Artistic Director

William Moysey was the heart and creative impetus behind the creation of Synergy At Play Productions. A true iconoclast, he was a multifaceted performer, choreographer, composer and sound designer and the recipient of numerous awards.

Design Director

Daniel is an award winning composer/sound designer, actor, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Vancouver. His musical theatre productions with Seven Tyrants Theatre have been nominated for multiple awards and his jazz/rock group Two Apple Tobacco has twice been voted one of the best bands in Vancouver in the Georgia Straight. A graduate of UBC's Theatre and Film program, Daniel has returned to UBC as a guest lecturer in Musical Theatre composition and has been an assistant director of children’s theatre camps at Arts Umbrella.

Assistant Director

Ana Gonabadi is thrilled to be returning to Synergy at Play for their third year as assistant director to Varya. They hold an AFA in musical theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, and are now working towards a BA in Literary Studies and Philosophy from The New School’s college of Liberal Arts, also located in Manhattan. Recent credits include the role of ‘Laila’ in the 2021 independent film Baquala and ‘Katie’ in AMDA’s Spring 2021 production of Bachelorette. Currently, they are working on producing an original screenplay as writer and actor. Ana began studying with Varya at the age of 8 as a vocal student in Vancouver, and owes much of their success as an emerging artist to Varya and their work together. The Moysey-Rubins have become much more than Ana’s teachers and friends, they are their family. “Art is a device for social change and understanding. It is sentient, reaching beyond our souls to teach us about humanity from outside and within the body.”

Instructor: Tap / Musical Theatre / Contemporary / Jazz / DWA Company

​Shantaya grew up pursuing her love of the performing arts. Starting at a young age on Vancouver Island and then continuing her training at Dance Works Academy throughout her teen years Shantaya has trained in Ballet, Hip Hop, Latin, Irish Step, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Tap, Musical Theatre & Acting. Shantaya has her Advanced 1 ISTD Tap and is a seasoned street tapper with a flare for Rhythmic Tap. Shantaya's choreography has won her students many awards at competitions across the province and her talent for creative choreography is evident in all her work. Shantaya is also the lead choreographer for the DWA Adult Company and assistant director of the DWA Youth Dance Company.

Shantaya is the Director of the Tap, Musical Theatre & Adult Division at Gibsons Dance Centre.

A consummate church musician, David Poon is sought after as an organist, choirmaster, continuo player, and accompanist. Although educated to interpret notes written by dead Europeans, he often indulges in realising baroque bass lines, improvising over jazz standards, and extemporising on Gregorian chants.

David is currently assistant organist at St. John's Vancouver Anglican Church and music director for MOTET chamber choir and Vespersong. Outside of teaching, performing, arranging, and composing, his interests include owning too many board games, failing to finish books, and inflicting modes of limited transposition upon his wife and four children.

Born and raised on the Sunshine Coast, Emily Sherwood is a sweet, fun loving teacher who has been in the performing arts most of her life.

Emily has extensive hours studying in Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz and Acrobatic dance styles, and has recently started training under Shantaya Cottrell in Tap.

Emily is an instructor at Gibsons Dance Centre, is a part of the choreography team for both the Competitive and Company programs, as well being added as a Production Assistant and Board Member to the Sunshine Coast Nutcracker Association.

Emily is absolutely thrilled to be added to the Synergy team this year, and is excited about sharing her joy for life through the performing arts with you.

Lauded for her lyric, pure tone and dynamic stage presence, soprano Caitlin Beaupré has been performing around the lower mainland, across Canada, North America and beyond since the age of seven.

Growing up in Burnaby, she studied voice, acting, musical theatre, piano and dance with the Jennings Institute for Performing Artists. She went on to earn her bachelor's and master's of music majoring in voice performance at the University of British Colombia.

As well as solo gigs, Caitlin sang with Juno-nominated collaborative vocal ensemble musica intima, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Vancouver Cantata Singers, and the energetic Lady Lark quartet. She co-led a week long musical theatre intensive for 11 summers. During this time Caitlin was also the music director at St. Francis-in-the-Wood Anglican Church.

Some of her most rewarding performance experience has been with Health Arts Society, an organization that brings professional musicians into care facilities.

Now a full time Mom living in Gibsons since 2017, Caitlin is thrilled to be finding outlets to bring her experience and love of performing to young artists.