Sydney discovered her passion for the performing arts when she was young, and has stuck with it ever since. She has been working as a Musical Theatre instructor and choreographer for 11 years. Sydney designed a Musical Theatre program from the ground up while working as an instructor at Laszlo Tamasik Dance Academy (2015 - 2023). She also worked for Brooks’ Secondary School as their resident choreographer from 2018-2022. She is IDTS certified and has trained with NYFA’s Conservatory of Musical Theatre. NYFA’s program gave her the opportunity to further her training by learning from and working with Broadway professionals including Nick Cartell.
Sydney loves her job. Growing up in Musical Theatre are some of her fondest memories from childhood. Sydney officially founded Beanstalk Theatre Company in 2022, and couldn't be happier with the community it has formed. She is so excited to give the youth of our community the amazing experiences she had at their age.
Sydney Spenst
Owner / Artistic Director
Delaney has been a part of Beanstalk since it was founded in 2022. When she isn’t busy with administration, she can be found painting sets, designing props, making content or managing costumes for both our Musical Theatre Company and Performance Skills programs.
Delaney received an Office Assistant Certification through Okanagan College. She has always enjoyed organization, as well as helping others, which are things she puts to good use for Beanstalk and its company members.
Delaney loves everything about Beanstalk. She is yet to find another environment like the one created here. The students are kind, respectful and passionate about the work they are doing which makes her job so rewarding. Delaney is grateful to be a part of bringing Beanstalk’s productions to life this season and for many seasons to come.
Delaney Long
Deputy Director
Kate first got involved in the arts at 4 years old. She has taken part in a variety of activities such as dance, violin/viola, piano, voice & musical theatre and many others throughout her life. She is so incredibly grateful to have had an upbringing in the arts and is so happy to support local youth as they grow their confidence, skills, and grit. Kate studied music at UBC, and is a longtime choral director in Vancouver. She is currently directing qathet Pop Choir as well as being our vocal director for our Musical Theatre Company’s production of Alice in Wonderland.
This is Kate’s first season with Beanstalk and she has been an incredible addition to our team. Kate feels lucky to be a part of such a formative, important time in these student’s lives and believes that it is very meaningful to empower youth to stretch themselves creatively. She is thankful every day for the experiences she had in the arts growing up and is aware of how those experiences continue to help her decades later. She hopes that the students who work with her feel safe to be who they truly are, and share that with their community. Kate wants to encourage youth today to dive into unique opportunities we have at Beanstalk and believes that qathet is a better place when youth feel safe to shine in their true selves.
Kate Parnell
Vocal Director
Aaron has been a member of our creative team since Beanstalk was founded in 2022. He has built sets for every show we have brought to the stage with many more to come. Aaron founded his first business, Integrity Building, in 2007. Since then, he has founded Integrity Drywall in 2020, and purchased Constellation Countertops in the spring of 2026.
Aaron balances managing his businesses while somehow carving out time to conceptualize, construct and design sets for both our Performance Skills and Musical Theatre Company programs. He has enjoyed the creative transition from creating houses, to creating immersive scenes on stage.
Aaron is grateful for the opportunity to support his wife’s dream of creating a safe and supportive space for the youth of Powell River to experience pre professional live theatre.
Aaron Gurney
Artistic Associate
Michelle Morris
Artistic Associate
Bio Coming Soon!
Lydia Parsons
Instructor / Choreographer
Bio Coming Soon!
Neave Fitzgibbon
Performance Skills Instructor (Level 2 & 3)
Neave has been dancing since she was 3 years old, with a passion for musical theatre. She has been able to continue exploring her passion for singing, dancing and acting with Beanstalk over the past 3 years. Neave has had the pleasure of taking part in 5 of our live shows so far! She is looking forward to being apart of our 2027 productions as a Level 7 in our Performance Skills Showcase, and as Alice in our production of Alice in Wonderland.
She has been assisting in the Level 2 & 3 Performance Skills classes for 2 years and she is thrilled to join our staff this season, as an instructor for our Level 2 & 3 Performance Skills classes alongside Ashland Bratseth.
Neave is so grateful for the opportunity to inspire her students to pursue their dreams with the same passion she has always embraced.
Ashland Bratseth
Performance Skills Instructor (Level 2 & 3)
Ashland began dancing when she was 7 years old. She has always had a special love for musical theatre. This is Ashland’s second season at Beanstalk. She enjoyed performing in Showcase 2026, and is excited to participate in our Performance Skills Showcase 2027 as well as our production of Alice in Wonderland.
Ashland is looking forward to teaching our Level 2 & 3 Performance Skills classes alongside Neave Fitzgibbon.
Ashland feels that Beanstalk is based on having fun, learning and growing together. “I am so happy to be here because every class is a fun experience that everyone involved is so grateful to be apart of.” She hopes to provide her students with a safe and supportive place where they can be themselves, and not feel judgement.
Ella started dance at 4 years old. She has done a variety of dance styles but has always favoured Musical Theatre. Ella has assisted in our Level 4 class of Performance Skills for the 2024/2025 & 2025/2026 seasons. Ella loves working with the Level 4 age group. She loves how fast they pick up new things, how eager they are to learn more and how much they embrace their personalities. This is Ella’s 4th season with Beanstalk. She loved her experience in all of the previous Showcases and can’t wait to perform in Showcase 2027.
Ella is thrilled to continue working as a class assistant in Level 4 of Performance Skills for her third season and continue her goal of supporting them to keep spitting ideas out without fear, express themselves openly and confidently, and know how incredible they are in every sense. Ella has so much appreciation for her place in Beanstalk. She feels that it is not simply a group of strangers performing together, it is a close community filled with love and support.
Ella Querin
Performance Skills Assistant (Level 4)
Wrenwin began dance at 2.5 years old. She has been in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hiphop, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary classes. Before becoming a class assistant, Wrenwin assisted in our Preschool Dance program. This is Wrenwin’s 4th season with Beanstalk. She has performed in every Performance Skills Showcase since our first Showcase in 2024. She has loved her experience in all of our previous showcases and is looking forward to Showcase 2027.
Wrenwin is so grateful to be a member of Beanstalk Theatre Company because she feels that it is such an amazing group of people and she enjoys learning the choreography and creating a show with her fellow company members. She hopes to inspire her students to be more confident with themselves and to be able to express themselves through dance. She is constantly impressed by the Level 5 class she assists in. She is always in awe of their ability to be friends with everybody in the room, and openly express their opinions on topics they feel passionate about.
Wrenwin Angell
Performance Skills Assistant (Level 5)
Charlie Hildebrand
Preschool Dance Assistant
Bio Coming Soon!
