ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Heather (she/her) is an accomplished professional theatre director and playwright with special interests in musical theatre, new play development, large ensemble physical performance, theatre for young audiences and devised theatre. With a portfolio boasting over 50 productions across North America, Heather brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her new role at County Stage.

Heather has held key upper management roles in the performing arts sector from artistic director and company manager, to tour coordinator and producer. Most notably, she has served as the Artistic Director of The Stephenville Theatre Festival since 2017.

Heather also extends her passion for the theatre to the next generations of performing artists as a director and instructor for post-secondary institutions including St. Lawrence College in Brockville and The Randolph Academy in Toronto. She actively contributed to Canada’s theatre community, representing Newfoundland and Labrador with the Professional Association of Canadian Theatre (PACT) and chairing professional development on the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador (APTNL).

Excited about her vibrant future with County Stage Company, Heather is grateful to the company’s Board of Directors for their ongoing commitment to live performance in The County, and she looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm and talents with the flourishing cultural landscape of Prince Edward County.

GENERAL MANAGER

Emma Barlow (she/her) is an accomplished artist and Project Manager currently residing in Picton, Ontario. With a strong background in the arts, Emma completed her Bachelor of Fine Art at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario going on to work at the MacLaren Arts Centre public gallery.

After years in the non profit arts world, Emma transitioned into the tech space, specializing in Leadership & Project Management work for Shopify for over a decade. 

Emma comes to County Stage as a new endeavour into Theatre; bringing together her passion for Community and Arts, with her Operational and Project expertise in the role of Managing Director. 

PRODUCER & DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Mary (she/her) is a theatre producer, performer, and writer. After studying and working abroad in the performing arts in London, UK for the past three years, she’s returned home to pursue her artistic passions in ways that speak to the Canadian communities she loves.

She completed an MA in Theatre and Performance at Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL), where her research specialized in investigating the personal and political potential of rehearsals of feminist refusal. Since graduating, she’s worked as a producer of theatre, arts festivals, and podcasts (Almeida Theatre, Finborough Theatre, Half Moon Theatre, QMUL); a performance artist and Shakespearean performer (Southbank Centre, Factory Theatre, The Willow Globe in Wales); a theatre critic (To Do List London); and a Box Office & Venue Manager (Wilton’s Music Hall). 

In Canada, she graduated with a BA Honours in Drama from Queen’s University, where she was awarded the Gold Medal in Drama, the Edythe Zacks Millman Award, and the William Angus Award. At Queen’s, she produced theatre and summer festivals (DAN Studio Series, Kick & Push, FoLDA:Festival of Live Digital Art), performed the lead in major school productions (Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts), and researched refusal in participatory theatre (with Dr. Jenn Stephenson and Mariah Horner for Play: Dramaturgies of Participation). She also studied in Sheridan College’s prestigious Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program.

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Annie (she/her) is a Dora Award-winning Costa Rican-Canadian actor, clown and producer, splitting her time between Toronto and Prince Edward County, ON. She is a graduate of the 2022 Soulpepper Academy and holds a BFA from Concordia University. She has co-ordinated marketing for productions across Ontario, including her own show MONKS. (Coming up in July!)

As a performer, Annie has trained/worked internationally in Italy, the U.S., and across Canada. Her debut clown work MONKS (co-created with Veronica Hortiguela) was named ‘Best New Play of 2025’ by The Toronto Theatre Critics’ Awards and continues to tour. Some credits include: Dance Nation (Coal Mine Theatre), The Welkin, King Lear (Soulpepper) A Little Closer (The Vault) Last Landscape (Bad New Days), Comedy of Errors (The Grove) and Storybook Search (Bad Hats). 

She is thrilled to be joining County Stage as Marketing Co-ordinator, to engage the thriving cultural community in the performing arts and celebrate the 2026 season. 

PRODUCER, Seasonal

Bethany Schaufler-Biback (she/her) holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Toronto’s Centre for Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies where she is currently continuing her studies in the PhD program.

As a theatre practitioner, Bethany’s specialties include stage management, production management, technical direction, and accessibility coordination. She has had the opportunity to work internationally, most recently as a stage manager at Achura Karpra in Bogotá, Colombia.

FRONT OF HOUSE MANAGER & CREW, Seasonal

Austen Mascarenhas (He/Him) is thrilled to be returning to County Stage for his third season!! Currently studying Studio Art and Theatre at the University of Guelph, Austen has a deep love for theatre production, and has been involved in programs in the County since he was a kid. 

Austen's experience involves working, both on and off stage, with the Marysburgh Mummers, Nicholson Catholic College's drama club, and set and prop crew with the University of Guelph's Curtain Call Productions. Hes worked in a wide variety of roles, from head of sound design to playing the lead role in his highschools musical. He's excited to be a part everything this season has to offer!!

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, Seasonal

Skyler James (they/them) is a theatre creator and scenographer working across Ontario, specializing in technical direction as well as projection and sound design for both theatre and installation art.

They have recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Media and Performance Production from Queen's University and will be returning there in the fall to pursue a Master's degree in Screen Cultures and Curatorial Studies.

Skyler also dabbles in radio, film, and music production, including being a radio host on CFRC 101.9FM and their directorial film debut being showcased at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival.