BARRETT HILEMAN and VAL LIESKE are excited to provide leadership of the department, building on it’s legacy and looking towards an inspired future.

The two-year conservatory program is unique to Canada, with a course schedule that includes acting, stage combat, technical theatre, script analysis, movement, collective creation, vocal production, leadership and creativity.Instructors are working professionals in their field and students are exposed to the greater theatre community.Two main stage performances are produced each year and our first Guest Director is Betty Mitchell Award Winner, Trevor Rueger. All of this is combined with a faith foundation, encouraging students to find creativity from the Creator and how to not just tell a good story but live a great story.

Val is the Artistic Director and founder of Fire Exit Theatre (www.fireexit.ca) in Calgary, and is employed in the arts world at Centre Street Church. She has worked as a playwright and dramaturg with Alberta Playwrights’ Network and an instructor with Alberta Bible College. Past directing credits include God’s Favourite, Flesh & Bones, Waco T. 1953 and assistant director with Vertigo Theatre on Evelyn Strange. Writing credits include Duty to Warn, Coffee Talk, Bruised Not Broken, Past Tense and award winning Absence. Val brings with her a deep Christian character, many years of experience in the theatre world,
and a wealth of connections within the Theatre constituency.

Barrett has been living in New York with his family and recently completed his Master Of Fine Arts in Directing at The New School for Drama as well as conservatory training with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts: New York City. Directing credits include A Mysterious Way with Firebone Theatre (NYC), In the Meantime, Happy Hour with Manhattan Repertory Theatre (NYC), The Canadian Badlands Passion Play (AB), and directing assistant with Pacific Theatre (BC) A Bright
Particular Star. Selected acting credits include Endgame with The New School for Drama, Waco T. 1953 and Under a Bridge, Along a River with Fire Exit Theatre, The Real Inspector Hound with American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has worked as a script consultant/dramaturg, a sound designer, and the Artistic Director of Spread the Word Theatre.