Leah (she/her) is excited to be making her Vancouver theatre debut at the Metro Theatre! Originally hailing from Calgary, Leah has now landed in Vancouver after over a decade living in New York, performing in new musicals (Sons and Dogs), musical improv (Game of Tones), and educational theatre (Realize Your Beauty NY). She graduated from AMDA’s musical conservatory program, and has taken classes with Brad Fleischer and Patrick Page. While in Vancouver, Leah has worked in many commercials, did her first Hallmark movie (A Make or Break Holiday) and voiced Jigglypuff for Pokémon (Pokétoons.) Special thanks to her agents, Leyla and Kate at Lucas Talent, to the entire incredible Avenue Q team, and to her wonderful partner, Zak (happy 10 years, babe!) See more of her work at Ldubsteck.com. Enjoy the show!

Britney Mocca is a Vancouver-based artist, performer, and teacher with a love for storytelling in all its forms. With a Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts, an Associate’s degree in Psychology, and a Musical Theatre Diploma from Capilano University, Britney has built a career that keeps her moving between the stage, screen, classroom, and wherever the next creative adventure takes her.

You may recognize her from screen credits including Yellowjackets, High Potential, The Good Doctor, and Unexpected Valentine. Most recently, she has expanded her work in film by becoming a Programming Fellow, where she had the opportunity to curate her own shorts program and champion filmmakers and new stories.

Every performance is an opportunity to create something truly special, and she can’t wait to share that experience with everyone in the audience. She is thrilled to join the cast of Avenue Q and play the one and only Gary Coleman!

Rachel could not be more excited to be returning to Metro Theatre in her ultimate dream show! As a Jim Henson super-fan, she is having the time of her life as a puppeteer. Past Metro credits include: Enid in Legally Blonde and Gad in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other theatre credits include: Sharpay in High School Musical, Babette in Beauty and the Beast (Align Entertainment); Cinderella in Into the Woods in Concert, Disciple in Godspell (Play On Words); School of Rock, 42nd Street (TUTS). Rachel holds a diploma in Musical Theatre from Capilano University. Thanks for coming and enjoy the show!

Jaclyn (JuYeon) Sim is an actor originally from South Korea and a graduate of VFS. She is thrilled to return to Metro Theatre for her third production, Avenue Q. Her previous Metro Theatre credits include Rent and Nunsense. Her acting credits in Korea include Agnes of God and The Lower Depths, Fame and Grease, among many others. She extends her heartfelt thanks to the entire Metro Theatre team and audience for all their love and support over the past year.

Zak Stevens (Brian) is thrilled to be making his Metro Theatre debut in one of his favorite shows. Born and raised in New York City, he’s been acting since a very young age on stage and screen. Some favorite roles include Katurian in ‘The Pillowman’ (EVVY Award), Tartuffe in ‘Tartuffe’ (EVVY Nom.), Roy Cohn in ‘Angels in America’, Elwood P. Dowd in ‘Harvey’, Martin Dysart in ‘Equus’, Rosencrantz in ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’, Zach in ‘A Chorus Line’, and Roger Debris in ‘The Producers’. You can catch him later this year in Chris Carter’s new film ‘Queens For A Day’. He is represented by Lucas Talent and is also a writer and director. Special thanks to his friends and family, especially his partner, Leah Dubbin-Steckel. Enjoy the show!

Liam Reitsma is honoured to be back for his fourth production on the Metro stage, and third this year, following a memorable outing as “Kyle the UPS Guy” earlier this year in Legally Blonde, and a slightly less memorable appearance as “Harry Pepper, Telephone Repair Guy” in Barefoot in the Park. Beginning his theatre career in his hometown of Victoria, Liam has appeared in musicals such as RENT, Mamma Mia, Shrek the Musical, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. When he’s not working as a song and dance man, you can find Liam acting as an acoustic engineering consultant specializing in noise and vibration for a local Vancouver firm. He is extremely grateful for the opportunity to perform with this talented cast, creative team, and crew, and hopes you laugh as much as they did putting all this madness together. And if you don’t? Well, it’s only for now!

Born and raised in South Africa, Richard first found his voice singing lullabies to his pet lion under their favourite Baobab tree. Since then, he has performed internationally on land and sea in musical productions such as The Sound of Music, The Producers, and production shows for Norwegian and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. He has also co-founded two theatre companies, Mixing Bowl Productions and Shot in the Dark Productions, is in a jazz/pop music duo called Tea For Two, and works as a vocal coach. Being a bit of jack-of-all-trades, he has created experimental musical theatre pieces, starred in a Lactaid commercial, tour-guided around BC, cat-sit thrice, and crafted an absurdist Michael Bublé tribute show that he has never publicly performed. Richard would like to thank his school friend, Doug, for introducing him to Avenue Q at far too early an age. He would also like to dedicate his performance to his mom, dad, and brother back home who continue to simultaneously lift up and anchor him.

Lynn is excited to be part of this production and grateful to collaborate with the talented artists and team who brought Avenue Q to life. Endless thanks to Jo Sears, Chris King, Arielle Ballance, Cienna Pyke, and the Metro Theatre team. She hopes you enjoy this cheeky, hilarious, and heart warming musical – if only for now!

Chris is a Vancouver-born actor, composer, and director thrilled to lead this production of *. He has worked with acclaimed Canadian companies, including Gateway Theatre, Persephone, Western Canada Theatre, Chemainus Theatre Festival, Theatre Under the Stars, Metro Theatre, and United Players.

Selected director credits include  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Legally Blonde for Metro Theatre and the Ovation Award–winning Chickens (Best Small Theatre Production) for United Players. As a film composer, Chris co-scored the feature Hunting Matthew Nichols, earning a Leo Award nomination for Best Score alongside his writing partner, Jeff.

Chris extends his heartfelt gratitude to Jenn for all her support. Thanks to Arielle, Jo, Lynn, and Kiki for all their dedication. This production is lovingly dedicated to the memory of his father, John King (December 14, 1947 – August 4, 2026), whose legacy continues to inspire everything he creates.

Arielle Ballance is a music director, pianist, and collaborative accompanist. She is very much stoked to be back at the Metro after music directing Cinderella! A Traditional British Pantomime and playing second keyboard for Legally Blonde. Originally from St. Albert, Alberta, Arielle has called Vancouver home for the last 10 years. She has made music with numerous theatre companies including Sound the Alarm Music/Theatre (Music of the Night: The Concert Tour, A Whole New World), Theatre Under the Stars (We Will Rock You, Newsies, 42nd Street), Raincity Theatre (Company), Gateway (Joseph), Carousel (The 3 Little Pigs, Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!”, Charlie Brown), CapU (Anne of Green Gables), Studio 58 (A Chorus Line, Monocerous), and Align Entertainment (High School Musical). Up next: The Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular on Vancouver Island! Arielle has been honoured to receive two Ovation awards for Outstanding Music Direction and was nominated for a Jessie award in 2019. Thanks to the Q-tiful cast, crew, and her bandmates/pals for making this show an unforgettable experience!

Starlynn Chen (she/her) is an emerging set and costume designer and a graduate of the Production Program at Studio 58.

Recent credits: Set Design for Running Wilde (United Players), The Paper Bag Princess (Carousel Theatre), A Journal of the Plague Year (Studio 58), Jack and the Beanstalk (Metro Theatre), and Linck and Mülhahn (Studio 58); Costume Design for A Streetcar Named Desire & Peerless (ETC), The Undeniable Accusations of Red Cadmium Light (Firehall Arts Centre), The Replacement Wife (United Players), The Odd Couple (Theatre NorthWest), and James and the Giant Peach (CTORA); Assistant Costume Design for Much Ado About Nothing and Twelfth Night (Bard on the Beach).

Her set and costume design for Rent (Metro Theatre) received the 2025 Ovation Award for Outstanding Set Design (Large Theatre), and her costumes for James and the Giant Peach (CTORA) were nominated for the 2025 Ovation Award for Outstanding Costume Design. @starlynn.jingjingdyah

Mark is a local designer and director, although this is his first design for Metro Theatre, he is by no means a stranger. Mark has directed Guys and Dolls, Victor/Victoria, Dial M for Murder, Opening Night, The Play That Goes Wrong and last season’s Barefoot in the Park for Metro Theatre. As a Lighting designer he has designed Gaslight, Guys on Ice and The Ladies Foursome (Chemainus Theatre), Network, Hedda Gabler, Trip to Bountiful, The Thursday Night Bridge Circle and Silent Sky (United Players), The Drowsy Chaperone and Mary Poppins (TUTS) to name a few.  Special thank-you to Darren Hales for his help and contributions to this productions.

Cienna (Kiki) is ecstatic to be working with Metro Theatre for the second time as the Stage Manager for Avenue Q! When our wonderful director, Chris King, asked Kiki to do this show she immediately jumped on the chance, and has been laughing along ever since. Her past Credits Include Stage Management for A Christmas Carol and Alice By Heart (Capu), Uncomfortable Conversation (Fringe Fest) and Shakespeare In Love (Metro) as well as ASM for Clue (Capu), 9-5 The Musical (RCMT), and The Cricket on the Hearth (United Players). She’s also a working technician for Surrey Civic theatres. After all the laughter that came from the rehearsal process, Kiki can’t wait to hear audiences enjoy it all the same.

Zaria is a recent Capilano University Graduate and is so excited to be a part of Metro theatre’s production of Avenue Q! Previous Credits include Stage Manager for Songs for a new World at First Impressions Theatre, Lighting operator for Capilano University’s Dracula, a Feminist Manifesto, as well as Prop Master for Capilano University’s production of Little Women. Zaria is extremely proud of the cast and crew of Avenue Q for all the time and effort put in to make a hilarious, amazing, fun show. Zaria would like to shoutout Kiki, their stage manager for getting me into this amazing company, as well as their producers Lynn and Jo for helping Zaria feel included and comfortable. Zaria thanks their family, roommate and boyfriend for all the love and support!

Sam Hudson (she/they) is excited to be working as an Assistant Stage Manager for Avenue Q! Her previous credits include ASM for Concord Floral (Douglas College) and ASM for Shrek the Musical (Seaquam Theatre Company). They are currently in their second year at Douglas College studying Stagecraft & Event Technology, where they continue to develop their technical theatre skills and explore different areas of production.

Mehram is a Stagecraft and Event Technology student at Douglas College who has discovered a love for theatre through the creativity, collaboration, and behind-the-scenes magic that bring a production to life. She enjoys working with her hands and exploring props, scenic painting, costumes and the many details that help create a world onstage.

Her previous theatre credits include Legally Blonde directed by Chris King and Be More Chill directed by Simone Nathalia, where she worked as a Properties designer.

For Avenue Q, Mehram is thrilled to take on the role of Props Designer. She has loved the challenge of creating for such a playful and wonderfully chaotic show and is grateful for the opportunity to keep learning, creating, and growing alongside an amazing theatre team. It’s only for now, so enjoy the show! “

Claire is a recent Douglas College Stagecraft and Event Technology graduate who is super excited to be coming back to her second show at the Metro Theatre after working as the Assistant Scenic Painter for Shakespeare in Love! Claire has previously worked as the Head Painter on Running Wilde (United Players) and The Real Inspector Hound (Douglas College). She has also worked as a paint crew member for Arms and the Man (United Players), Jane Austen: Action Figure (Douglas College), and A Soldier’s Dream (Douglas College). Claire also loves working in props and has served as the props maker for Silence (Douglas College), Black Watch (Douglas College), The Wolves (Douglas College), and The Stagefest Performing Arts Festival. She is starting her first semester at UBC for her BFA in Theatre Design & Production where she hopes to continue working in paint, props, and costumes! She hopes you love Avenue Q!

Bio Coming Soon

John is thrilled to serve as Head Carpenter for Avenue Q. He’s enjoyed building for various theatre groups in the city for over 25 years, including Head Carpenter roles with Metro on Steel Magnolias and Nunsense, and helping setup Legally Blonde. Other carpentry credits include Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, Shrek, Parade, In the Heights, Titanic, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Les Misérables. Offstage, John works a day job in horticulture quoting and enjoys woodworking projects at home. He is a father of three and grandfather of two, and two of his children are MUTH (Capilano University Theatre) graduates. He’s grateful to be part of this show and hopes you have as much fun watching it as he did building it and working with the Metro crew.