Board of Directors & Staff
Carousel Players’ Board of Directors
Carolyn Mackenzie (Chair) – Educator & Stage Manager
Jenniffer Anand (Vice Chair) – Communications & Media Relations
Debbie Percy (Treasurer) – Finance
Sande Farrauto – Legacy Partner Associate
Nadia Ganesh – Graduate Student
Lauren Hundert – Development & Event Management
Wendy Kulp – Early Years Educator
Suzanne Merriam – Theatre Education
Adrian Petry – Historian & Public Programs Facilitator
Eve Tulbert – Program Evaluation Specialist
Carousel Players’ Board of Directors advises staff and oversees the operations of the company through bi-monthly meetings and by membership in a standing or ad hoc committees.
The Board welcomes input from the community and encourages community members to contact them by email at board@carouselplayers.com.
Carousel Players’ Board Committees – community members welcome
- Outreach Committee
- Educational Advisory Committee
- Fundraising Committee
- Nominating & Human Resources Committee
- Facilities Committee
More About Monica
Monica Dufault has been Artistic Director of Carousel Players since January 2018. Previously she performed with The Shaw Festival, The National Arts Centre, Theatre Aquarius, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and other companies across Canada. She has acted in many plays for young audiences and was nominated for a Dora Award for her performance in Where the Wild Things Are.
Monica was the Artistic Director of Essential Collective Theatre from 2014 to 2018, where she directed twelve productions. For Carousel Players, she has created live and digital productions, including Tomson Highway’s The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito, which toured to Vancouver and Saskatoon in 2019.
Ms. Dufault was selected as the Canadian delegate to the 2019 ASSITEJ Germany Directors in TYA Conference in Berlin, and is now a member of the board of ASSITEJ Canada. She holds a BA in Theatre, MA in Comparative Literatures and Arts, and is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
More About Annie
Annie Slade is a Niagara-based arts administrator specializing in audience development and community partnerships. As a life-long lover of all forms of artistic expression, she aspires to support artists in creating accessible, inclusive, and engaging experiences for audiences of all ages.
With nearly a decade of experience in the non-profit arts industry in roles that include education, marketing, fundraising, and audience development, Annie brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for collaboration to her new role as General Manager of Carousel Players.
She also holds an MA in Arts Management from Queens University. When not behind the curtain as an administrator, Annie is a vocalist and violinist performing regularly throughout the Niagara Region as a member of the Avanti Chamber Singers and Grace Notes String Ensemble.
More About Lisa
Lisa Donati is a Niagara-based arts professional, with experience in performance, education, and administration. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Music Performance from the Royal Academy of Music in London, England, and continued studies at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Artist Diploma Program.
Lisa has held roles in Program and Facilities Management, Project Management, Business Development, Fundraising and Partnerships, Marketing, Sales, and as a Board Director. With certification in healthy childhood development and youth leadership training, Lisa feels strongly about exposure to the arts in childhood.
When not working behind the scenes, Lisa can be found working with Niagara’s next generation of musicians! She is a Conductor and Coach with the Niagara Youth Orchestra and the Niagara Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Camp, and teaches music for JK-Grade 8 at the Niagara Nature School and Education Centre. She maintains a studio of brass students, many of whom have gone on to study music at Julliard, McGill, Toronto, Laurier, and Brock Universities. Lisa is the 2025 recipient of the Women In Business Awards for Cultural Arts.
More About Izzy
Isabella Saranchuk joined Carousel Players as Production Manager in 2025. Izzy is responsible for the creation of props and provides technical support for all of Carousel’s productions. With almost a decade of experience teaching art classes, Izzy loves prepping and teaching our creative workshops. As a Niagara local, she is very community-oriented and passionate about sharing accessible art for all. Izzy holds an Honours BA in Studio Arts from Brock University, specializing in acrylic paint. She has won numerous scholarships and awards, including the Bluma Appel Scholarship for Excellence in Humanities, the 13th Street Gallery and Winery Expression Award, and the Ann Pineault Memorial Scholarship. Outside of her role at Carousel Players, Izzy is an active visual artist whose murals and artwork can be found throughout the Niagara Region.
More About Makenna
Makenna Louks is a Niagara based performer with a passion for spreading positivity, and creating art. Makenna has a degree in Music Theatre Performance from St Lawrence College (2020) and since then has performed and taught throughout the Niagara Region.
Makenna likes to dip their toes in many different aspects of theatre. Beyond performing in musicals and plays, Makenna also does stage management, improv, teaches workshops, and helps out wherever they can! Makenna believes that learning is never truly over, and can’t wait to see what else is out there for them to learn and be a part of!
New to the administration side of theatre, Makenna is excited to take on the Sales and Tour Manager Position at Carousel Players (2025)!
More About Mike
Mike is a Niagara-based artist and educator, specializing in Drama in Education and community-based theatre. With over a decade of experience, Mike has made it his goal to always find ways to combine two of his passions: drama and learning.
Mike first began working with Carousel Players back in 2018, and for 4 years served as the Coordinator for Carousel Players Summer Theatre School. Mike has also run various afterschool drama programs, but perhaps has become most known as Game Master Extraordinaire for the Carousel Players Dungeons and Dragons Program.
Mike is a certified teacher with the Ontario College of Teachers and holds a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Pedagogy from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Outside of working as the Education Coordinator at Carousel Players, Mike teaches Drama in Education at Brock University and is currently working towards his PhD in Education.
More About Sara
Sara Allison is a St. Catharines based Stage Manager and Scenic Artist. Sara has stage managed over 10 productions with Carousel Players! Other credits for Carousel Players include; Where the Wild Things Are, Lig & Bittle, Simone Half & Half, Pop! Pop!, Tiny Treasures, The Velveteen Rabbit, Meet Chloe, Mask Minis, HBD2Me, Water Wonder, Whole World, Hare & Tortoise. Recent credits elsewhere: Here On the Flight Path, Hound of the Baskervilles, and 10 other productions at Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Starwalker (Urban Ink Productions), and This Is How We Got Here (Native Earth Performing Arts @ The Shaw Festival). Thank you to my family, friends, colleagues and strangers who continue to support live theatre!