Director

Meet our Head Elf of Stage Magic! With a vision as bright as Rudolph’s nose and a knack for turning chaos into Christmas cheer, they’re the guiding star behind every scene of Elf the Musical JR.

A member of NATS/NCR chapter, Jennifer Fontaine is a prominent voice teacher in Kanata. She is also the owner and artistic director of Ain’t Seen Noth’n Yet Inc (ASNY) which has been producing musical theatre productions for over 20 years this fall.

Jennifer runs summer programs for youth of all ages, giving opportunities to children to learn what it is to be part of a production from start to finish within 2-weeks but also offers coop opportunities and mentorship programs in all aspect of Musical Theatre.

Jennifer works with many companies in the Ottawa region for on-stage intimacy. Jennifer is grateful to be jumping in feet first with Spotlight Youth Collective and ready to take on Elf Jr. Let’s Sparklejollytwinklejingley together this fall!

Assitant Director

Meet our Right-Hand Reindeer! Always ready to dash in with direction and sprinkle some extra sparkle, they help guide the sleigh (and the show!) alongside our Head Elf of Stage Magic.

Hot on the heels of their directorial debut on Alice in Wonderland Jr, as part of the ASNY Productions' Director Mentorship Program this summer, Maggie is thrilled to be joining the production team of Elf the musical JR.

An award-winning musical theatre performer, and festival competitor, Maggie's most recent performance credits include starring as Wednesday Addams in the Mississippi Mudds' production of the Addams Family (February 2025); Ursula the Sea Witch in ASNY Productions summer camp performance of The Little Mermaid Jr. (July 2024); Miss Honey in the ASNY Productions summer camp staging of Matilda Jr. (July 2023); and Agnes in the Almonte District High School production of Dancing at Lughnasa (April 2023).

Stage Manager

Meet our Keeper of the Christmas Cues (aka our Stage Manager) – Leigh Delle Palme! With a headset in place and holiday magic in their planner, they make sure every scene, sleigh bell, and spotlight lands right on cue.

Leigh Delle Palme has been involved in theatre since Grade 6, developing a love for music, performance, and technical production. She studied Theatre at the University of Guelph, specializing in Technical Theatre, and later earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa.

Leigh currently teaches Arts and English at All Saints High School, where she also works closely with the ASH Tech Crew to design and produce shows, including those in the Cappies program. She is passionate about student mentorship and creating meaningful opportunities in the performing arts.

Outside of school, Leigh remains active in the Ottawa theatre community, recently performing in Just So with Kanata Theatre and Jekyll and Hyde with ASNY Productions. She is excited to be Stage Manager for Elf: The Musical Jr. and looks forward to helping bring the production to life.

Musical Director

Meet our Harmony Elf-in-Chief (aka Musical Director) - Lauren Richardson! With a baton in one hand and holiday spirit in the other, they’re the magical maestro behind every merry melody in Elf the Musical JR.

Lauren Richardson was singing even before she could talk. Throughout her youth she sang in choirs and musicals and went on to study Musical Theatre at the Banff School of Fine Arts with both Michael Bawtree and Howard Cable. She continued her studies in Theatre and Voice at Bishop’s University and upon graduation worked at the Lennoxville Festival. Her Classical training was refined when she studied with Charlotte Stewart in Ottawa.�

She has been awarded Conservatory Canada’s National Teacher and Travel Scholarship, and NATS Joan Frey Boytim Award for Independent Teachers.

She taught for the Yamaha Music Foundation, specializing in the young musicians programme. She has directed choirs of all ages as the Music Director at both Bethel and Kanata Pentecostal Churches, staging Musicals twice a year. �

Lauren co-founded the “Winter Festival of Song” with Steve Boudreau to provide young aspiring singers a platform to perform and receive scholarships. She also serves on the Kiwanis Senior Scholarship Committee and has been a guest adjudicator for “The Rising Stars” for Chamberfest. She has served on the executive of the National Association of Teachers of Singing for multiple terms including President and also as First Vice President for ORMTA. �

Her true love is teaching and imparting her expertise to a new generation of performers. She maintains a busy and highly successful private studio in Ottawa’s west end. �

Her students consistently win Trophies, Scholarships and are invited to perform at The Ontario Provincial Competitions in both Classical and Musical Theatre.

Many of her former students have attended the world’s most prestigious programs and have launched successful careers in both Opera and Musical Theatre, on stages in North America and Europe.

Choreographer

Twinkle Toes Elf (aka our Choreographer) - Jennifer McAndrew

Say hello to our Twinkle Toes Elf! From candy cane kicks to reindeer-ready routines, they’re the holiday hero behind every toe-tapping moment in Elf the Musical JR.

Jennifer McAndrew began her dance training at the Linda Jamieson School of Dance in Kanata, Ontario, where she completed all Royal Academy of Dance graded exams and her vocational exams up to the Advanced 1 certification. She spent her summers training in New York City at such prestigious institutions as Eglevsky Ballet, Broadway Dance Center, and Steps on Broadway.

After high school, Jennifer was awarded a scholarship to pursue Fine Arts with a concentration in modern dance at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. She later transferred to Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) to join the inaugural class of its BFA Theatre Arts program, focusing on technical development and dance education. Although an injury shifted her performance path, it opened doors to new opportunities in teaching, choreography, and leadership.

Returning to Ottawa, Jennifer completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and later earned her MBA with a specialization in marketing. Her teaching career includes positions at the Canadian Dance Factory and guest teaching roles at numerous high schools across Ottawa. She was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dance’s teacher training program and has since become an award-winning choreographer and respected adjudicator for national competitions such as Footloose, Terpsichore, and the BC Annual Dance Competition.

Jennifer is the co-founder and Event Director of Mastermind Event Rentals, recognized as one of Ottawa’s 40 Under 40 by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and the Ottawa Business Journal in 2015. From 2017 to 2025, she was a proud faculty member at the West Carleton School of Performing Arts, sharing her passion for dance, creativity, and mentorship with the next generation.

The Spotlight Youth Collective is a passion project that Jen is thrilled to be a part of, let's make magic happen this season

Assistant Stage Manager

Say hello to our Sleigh-Bell Sidekick (aka assistant stage manager)! From keeping cues jolly to lending a helping hoof backstage, they’re the merry magic-maker making sure the show runs smoother than a fresh sheet of North Pole ice.

Dani Hickman has been participating in theatre since grade 7 and has since fallen in love with the craft. She has participated in the tech crew and ensemble in her school musical for many years as well as participating in a 2-week theatre intensive with Ottawa Little Theatre.

Alongside theatre, she has competed in dance and musical theatre including winning 1st place for her Musical Theatre Solo at the Bedazzled Dance Competition. Dani is also a natural leader, having spent six years as a Junior Leader with Girl Guides of Canada, she has learned to work with ages younger and older than her, and how to work with a team to achieve shared goals.

Her passion for performance and technical aspects, dedication to teamwork and leadership shine through in every production she’s part of. She can’t wait to work alongside Leigh Delle Palme and the rest of the crew to make Elf The Musical Jr. an incredible production.