Broadway Beat With Chad

Location: Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy (145 Northfield Dr W, Waterloo)
Term: Wednesday, September 24th – Wednesday, December 10th, 2025
Early Bird Pricing Available Until July 1st: $120 + HST (that’s just $10 per class!)
Drop-In Price: $15 per class

Interested in more than one? Class schedules are specially designed to allow students to participate in multiple types of classes if desired. 10% off family and multi-class discounts are offered at registration.

Indigenous youth under 18 will receive free tuition for Youth Academy training programs. Read More

We strive to ensure that everyone, regardless of financial circumstance, is able to participate in Academy classes. Inquire about our flexible payment plans and financial assistance programs.

Don’t miss out on 12 weeks of theatre fun and friends! We can’t wait to spend the Fall Session with you at the Youth Academy–where you belong!

_{To inquire about payment plans, bursaries, and tuition support please contact youthacademy@draytonentertainment.com.}

Broadway Beat With Chad is your weekly dose of sweat, style, and serious Broadway vibes! Each class dives into a different musical or choreographic style—from old-school showbiz classics to today’s biggest stage hits. One week it’s sharp Fosse jazz, the next it’s can-can kicks or full-out theatre jazz—no two weeks are the same! You’ll build technique, boost musicality, and bring your performance game to the next level, all while dancing hard and having a blast. Come ready to move, sweat, and have some serious fun living your best Broadway life!

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Drop-In Classes

Perfect for those craving flexibility and fun, single-drop-in classes let you jump into the Broadway action—no long-term commitment required. Whether you’re exploring something new or working around a busy schedule, our drop-ins let you move, sweat it out, and live your best Broadway life—on your terms. Just show up, bring the drama, and have a blast!

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Meet Your Instructor

Chad McNamara

As a proud member of Canadians Actors Equity and ACTRA, Chad McNamara is best known for creating and originating the role of Rooney Doodle on the Juno and Gemini nominated series, The Doodlebops. As a Doodlebop, Chad has recorded 3 albums with Universal music and toured across North America playing sold out shows at Madison Square Garden and LA’s Staple Centre. Selected TV: Doodlbops (3 seasons (Disney/CBC), How to solve a Problem Like Maria (CBC), Bomb Girls (Bravo),Walt Disney Christmas Parade (ABC), The Ron James Show (CBC), The Today show (featured performer/NBC), Queer as Folk (Showcase). Director/Choreographer: Recent: The World premiere(s) of Let’s Dance and Let’s Bop (Terra Bruce Productions) Anne &Gilbert (Island Theatre festival, PEI), Rock of Ages, 9 to 5, the Musical, Disenchanted, Bitter Girl The Musical, American Idiot (Stephenville Festival) Regional: In Common, a new musical, The 25th… Spelling Bee, 9 to 5… the Musical, Legally Blonde, Rent, Crazy for you/ Fight choreography, The Canadian premiere of Be More Chill.

Testimonials

This environment is free of judgment and full of love. Thank you for always pushing us and reminding us how important, valued and powerful we all are.

I can’t thank you enough for the courage, independence and kindness you help to instil in my kids.

Although my Dad never spoke of it to Evan or me, he was a little hesitant with the dance stuff and then theatre stuff… but then he came out of the Panto that Evan was in crying, so happy that Evan had found a place where he felt like he belonged.

As parents we got to ride this high with our son. We got to see him, for the first time, totally come into himself, for the first time, pure happiness. Something changed, he has changed….thank you.

This was the most amazing theatre experience I’ve had to date, and I’ve had a LOT! It’s the first time I’ve felt like I really belonged because you made such an inclusive environment.

Thank you! She walked away with more confidence about body image, an even deeper love of everything “theatre” and huge love and respect for her community!

The patience David shows to the children is perfect! As a teacher I recognize that this man was made to work with kids!! The way he speaks to kids makes them believe they can do anything!!!

This is where I want to be. I get to learn from Broadway performers who are performing at a theatre right next door but more importantly, I’ve made lifelong friends. Even the audition process is awesome. Drayton has helped me grow not only as a performer, but as a person.

My son has done lots of programs and I think he felt the most at home here. The children and staff were the most inclusive of any I’ve encountered.

Each and every day he arrived at Huron Country Playhouse, he knew he was stepping into a place where his passions and dreams were going to be honoured, respected and encouraged.

Kids (and even adults!) really have fun and learn skills, responsibility, and teamwork here. David Connolly (Director of Education) is a fantastic leader.

The two musical theatre classes I attended were a lot of fun and I enjoyed them tremendously.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the adult classes at DEYA. It is a great opportunity to get creative with like-minded peers in a judgment-free environment: singing, dancing, acting and even improv! I love that Drayton is giving us adults a chance to live the theatre dream and learn new skills from talented instructors.

The staff involved had an incredible ability to push the kids outside of their comfort zones to try new things and take risks. Most of all, they were able to teach kids to embrace differences and that it’s okay to be different.