Our Team
Christie Blizzard - Director
Having grown up on stage and tv, Christie has always been really passionate about performing and learning new skills in The Arts. As a child actor, Christie didn’t attend too much “regular school” but was educated by a tutor on set and learnt a lot from the adults around her. Over time, she realised there was very little opportunity for kids to learn all the facets of the industry she grew up around and was so fortunate to be a part of and it always played on her mind that if she didn’t land her first audition, Christie may never have known there was a whole Production Industry – one she was really excited by.
While earning her BA in English and Media from Curtin University, Christie was able to explore the technical side of Production and Journalism and this really inspired her and assisted her to run her own dance studio that she created from the ground up while studying and working full-time.
Becoming a mother allowed Christie to take a little time to work out from what she loved and really hone in on perfecting her skillset. As Christie’s children grew so did the idea of The Production Academy, . A hub for kids and teens to create everything they ever dreamed of and then some. A place where talent is embraced and differences are embraced. Christie was tired of hearing talented kids play down their skills to fit in and she wanted a space where these kids could really shine.
Veronika Panzic - Music Department
Veronika has been working as a professional vocalist in the Perth and Sydney music scene for over 20 years. Throughout her childhood years she spent a lot of her time on the stage with the Johnny Young Talent School and this included many Musical Theatre Performances and various TV and Radio opportunities.
Career Highlights include singing the National Anthem at many NBL, WAFL Games, Hopman Cup Ball, Telethon and recording jingles for commercials.
In her early 20’s she was performing with one of Perth’s leading acoustic duos and performed at many Weddings and Corporate Events. She also co-wrote and recorded two original EP’s and toured Perth and Regional WA promoting the albums.
Veronika and her family now call Perth home, after spending the last 10 years in Sydney where she was performing regularly as a soloist and part of a well-respected Acoustic Duo known as Glacier Lane. They performed at some of Sydney’s most prestigious venues, events and internationally their talent took them to Mexico and New Zealand where they performed at major events.
Veronika’s extensive experience in performing in all genres of singing, informs her teaching and enables her to help students achieve their vocal goals.
Tate Bennett - Head of Drama Department
Tate has been acting for as long as he can remember. It doesn't help that he has a terrible memory and can't remember much. Currently involved in two movies, a pre production, constant murder mystery nights, Peter Pan at the Regal Theatre at the end of the year and a creative process of a show for next year, the classes and kids of TPA have been a highlight for him in his career.
Being able to explore acting with the super-creative TPA students has been a pleasure and to watch them grow with every class brings much happiness and joy to his life.
Georgia McGivern - Head of Arts Department
Georgia graduated from John Curtin College of the Arts with a Certificate ll in Contemporary Music and later went on to complete a Certificate ll in Music Theatre and a Diploma of Acting at WAAPA. Some of Georgia’s notable show credits include Natalie in Next to Normal, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Regina in Rock of Ages, Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, for which she won the 2012 Robert Finley Award for Best Other Than Lead in a Musical, and Nancy in Oliver! for which she won the 2019 Robert Finley Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Georgia played Cinderella in two sold-out seasons of Disenchanted! at both The Subiaco Arts Centre and Downstairs at The Maj, and made her professional debut as the Queen Ancestor in The Addams Family in 2021 and 2022, presented by Zealous Productions at the Regal Theatre, and was most recently seen in Peter Pan the Christmas Pantomime, also with Zealous Productions. Georgia is a full-time cast member at Improv DnD, performing in their 2022 and 2023 Fringe Season 'State of Play' at the State Theatre, as well as in their monthly shows at The Rechabite.
Meagan Boniface - Movement Department
Meagan Boniface is a certified dancer, choreographer, life coach and co-owner of “Loose Minds Productions”.
Meagan has recently returned from the USA where she trained under Renee Ritchie and AAFTA for “Dance International LA” to further her professional development. Meagan continues to spread her passion and creativity for dance in multiple dance studios around Perth Australia which she has been doing for over a decade. Her diverse training includes Kalamunda Performers, ATOD, Steps Youth Dance Company, Co:3 Australia, Vanguard Performing Arts and APAN Academy where she graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts majoring in Commercial Dance.
Meagan has many highlights of her creative career so far including hosting open classes and workshops around Perth, producing concept videos and photo shoots and is one of WAs most sought out musical theatre choreographers who was recently working on HAMA productions “XANADU”. Her performing credits include, modelling, musicals, music videos and a multitude of gigs on the corporate circuit.
When Christie opened the doors in 2021 she was really excited at the prospect of what she could teach kids to create – the idea being that they do everything themselves from lighting through to writing, acting and everything in between. As a naturally creative person, there was never a space like this for Christie as a child and she knew it was time to change that for her children and their peers.
Christie is so very proud of each and every student and really thinks of them as her own. Christie’s fundamental rule is to have fun and be kind while doing it. Because happiness and inclusion is just as important as creating a good foundation in performance and production.