Summer Theater Workshops

Name: Summer Theater Workshops
Start: 2025-08-04T08:30:00-04:00
End: 2025-08-08T16:30:00-04:00
Location: 33 Hawley St, Northampton, MA 01060-1302, United States

Schedule

Mon, 04 Aug, 2025 at 08:30 am to Fri, 08 Aug, 2025 at 04:30 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

33 Hawley St, Northampton, MA 01060-1302, United States | Northampton, MA

Long-time Pioneer Valley Theater teachers Carissa Dagenais and Jonah Pauloo, supported by Rich Vaden are back with their very popular week-long theater workshop for students ages 7-11 and 15-18.

Ages 7-11. Full day 8:30am-4:30pm
A seasoned and well-loved curriculum developed by Carissa Dagenais and used with over 1,000 kids over the last 10 years in the Pioneer Valley, NYC public schools, and in Atlanta. This week focuses on the process of telling a story, working as a group to tell that story, and how to bring it to life on stage. A low-pressure performance will take place on the last day at 4pm. $375 tuition.
REGISTER HERE FOR 7-11 year old session:
https://forms.gle/kcuJ7xeqWAwAPZcF7
Ages 15-18. Half Day 9am-12pm
Intensive scene study and monologue work supported by local professional Rich Vaden. College prep for auditions. Sharpen your skills working on text and with a partner.
Two reduced tuition available in exchange for support in afternoons with younger group - learn classroom management and build your teaching resume.
Performance on Friday at 4:30pm.
$250 tuition
REGISTER FOR 15-18 year old session:
https://forms.gle/cdDB15CcS6nBiGAN7
Carissa Dagenais graduated from Smith College '13 with her BA in Theater and from NYU '16 with her MA in Drama Therapy. Carissa previously worked as the Education Director for Hampshire Theater Company, as an outpatient therapist with CSO, and as a Drama Therapist with Charlie Health. Carissa has also worked as a teaching artist with various companies in NYC, Atlanta, and the Pioneer Valley. She has been teaching these workshops here in the valley for nearly 10 years.
Jonah Pauloo has been involved in theater arts for more than two decades, from acting to directing, from musicals to dramatic productions and from Community Theater to Broadway. He has partnered with Carissa Dagenais for more than a decade, to bring the theater experience to children in the local area. He is currently a behavioral interventionist at Dummerston Elementary School, working with students in emotional and behavioral crisis.
As a professional actor, Rich has performed in Shakespearean classics and contemporary theatre, working with Eggtooth Productions, Silverthorne Theatre Company, Majestic Theater, and Hampshire Shakespeare, among others. Notable roles include Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Orlando, La Cage Aux Folles, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, and Amadeus.
Rich attended Simon’s Rock College in Great Barrington and trained at the London Dramatic Academy, studying classical acting, voice, movement, and Shakespearean performance. He also participated in master classes with Imelda Staunton, Michael Sheen, and Alex Jennings, gaining insights from leading theatre and film professionals. Beyond acting, Rich has served as a dramaturg, assistant director, and technical theatre artist, training emerging artists at Holyoke Community College in costume design, performance preparation, and production coordination. As an acting coach, he specializes in monologue preparation, audition techniques, and character development, with a strong background in improvisation and voice work.
Rich has spent nearly two decades performing and collaborating in the Pioneer Valley theatre community, building extensive experience across the region. He is excited to bring his experience and passion to the summer program, helping students refine their craft and build confidence as performers.