Georgia Shakespeare - Meet the Instructors

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Meet the Instructors

Tara Chiusano has been studying theater for most of her life and received a B.A. in Theater from James Madison University. Tara is passionate about Shakespeare's plays and has had the pleasure of performing the role of Ariel in The Tempest and directing A Midsummer Night's Dream in college. Having been a professional actress for several years touring with American Family Theater, Theater IV, and working at various regional theaters, she has since decided to settle down and teach. She has taught numerous youth drama classes for a company called Encore located in Arlington, Virginia. After moving to Atlanta a year ago she started up drama classes for Pre-K and Kindergarten age kids called "Tiny Tales." Also an accomplished musician, Tara has written original music for young children and has performed at various venues throughout the mid-Atlantic including Fulton County Central Library, East Atlanta Branch Library, Inman Park Cooperative Preschool, and Little Shop of Stories. www.musicwithmisstara.com

Angie Harrell is an actress working in theatre, television, film, commercials, and industrials. She has been teaching and directing theatre for youth since 1996, in public and private schools (Lead Drama Teacher, Rochelle School of the Arts; Drama Instructor and Arts Coordinator, Brenau Academy) as well as arts venues in Georgia, Florida and New York; and is delighted to be working with Georgia Shakespeare on the thing that she is most passionate about—creating original work based on real life! Angie is also the Talent Coordinator for Cartoon Network’s "After School Comedy Block," frequently appearing on the show. Education includes an MFA in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School at New School University and an ABJ from the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia. Her career began in broadcast journalism, as a news anchor and talk show host for radio and television. Angie is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.

Karen Ramps is happy to join GA Shakespeare as a teacher for Shakespeare Connections. Karen has substituted for Georgia Shakespeare classes for several years. In addition to Georgia Shakespeare, Karen has taught or worked in education and administration with the Alliance Theatre, Center for Puppetry Arts, Indian River Community College, The Children’s Theatre Company, and Waukesha Civic Theatre. Karen has also acted, directed, musical directed, been a vocal and acting coach, and composed for various venues, including Indian River Community College, the Becky Thatcher Theatre, Waukesha Civic Theatre, and the Alliance Theatre’s Collision Project. She received her BA with a double major in theatre and economics from Marietta College, in Marietta, OH.

Brooke Collins Hamilton is happy to return to Georgia Shakespeare as a teacher for Shakespeare Connection. Brooke created many of the classes in the Saturday class series curriculum and has taught with Georgia Shakespeare for over 5 years; she also has experience with booking our tour to schools, directing residency programs, and helped create the popular annual High School Acting Competition. Brooke has taught or worked in education administration with The Alliance Theatre, The Center for Puppetry Arts, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, ART Station, Imagine it! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, and Virginia Stage Company. Brooke is also the Company Manager for Georgia Shakespeare, and has stage management experience with The Alliance Theatre’s Collision Project, Actor’s Express, The Center for Puppetry Arts, and Virginia Stage Company. She received her BA in theatre, with a minor in English, from Brenau University, in association with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance.

Allen O'Reilly (Education Director) has been affiliated with the company for 19 years as an actor and teacher. He was made an Associate Artist in 1992, and became Education Director in 2004 overseeing Georgia Shakespeare's fourteen education offerings. Since that time he has directed the High School Touring productions and also co-directed several Family Classic productions, including 2009's Alice in Wonderland. In addition, Allen had written and directed adaptations for Georgia Shakespeare's elementary and residency programs including: Will's Dream, Boot Camp Shakespeare!, A Tale of Two Shrews and Tempest Tossed! Allen majored in Theatre at Northern Arizona University, and received his professional theatre training at Actor's Lab Arizona and at The Alliance Theatre Intern Program.