EDUCATION
Spring/SUMMER 2025
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Actors Toolbox (18+)
Teaching Artist: Joseph C. Walsh Date: Sundays, May 25th-June 15th Time: 10:00AM-1:00PM Location: Lakewood Playhouse Participant Fee: $250 Come build your skills and learn the basics of acting! This course will offer an opportunity to build a toolbox of skills for adult actors of all levels to utilize when they are preparing to take the stage or even take on the audition room. We will focus on tools of warming up, memorization, preparing a monologue, voice and diction, and some scene work. This course is focused on building confidence and offering guidance in a supportive and welcoming environment!
Joseph C. Walsh is an award-winning theatre director and educator who has served as the Artistic Director of Ghost Light Theatricals, Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, Florida, Arlington Children’s Theatre in Massachusetts, and Wild Oats Productions in the UK. He was Interim Director of Education at the White Plains Performing Arts Center and spent three seasons as the Touring Director for White Horse Theatre, the world’s largest touring educational theatre company. Joseph is currently the Producing Artistic Director at Lakewood Playhouse. |
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Littles Summer Camp (Ages 3-7)
Teaching Artist: LaNita Hudson Walters, assisted by Sunny Guzman Dates: June 23rd-27th Time: 9:00AM-12:00PM Location: Lakewood Playhouse Participant Fee: $250 An experience based on imagination, creativity, and storytelling! Learn the basics of acting and the theatrical process through games and exciting lessons in a fun and supportive environment culminating in an original presentation.
LaNita Hudson Walters is an Actor, Director, Choreographer, Vocalist and Teaching Artist in the Pacific Northwest. She has been a performer from the age of 3 and a Teaching Artist for the last 25+ years. She attended Berklee College of Music and then took time off to raise her children. LaNita is and has been a Master Teaching Artist at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma Arts Live, Lakewood Playhouse and Seattle Rep. Sunny Guzman is thrilled to be back as a teaching assistant this year for Seussical Kids! Most recently you might’ve seen Sunny here in Hadestown, or as Serena in Legally Blonde at SOTA. Working with Lakewood Playhouse has always been a delight, and Sunny is overjoyed to have this opportunity again. |
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Summer Skills Workshops (13+)
Dates: June 23rd-27th Time: 2:00-4:00PM Location: Lakewood Playhouse Participant Fee: $50 per class or $200 for the week Monday 6/23: Acting Through Song with Joseph C. Walsh and Elijah Bellis
Tuesday 6/24: Speaking Shakespeare with Suzy Willhoft Wednesday 6/25: Stage Combat with Luke Amundson and Brookelyne Peterson Thursday 6/26: Preparing Your Monologue with Suzy Willhoft Friday 6/27: Nail The Dance Call Come build your skills with this week of fun, exciting and informative workshops! |
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Joseph C. Walsh is an award-winning theatre director and educator who has served as the Artistic Director of Ghost Light Theatricals, Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, Florida, Arlington Children’s Theatre in Massachusetts, and Wild Oats Productions in the UK. He was Interim Director of Education at the White Plains Performing Arts Center and spent three seasons as the Touring Director for White Horse Theatre, the world’s largest touring educational theatre company. Joseph is currently the Producing Artistic Director at Lakewood Playhouse.
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Elijah Bellis is an Olympia based teaching artist, music director, and designer whose work spans the Puget Sound. Previous teaching credits include Into The Woods Jr. and Six: Teen Edition at Lakewood Playhouse, Honk! Jr. and Spamalot: School Edition at Tacoma Little Theater, and assorted workshops with Olympia Family Theater and The Evergreen State College. He is so excited to continue educating and working with the future generation of theater makers, and he extends so much gratitude to his friends and family for their endless support.
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Suzy Willhoft is a local director whose extensive work covers 30 years of educational, community, and independent theatre in Tacoma. In her 15 years at Stadium HS, she taught Theatre classes, advised Drama Club, co-ordinated student-directed one-acts, and directed over 30 plays and musicals. Some of her favorite musicals there were Once On This Island, The Fantasticks, and Working. At Lakewood Playhouse, she has directed To Kill A Mockingbird, The Comedy Of Errors, Little Women, and The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare [Abridged] (Revised). Other community theatre credits include Brighton Beach Memoirs, Much Ado About Nothing, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Rabbit Hole. Her independent company, Found Space Productions, has produced many on-site shows, such as Waiting For Godot, Picasso At The Lapin Agile, and Nina Variations. Suzy most recently directed The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time at Tacoma Little Theatre.
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Luke Amundson has been active in stage combat as a performer and trainer in the PNW for over 20 years with a focus on rapier and hand to hand combat. Favorite projects he has blocked fights for include Romeo And Juliet, Oleanna, Les Miserables, Twelfth Night, Man Of La Mancha, Guys And Dolls, and most recently The Seafarer. As a performer, dying repeatedly in Three Musketeers will always have a special place in his heart.
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Brookelyne Peterson is a local actor, choreographer, and educator. She has a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Utah Tech University, where she graduated with honors and several awards for her work, including Theatre for Young Audiences, where she learned how to lead a classroom of students. She's participated in the Tacoma/Lakewood theatre scene for the last year, performing in several productions at Tacoma Little Theatre and was most recently an Understudy for Godspell at Lakewood Playhouse. She has taught Stage Combat for South Kitsap High School and Lakewood Playhouse, and enjoys working with young students. More of her work can be seen at www.brookelynepeterson.com
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Willy Wonka Kids (Rising 1st-6th Graders)
Teaching Artists: Indeah Harris and Thomas Morisada, assisted by Allie Smith Dates: June 30th-July 3rd Time: 9:00AM-4:00PM Showcase: July 3rd 4:00PM Location: Lakewood Playhouse Participant Fee: $300 Roald Dahl's timeless story of the world-famous candy man and his quest to find an heir is a golden ticket to adventure.
This fun four-day experience will utilize Dahl’s classic adventure to give your actors a taste of the theatrical process. From audition to performance in just one-week this will give the young actor a chance to develop their skills while learning through collaboration and experiencing every aspect of the production process. Indeah Harris has been directing shows for over a decade with her drama program at local middle/high school Harrison Preparatory in Lakewood. Her directing has been nominated and won several awards, including her production of The Wolves at Lakewood Playhouse right as Covid-19 shut everything down. Indeah Harris has been a dancer and performer for over 17 years, Indeah has done it all: ballet, jazz, modern, ballroom, musical theatre, hip-hop, pointe, and lyrical. Her choreography, while she was in high school, was nominated 9 times at the locally acclaimed 5th Avenue Awards for Excellence in Musical Theatre and continues to be nominated or honorably mentioned within her own decade-old drama program. She has worked locally, performing on the stage of the 5th Avenue Theatre in productions such as Cinderella, Oliver, Secondhand Lions, and A Chorus Line. She has also performed at Village Theatre, located in Issaquah and Everett, in their productions of Chicago (Mona), Cabaret (Lulu), and Big River. Indeah is excited to be back at Lakewood Playhouse again for the summer, last summer she participated in choreographing the summer camp Annie - and is just as excited to bring magic and wonder to the chocolate factory that is Willy Wonka. Thomas Morisada has music directed and taught classes in the Tacoma area, including CampTMP, TMP Family Theater, Harrison Preparatory Academy, and Lakewood Playhouse. Recent credits include Elephant & Piggie: We Are In A Play (TMP), and James And The Giant Peach (TMP), along with many more! Thomas is also an instructor for private voice and piano at Live Music Academy and choir teacher for the Tacoma Area Homeschool Band; he also owns his own private voice studio, Mori's Studio. Thomas's philosophy for teaching music is to foster a safe environment for students to explore their musicality and individuality. He encourages students to not fear potential success or failure and to take every opportunity as a chance to learn, grow, and thrive. Thomas graduated from PLU with degrees in music and theater, with a focus in vocal music, having studied both classical and theatrical singing. While he focused mostly on classical and choral performances during his undergrad, Thomas has more recently found his way back to musical theater, having performed in Tacoma Musical Playhouses' current season. Allie Smith got her start in theater in 2008 at Camp TMP, and has pursued all forms of theater with an unrelenting passion ever since. She is thrilled to take on her first project with Lakewood Playhouse through this educational endeavor! This past spring they received their BA in Writing Studies at the University of Washington, Tacoma and intend to pursue a MFA in Playwrighting within the next couple of years. Recent creative projects have included devising and performing in the Takhomaway project through the National Endowment for the Arts and UWT. You might have seen her recent performances as “Lorca as a Woman” in Lorca In A Green Dress (Tacoma Little Theater) or as “Agnes Evans” in She Kills Monsters (UWT Theater). |
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A Midsummer Night's Dream (Ages 14-22)
in association with Museum of Glass and City of Lakewood's SummerFEST Teaching Artist: Noel Koran, assisted by Addie Livingston Stage Manager: Marco Diaz Dates: July 7th-18th Time: 9:00AM-4:00PM Showcases: July 18th at Museum of Glass and July 19th at SummerFEST (Times TBC) Location: Museum of Glass and Lakewood Summerfest Participant Fee: $400 Join us for a special immersive adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Build your classical acting technique while collaborating on one of Shakespeare’s best loved comedies. This two-week experience will culminate in a full length immersive production of the play in and around Museum of Glass and a twenty minute excerpt presented at Museum of Glass and SummerFEST.
In a theatrical and operatic career that has spanned over forty years, Noel Koran has established himself as a stage director, educator and performer with extensive credentials in Opera, Operetta and Shakespeare. As a stage director, he has directed productions by such diverse composers and playwrights as Mozart, Puccini, Shakespeare, and Verdi. Prior to becoming a stage director, he appeared on the stage hundreds of times in a variety of theatrical and musical genres that include Opera, Operetta, Musicals, and Shakespeare. As an educator, he taught acting at several major universities and has helped countless actors and singers improve their dramatic abilities on the stage. Marco Diaz is thrilled to be stage managing this production of A Midsummer’s Nights Dream! You may know him as the co-founder of Young Thespian’s Collective, a Youth Ran Theater Company currently working with Lakewood Playhouse for the last year. They have put on The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, (where he played Bill) and Almost, Maine, (his directorial debut!) You may have also recognized him on the Lakewood stage over the years in Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio), The Tragedy Of Macbeth (Macbeth), Newsies (Ensemble), Sweeney Todd (Quartet, Ensemble) & more! He has a deep love for Shakespeare and is so excited to be a part of this production! He would like to thank his friends and family for always supporting him, and the Lakewood Playhouse team for this amazing opportunity! |
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Hadestown: Teen Edition (Rising 9th-12th Graders + age 19)
in association with Museum of Glass Teaching Artists: Becca Jourden, Elijah Bellis and Nyah Hart Dates: July 21st-August 8th Time: 9:00AM-4:00PM Showcases: August 8th 7:00PM at Lakewood Playhouse and August 9th 2:00PM at Museum of Glass Location: Lakewood Playhouse/Museum of Glass Participant Fee: $600 This full-length Teen Edition of Anaïs Mitchell’s haunting, jazz-inflected folk opera follows Orpheus’ mythical quest to overcome Hades and regain the favor of his one true love, Eurydice. This intriguing and beautiful folk opera delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience. Following two intertwining love stories - that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of immortal King Hades and Lady Persephone - Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. For this exciting collaboration between Lakewood Playhouse and Museum of Glass the final showcase performances will take place in the Hot Shop at the museum!
This three-week camp will focus on each stage of the production process from audition through to performance, culminating in a showcase of Hadestown: Teen Edition. Using this musical as the focus, participants will build and sharpen their singing, dancing and acting skills, and develop the tools and techniques to enhance their work in the journey from page to stage. Becca Jourden is thrilled to be working at Lakewood for the first time! They are a local teaching artist based in Tacoma. They teach all around but mostly you’ll find them at Tacoma Little Theater where they directed Honk Jr, Spamalot: School Edition, and Cinderella, as well as after school and homeschool classes. They are passionate about creating a safe space for students to grow their confidence and creativity and most of all have fun! Elijah Bellis is an Olympia based teaching artist, music director, and designer whose work spans the Puget Sound. Previous teaching credits include Into The Woods Jr. and Six: Teen Edition at Lakewood Playhouse, Honk! Jr. and Spamalot: School Edition at Tacoma Little Theater, and assorted workshops with Olympia Family Theater and The Evergreen State College. He is so excited to continue educating and working with the future generation of theater makers, and he extends so much gratitude to his friends and family for their endless support. From competitive dance to classical music, Nyah Hart has spent many years in the performing arts. The former Miss Thurston County has been dancing since the age of 4 and trained in various styles from ballet and jazz to tap and hip hop getting the chance to study and perform in New York, Chicago, and Canada. Her talents have given her the opportunities to be in music videos for local Seattle musicians and even be a backup dancer for more well-known artists. As a musician herself, she found ease and enjoyment most with tap dancing and loves to continue educating and helping educate others of the historical significance it has had in her community. In her free time, Nyah voluntarily coaches a special needs cheer team in Olympia, enjoys helping out at Special Olympics events, and is an active competitor in the Miss America Competition. |
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Newsies Jr. (Rising 3rd-8th Graders)
Teaching Artists: Courtnee Ramos and Ellie Jay McKee Dates: August 11th-22nd Time: 9:00AM-4:00PM Showcases: August 22nd 7:00PM/August 23rd 2:00PM Location: Lakewood Playhouse Participant Fee: $500 Newsies Jr. is a version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film. Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies Jr. features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein.
When powerful newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys' expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what's right. Including the now-classic songs "Carrying The Banner", "Seize The Day", and "Santa Fe", Newsies Jr. is a timeless story full of spirit and heart. In this two-week experience, participants will use this musical to develop their skills in singing, acting and dancing. Courtnee Ramos is a natural born leader that organically makes people in the room feel respected, heard and appreciated. She has studied at Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah, and holds a Bachelors of Science in Theatre, Music, and Psychology! Her recent directing credits include an original, which she wrote and directed called Fantasy: The Musical, as well as 101 Dalmatians Jr., Little One, and many others! Courtnee has developed a diverse skill set and a passion for storytelling and producing connections with a wide range of ages and cultures. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, she is ecstatic to help your young performers learn and grow here at Lakewood Playhouse! Ellie Jay McKee is ecstatic to be returning to the Playhouse after spending the holidays as Lana Sherwood in It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play! Ellie moved back to WA last summer after 7 years as a performer and educator in New York. Ellie graduated from CAP21/Molloy College with her BFA in Theatre Arts. While in New York, Ellie had the opportunity to not only perform in Off Broadway (Patty DiMarco, School Of Rock The Musical) and Regional Playhouses (Jojo in Seussical, Nikko in The Wizard Of Oz), but assist behind the scenes as well (Newsies, Legally Blonde, High School Musical). When Ellie wasn’t on stage, she was an after school teacher to elementary school students in the city. Ellie taught kids about puppetry, costume design, songwriting, and musical theatre performance as well as leading summer camp sessions. When Ellie is not on stage or in the classroom, Ellie can be found in the air practicing her aerial craft or on the ground with her dog LadyBird Johnson. |
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Seussical Kids (Rising 1st-6th Graders)
Teaching Artist: LaNita Hudson Walters, assisted by Sunny Guzman Dates: August 25th-29th Time: 9:00AM-4:00PM Showcase: August 29th 4:00PM Location: Lakewood Playhouse Participant Fee: $300 "Oh, the thinks you can think!” Join us as some of Dr. Seuss’ best loved characters come to life in an exciting 30 minute version of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Seussical the Musical!
This fun five-day camp will utilize this fantastic family musical to give your actors a taste of the theatrical process. From audition to performance in just one-week this will give the young actor a chance to develop their skills while learning through collaboration and experiencing every aspect of the production process. LaNita Hudson Walters is an Actor, Director, Choreographer, Vocalist and Teaching Artist in the Pacific Northwest. She has been a performer from the age of 3 and a Teaching Artist for the last 25+ years. She attended Berklee College of Music and then took time off to raise her children. LaNita is and has been a Master Teaching Artist at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Tacoma Little Theatre, Tacoma Arts Live, Lakewood Playhouse and Seattle Rep. Sunny Guzman is thrilled to be back as a teaching assistant this year for Seussical Kids! Most recently you might’ve seen Sunny here in Hadestown, or as Serena in Legally Blonde at SOTA. Working with Lakewood Playhouse has always been a delight, and Sunny is overjoyed to have this opportunity again. |
At Lakewood Playhouse we believe finances should not be a barrier to participation. Please contact us for scholarship and assistance options.
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