About Town Hall Education
Mission Statement
Empowering an ensemble of storytellers to connect, empathize and commit.
Town Hall Education is the education department at Town Hall Theatre Company in Lafayette. THEd is a process-based program committed to serving students from pre-school age through adulthood. Our core values focus on student empowerment; creating connections, empathy, and trust; and supporting student creativity. We believe all of these lessons can be learned through theatre education and applied in every day life.
Town Hall Education is dedicated to providing students of all ages with process-based, high quality, and engaging theatrical experiences. We strive to create classrooms where students can grow in a safe environment and build their voice through theatrical expression. In our classes and in our building, we have built a strong and welcoming community and are so excited to have you join it.
-Erika March, Education Director
FAQs
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A typical class begins with a warm-up, which prepares the students for the remainder of the class time, whether that be creating, acting, singing, or dancing. In all of our classes, student growth and engagement is our primary focus, and these skills are often practiced with the aid of games and theatre activities that align with the class focus. Performance-based classes additionally spend classes learning valuable theatrical skills and preparing for their production.
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Students should arrive to class in appropriate, comfortable clothing, including shoes- ABSOLUTELY, NO FLIP FLOPS or OPEN-TOE SHOES! Students should bring a pencil and something to write in, and any required class materials i.e. provided scripts. We also recommend a light snack and a reusable water bottle.
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As we run an educational program, it is our job to ensure that each student is learning as much as possible from their role in the production. When casting a show teaching artists consider first and foremost what skills each student needs to work and puts them in a role that will best help them to master that skill. Students will also be asked to self-reflect and create goals with specific skills they want to work on in the class. Behavior, commitment, and experience may also be taken into account. For more information about casting, please see our Parent Handbook.
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Please e-mail your teaching artist DIRECTLY or call the production office at: (925) 283-6673.
About Our Classes
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Because we have limited space for classes, our classes often fill quickly! This is why it is important to keep track of registration dates if you are interested in signing up. Out of fairness, students are added to the waitlist on a first-come-first-served basis. There are no exceptions. You may sign up to be on the waitlist by filling out the registration form and selecting which class you would like to participate in. If the class is full, you will automatically be added to the waitlist.
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Your tuition allows Town Hall Education to hire stellar, professional Teaching Artists. It also goes to props, costumes, production materials, and performance rights that are licensed through production corporations.
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If your student is participating in a production based class, our educational program is required to purchase performance rights for the production. In the licensing agreement, we're required to pay royalties per performance. Then there are the facility costs associated with performing and rehearsing in a professional theatre: box office staff, lighting, technical staff, etc. Tuition alone does not cover these expenses.
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We are able to accommodate payment plans on a case-by-case basis. All payment plan arrangements must be made prior to the first class. If you are interested in setting up a payment plan, please contact Education@TownHallTheatre.com.
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We are able to offer scholarships for any students whose family is in need of financial assistance. All scholarship requests need to be submitted before the start of any class. No student is turned away for financial reasons. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please contact Education@TownHallTheatre.com.
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Town Hall Studio is located in the Lamorinda Music Studios located at 83 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette, CA 94549
About Student Enrollment
Teaching Artists
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August Webber
August Webber (he/they) is thrilled to be joining Town Hall's talented team of teaching artists. Born in Texas and mainly raised in the Bay Area, August has always had a passion for all forms of art, especially theatre, and has developed a passion for childcare and education. He was formerly a member of the theatre program at Solano Community College, where his favorite role was Arlie Understudy for the show Getting Out. In high school he was casted as the swing for Into The Woods and went on as the Narrator/Mysterious Man. In his free time he enjoys sewing, crocheting, and spending time with his two black cats, Alice and Rosie.
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Camille La'akea Wong
Camille La’akea Wong (they/them) is so excited to be a teaching artist at Town Hall Theatre! Camille grew up doing children’s theatre in the Bay Area and is so grateful for the opportunity to teach the next generation of theatre kids. In addition to teaching, Camille serves as a director, stage manager, technical director, and actor. Recent projects include Shidaiqu (Stage Manager, SFBATCO) and School of Rock (QLAB operator, Royal Theatre Academy). In their free time, Camille loves to crochet and play dungeons and dragons with their friends.
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Kelly Handler
Kelly Handler (she/her) is very excited to be working with Town Hall. Kelly received a bachelors in Theater from Mills College in Oakland in 2021. She has trained and performed at the Young Rep Summer Conservatory as well as SingOut Theatre Company. Currently, she works part time as a language arts tutor and acting coach. She loves working with kids and is considering returning to school for a teaching credential. When she's not working, you can find her learning guitar or visiting friends.
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Larissa Kelloway
Ph.D., B.Sc.(Hons.)Biochem, B.A. (Musical Theatre)
Larissa is a conservatory trained performer and performing arts teacher, specializing in singing voice, bodywork & performing arts health. She equally balances her working life between performing contracts and teaching. She completed her PhD, titled “Investigating the role of Pilates in the posture and vocal production of singers,” in which she researched how vocal production can be supported by posture and strength. Some highlights from her Bay Area performing work include “Electra” in Gypsy, “Dogberry” and “Antonia” in Much Ado About Nothing, “Mrs Lancaster” in Groundhog Day: The Musical, “Marion” in The Boy From Oz, and ensemble roles in 9 to 5: The Musical, and Mamma Mia. Cabarets credits include Always Something There to Remind Me - Love as Portrayed by the music of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, The Ladies Who Lunch, and About Damn Time. Alongside her artistry, she is passionate about performing arts research and teaching, believing that high quality research supports pedagogical practices, enhances student learning, and champions career longevity. In her teaching, she seamlessly blends together her broad knowledge base, and aims to provide artists with the tools that will enhance their performance skills, vocal production and quality, movement efficiency, injury prevention and maintenance, and instrument optimization.
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Olga Khitarishvili
Olga Khitarishvili (she/her) is excited to be joining the Town Hall Theatre team as an assistant teaching artist! Born and raised in the East Bay, she is excited to share her love of theatre with students in the area and help foster their creativity. She recently graduated from UC San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. Her most recent credits include costume designer for Small Mouth Sounds (Company 157), stage manager for One Line or Two (Company 157), and playwright of Placeholder (UCSD Winter LABs).
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Erika March
Erika March (she/her) is a Bay Area native and is consistently excited to be at Town Hall working as Education Director and Teaching Artist! She has previously taught in theatres and schools around the Bay Area, Seattle, and Oklahoma City regions with a focus in arts integration programming. Erika is a graduate from Oklahoma City University and University College Cork, Ireland. In the past few years, Erika has also spent time as a director, pit musician, homesteader, and mom of four fur kids.
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Sarah Dove
Sarah Dove has been so fortunate to spend a life invested in the theatre growing up in the Bay. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Theatre Performance from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois where she gained experience not only on stage, but also as an assistant stage manager and a teaching assistant. Sarah has performed with theatre companies in the Bay Area such as City Lights Theatre Company, Chanticleers Theatre, and Theatre Cultura. She is so grateful to be a part of the Town Hall Education staff and to have the opportunity to pass on her love of theatre to a community of eager young theatre artists.
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Tristan Kelley
Tristan Kelley (he/they) is so excited to be part of the Town Hall Theatre team! He has been in theatre for over ten years as a performer and joined Town Hall’s team in Spring of 2025. They are currently a Psychology student at Diablo Valley College. Outside of work, he loves to read, see live shows, and go thrift shopping. Thank you for supporting the arts!
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Aubrey Bonham
Aubrey Bonham (she/her) is very excited to start teaching at Town Hall Theater. She is currently studying at Saint Mary’s College of California as a double major in history and theater. Aubrey has been lucky enough to be very involved in theater in her hometown and can’t wait to get involved in a new area. She has experience both onstage and offstage with some of her favorite roles being Anna in Frozen and the Queen of Hearts in Alice by Heart. She also has a background in children’s theater having worked at both Crocker House Creative Arts Center and Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp for many years. Aubrey loves working with children and looks forward to sharing her love of theater with the next generation!
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Taryn Hannigan
Taryn Hannigan (she/her) was born and raised in the East Bay, and is so happy to be a part of the arts community again! She started her acting journey with Town Hall at eight years old, and went on to perform with other local organizations such as Studio A Dance, Peter Pan Foundation, and Diablo Valley College. After graduating from Chapman University, she began working professionally at international theme parks. Recent projects include work with Plethos Productions and Theatre Rhinoceros. When she's not on stage, you can find her in a dance studio or curled up with a good book!