Hampshire Shakespeare Company’s Education Director

Carissa Dagenais, MA, RDT

Carissa Dagenais has been working with children as a nanny, theater teacher, and performer in the Pioneer Valley for over 10 years. She attended the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School, Simon’s Rock, and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. She graduated from Smith College with her BA in Theater and from New York University with her MA in Arts. She is a registered Drama Therapist and currently works as a mental health clinician in community mental health and in local after school programs teaching theater. Carissa taught with HSC for four summers and started our Social & Emotional Growth program.

Andrew Gilbert

Andrew Roberts has been a professional actor, fight director, and teacher/teaching artist for more than twenty years. Since moving to the Pioneer Valley eleven years ago, he has taught workshops at UMASS, the Williston Northampton School, Hampshire Shakespeare Company, and Hampshire Regional High School, as well as historical workshops on swordplay and the effects of swords on society at the Teen Think Tank home-school collective, and Northstar Star Self-Directed Learning for Teens. This will be his sixth summer with Hampshire Shakespeare Company’s summer theatre workshops, and is excited to be back (in person).

Andrew is a co-parent of three children (7, 4, and 1), and also teaches high school equivalency preparation classes, with The Literacy Project.

Isabel Brinton-Fenlason

I am an assistant teacher in Philly with a passion for theater! I love seeing students bring their imaginations to life on the stage and helping them to build their confidence in their creations. I can’t wait to see what we create together this summer! 

Wren Gilbert

Wren Gilbert is an actor/creative currently located in Northampton, MA. In addition to receiving her BA in Theatre from Smith College, she has over a decade of experience directing, choreographing, teaching theatre, visual art, and improvisation. She attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Beginnings Workshop, and completed her undergraduate career with departmental awards. Currently, you can find her working with kids, collaborating with MAD House Plays, and acting in The Academy of Music’s upcoming production of The Flick.