Theatre Aspen Office
Our administrative office is open Monday through Friday 10 am – 6 pm.
110 East Hallam Street
Suite 126
Aspen, Colorado 81611
Phone: 970.925.9313
Email: info@theatreaspen.org
Theatre Aspen’s Hurst Theatre
470 Rio Grande Place
Aspen, CO 81611
We also want to ensure that our programs are within the reach of any student who wants to participate, and Theatre Aspen Education proudly has never turned a student away due to financial need.
In order to achieve this, Theatre Aspen Education offers need-based scholarships, payment plans and work/study opportunities to students and their parents.
Scholarships are generously underwritten by sponsors and donors, including Juliet Shield-Taylor and the Robins Foundation, Nancy Blank, and Jackie and Jerry Kehle. Scholarship recipients are required to write thank-you notes, and parents are strongly encouraged to support Theatre Aspen School through their volunteer time and efforts.
If you are in need of a scholarship or payment plan, please email elissa@theatreaspen.org for information on how to apply.
Payment plans are available and Work study opportunities may be available depending on the time of season and our current needs.
Please contact Education Director, Elissa Russell at elissa@theatreaspen.org for further information.
A native Texan, Elissa comes to Aspen after spending two years as the Education Assistant at Midland Community Theatre, working for the same theatre education program where she received training throughout her childhood and teenage years. In this role, she taught classes for PreK-12th graders, directed multiple productions per year, assistant directed, and stage managed.
Elissa has also worked as teaching artist at professional theatres in Austin, Texas, and Richmond, Virginia. She holds a degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin with a specialization in Shakespeare. She also spent a year teaching English in Calais, France, and is fluent in French. Theatre has always been an essential part of Elissa’s life, and she is grateful to share her passion with students throughout the valley.
Elissa has also worked as teaching artist at professional theatres in Austin, Texas, and Richmond, Virginia. She holds a degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin with a specialization in Shakespeare. She also spent a year teaching English in Calais, France, and is fluent in French. Theatre has always been an essential part of Elissa’s life, and she is grateful to share her passion with students throughout the valley.
Erica Colarusso is a theatre educator and actress from Indianapolis, IN and is ecstatic to be teaching with Theatre Aspen after spending the summer at Teaching Apprentice and choreographing Frozen Jr.! Teaching: Indiana Repertory Theatre, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, Tippecanoe Arts Federation. Acting: Much Ado About Nothing (Indianapolis Shakespeare Company). When not at the theatre, Erica loves to cook, run, hike and sew. Love to her family, partner, mentors, and friends for their support. B.A. Theatre, Purdue University.
Teaching Artist
Erica Colarusso is a theatre educator and actress from Indianapolis, IN and is ecstatic to be teaching with Theatre Aspen after spending the summer at Teaching Apprentice and choreographing Frozen Jr.! Teaching: Indiana Repertory Theatre, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, Tippecanoe Arts Federation. Acting: Much Ado About Nothing (Indianapolis Shakespeare Company). When not at the theatre, Erica loves to cook, run, hike and sew. Love to her family, partner, mentors, and friends for their support. B.A. Theatre, Purdue University.
Choreographer; Teaching Artist
Luke Ryan is excited to be returning to Theatre Aspen education as a teacher after most recently choreographing The Lion King Jr.
Luke grew up with Theatre Aspen, performing in over fifteen productions. Luke is a graduate of AMDA in New York City where he trained in a concentrated conservatory for musical theatre and dance. NYC performance credits include: A Showcase of Unfortunate Events, Life’s a Mess, and Let’s Broadway: Off Broadway: A Cabaret Series. Regional performance credits include Cabaret at The Peregrine Theatre (Kit Kat Boy, U/S Bobby) and the most recent Theatre Aspen series of Summer Cabarets and Meet Me In St. Louis: A Live Radio Play. Luke’s choreography credits include, Beauty and the Beast, Godspell, and Ghost.
IG: @lukerryan
Choreographer; Teaching Artist
Luke Ryan is excited to be returning to Theatre Aspen education as a teacher after most recently choreographing The Lion King Jr.
Luke grew up with Theatre Aspen, performing in over fifteen productions. Luke is a graduate of AMDA in New York City where he trained in a concentrated conservatory for musical theatre and dance. NYC performance credits include: A Showcase of Unfortunate Events, Life’s a Mess, and Let’s Broadway: Off Broadway: A Cabaret Series. Regional performance credits include Cabaret at The Peregrine Theatre (Kit Kat Boy, U/S Bobby) and the most recent Theatre Aspen series of Summer Cabarets and Meet Me In St. Louis: A Live Radio Play. Luke’s choreography credits include, Beauty and the Beast, Godspell, and Ghost.
IG: @lukerryan
Maya Dougherty is a director and teaching artist from Oswego, IL. She recently graduated from Millikin University with a BFA in Theatre Administration. Last summer she worked with Lifeline Theatre in Chicago as an education intern, and this year she served as the first Director of Education at Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre, where she planned and implemented the company’s educational programming, and was a part of the Theatre Aspen Apprentice Class of 2020 as a Education Apprentice, also serving as the Assistant Director for Beauty and the Beast. Maya is so excited to be a part of the Theatre Aspen team!
Teaching Artist
Maya Dougherty is a director and teaching artist from Oswego, IL. She recently graduated from Millikin University with a BFA in Theatre Administration. Last summer she worked with Lifeline Theatre in Chicago as an education intern, and this year she served as the first Director of Education at Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre, where she planned and implemented the company’s educational programming, and was a part of the Theatre Aspen Apprentice Class of 2020 as a Education Apprentice, also serving as the Assistant Director for Beauty and the Beast. Maya is so excited to be a part of the Theatre Aspen team!
Graham Northrup led the education and training arm of Theatre Aspen for over ten years, stepping down from the role in early 2021 but still teaching and directing on occasion. Graham received his MFA in Directing from Baylor University and serves as the administrator, lead teacher and director for both youth and adult theatrical training for Theatre Aspen School. He has taught classes from elementary to graduate school.
He has directed the Theatre Aspen student productions of Newsies, School of Rock, Spamalot, James and the Giant Peach, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Shrek, the Musical, Working, The Importance of Being Earnest, Romeo and Juliet – the Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors and The Curious Savage, as well as The Phantom Tollbooth, Xanadu, Jr., Schoolhouse Rock, Live Jr., a musical version of The Hobbit and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr.
He has coached, directed and associate-directed for other local companies including The Foreigner with Snowmass Chapel and Barrymore with the Hudson Reed Ensemble. As an actor Graham has been seen as Cogsworth in ACT’s production of Beauty and the Beast, FDR in Theatre Aspen’s reprise of Annie, John Adams in ACT’s production of 1776, Guy in the Fringe Festival staged reading of John Cariani’s Last Gas, Oliver Kilbourne in Theatre Master’s reading of The Pitmen Painters and more. He is also a voiceover artist and photographer, in addition to being a husband to a wonderful wife and father of five hard-working, beautiful daughters.
Graham’s approach to coaching and directing is to help actors explore their own creativity, encourage them to push through perceived barriers and take their performance to new levels of emotional honesty, physical expression and collaboration.
Graham Northrup is in his tenth year leading the education and training arm of Theatre Aspen. Graham received his MFA in Directing from Baylor University and serves as the administrator, lead teacher and director for both youth and adult theatrical training for Theatre Aspen School. He has taught classes from elementary to graduate school.
He has directed the teen Conservatory productions of Newsies, School of Rock, Spamalot, James and the Giant Peach, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Shrek, the Musical, Working, The Importance of Being Earnest, Romeo and Juliet – the Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors and The Curious Savage, as well as The Phantom Tollbooth, Xanadu, Jr., Schoolhouse Rock, Live Jr., a musical version of The Hobbit and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr. for Theatre Aspen School’s Spring Youth Production series.
He has coached, directed and associate-directed for other local companies including The Foreigner with Snowmass Chapel and Barrymore with the Hudson Reed Ensemble. As an actor Graham has been seen as Cogsworth in ACT’s production of Beauty and the Beast, FDR in Theatre Aspen’s reprise of Annie, John Adams in ACT’s production of 1776, Guy in the Fringe Festival staged reading of John Cariani’s Last Gas, Oliver Kilbourne in Theatre Master’s reading of The Pitmen Painters and more. He is also a voiceover artist and photographer, in addition to being a husband to a wonderful wife and father of five hard-working, beautiful daughters.
Graham’s approach to coaching and directing is to help actors explore their own creativity, encourage them to push through perceived barriers and take their performance to new levels of emotional honesty, physical expression and collaboration with their scene partners. He employs both physical and psychological/emotional techniques to help actors reach their most truthful and compelling performance.
Abaigeal O’Donnell is a Chicago native teaching artist, director, and playwright. She is thrilled to be returning as a Teaching Artist to Theatre Aspen after being an Education Apprentice in 2018, and on staff in 2020, directing Frozen, Jr..
Recently, she was the Youtheatre Program Assistant at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, a Teaching Artist with The Stage School, and the Education Apprentice for School Programs at Roundabout Theatre Company. She received her BFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Theatre for Young Audiences from The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Abaigeal O’Donnell is a Chicago native teaching artist, director, and playwright. She is thrilled to be returning as a Teaching Artist to Theatre Aspen after being an Education Apprentice in 2018, and on staff in 2020, directing Frozen, Jr..
Recently, she was the Youtheatre Program Assistant at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, a Teaching Artist with The Stage School, and the Education Apprentice for School Programs at Roundabout Theatre Company. She received her BFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Theatre for Young Audiences from The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Terry Lee holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance from the University of the Pacific. She has performed in the Roaring Fork Valley as a soloist and accompanist since moving here in 1980. Ms. Lee retired after 19 years as the Director of Development at Colorado Rocky Mountain School where she also co-directed many of the school’s musicals. She was the music director for Thunder River Theatre’s production of Quilters. She collaborated with Lon Winston and Valerie Haugen on their production of Burns and Allen, a TRTC original, and she was the music director for CMC Theatre’s production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Lee has been the music director for over half a dozen Theatre Aspen School productions including The Hobbit (2014), Seussical, Jr (2014), Working, the Musical (2014), Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr (2015), Once Upon a Mattress, Jr (2015), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2015), Big Fish (2016), Alice in Wonderland (2017) and Spamalot (2017).
Terry Lee holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance from the University of the Pacific. She has performed in the Roaring Fork Valley as a soloist and accompanist since moving here in 1980. Ms. Lee retired after 19 years as the Director of Development at Colorado Rocky Mountain School where she also co-directed many of the school’s musicals. She was the music director for Thunder River Theatre’s production of Quilters. She collaborated with Lon Winston and Valerie Haugen on their production of Burns and Allen, a TRTC original, and she was the music director for CMC Theatre’s production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Lee has been the music director for over half a dozen Theatre Aspen School productions including The Hobbit (2014), Seussical, Jr (2014), Working, the Musical (2014), Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr (2015), Once Upon a Mattress, Jr (2015), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2015), Big Fish (2016), Alice in Wonderland (2017) and Spamalot (2017).
Amy Honey was a Los Angeles based actor until moving to the Midvalley in July, 2016 with her husband, Ryan, and 3 children. During her time in LA she appeared in numerous TV shows, commercials and short films. She was very active in the LA theatre scene as a member of both the Open Fist Theatre and the Syzygy Theatre Group. Amy also worked as a children’s commercial agent for Brick Entertainment. She recently appeared in Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse with Thunder River Theatre Company. She is currently teaching acting classes for Theatre Aspen School at Basalt Elementary and Middle School.
Amy Honey was a Los Angeles based actor until moving to the Midvalley in July, 2016 with her husband, Ryan, and 3 children. During her time in LA she appeared in numerous TV shows, commercials and short films. She was very active in the LA theatre scene as a member of both the Open Fist Theatre and the Syzygy Theatre Group. Amy also worked as a children’s commercial agent for Brick Entertainment. She recently appeared in Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse with Thunder River Theatre Company. She is currently teaching acting classes for Theatre Aspen School at Basalt Elementary and Middle School.
Elissa has also worked as teaching artist at professional theatres in Austin, Texas, and Richmond, Virginia. She holds a degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin with a specialization in Shakespeare. She also spent a year teaching English in Calais, France, and is fluent in French. Theatre has always been an essential part of Elissa’s life, and she is grateful to share her passion with students throughout the valley.
Choreographer; Teaching Artist
Luke Ryan is excited to be returning to Theatre Aspen education as a teacher after most recently choreographing The Lion King Jr.
Luke grew up with Theatre Aspen, performing in over fifteen productions. Luke is a graduate of AMDA in New York City where he trained in a concentrated conservatory for musical theatre and dance. NYC performance credits include: A Showcase of Unfortunate Events, Life’s a Mess, and Let’s Broadway: Off Broadway: A Cabaret Series. Regional performance credits include Cabaret at The Peregrine Theatre (Kit Kat Boy, U/S Bobby) and the most recent Theatre Aspen series of Summer Cabarets and Meet Me In St. Louis: A Live Radio Play. Luke’s choreography credits include, Beauty and the Beast, Godspell, and Ghost.
IG: @lukerryan
Teaching Artist
Erica Colarusso is a theatre educator and actress from Indianapolis, IN and is ecstatic to be teaching with Theatre Aspen after spending the summer at Teaching Apprentice! Teaching: Indiana Repertory Theatre, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, Tippecanoe Arts Federation. Acting: Much Ado About Nothing (Indianapolis Shakespeare Company). When not at the theatre, Erica loves to cook, run, hike and sew. Love to her family, partner, mentors, and friends for their support. B.A. Theatre, Purdue University.
Teaching Artist
Maya Dougherty is a director and teaching artist from Oswego, IL. She recently graduated from Millikin University with a BFA in Theatre Administration. Last summer she worked with Lifeline Theatre in Chicago as an education intern, and this year she served as the first Director of Education at Pipe Dreams Studio Theatre, where she planned and implemented the company’s educational programming, and was a part of the Theatre Aspen Apprentice Class of 2020 as a Education Apprentice, also serving as the Assistant Director for Beauty and the Beast. Maya is so excited to be a part of the Theatre Aspen team!
Teaching Artist
Graham Northrup led the education and training arm of Theatre Aspen for over ten years, stepping down from the role in early 2021 but still teaching and directing on occasion. Graham received his MFA in Directing from Baylor University and serves as the administrator, lead teacher and director for both youth and adult theatrical training for Theatre Aspen School. He has taught classes from elementary to graduate school.
He has directed the Theatre Aspen student productions of Newsies, School of Rock, Spamalot, James and the Giant Peach, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Shrek, the Musical, Working, The Importance of Being Earnest, Romeo and Juliet – the Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors and The Curious Savage, as well as The Phantom Tollbooth, Xanadu, Jr., Schoolhouse Rock, Live Jr., a musical version of The Hobbit and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr.
He has coached, directed and associate-directed for other local companies including The Foreigner with Snowmass Chapel and Barrymore with the Hudson Reed Ensemble. As an actor Graham has been seen as Cogsworth in ACT’s production of Beauty and the Beast, FDR in Theatre Aspen’s reprise of Annie, John Adams in ACT’s production of 1776, Guy in the Fringe Festival staged reading of John Cariani’s Last Gas, Oliver Kilbourne in Theatre Master’s reading of The Pitmen Painters and more. He is also a voiceover artist and photographer, in addition to being a husband to a wonderful wife and father of five hard-working, beautiful daughters.
Graham’s approach to coaching and directing is to help actors explore their own creativity, encourage them to push through perceived barriers and take their performance to new levels of emotional honesty, physical expression and collaboration.
Teaching Artist
Abaigeal O’Donnell is a Chicago native teaching artist, director, and playwright. She is thrilled to be returning as a Teaching Artist to Theatre Aspen after being an Education Apprentice in 2018, and on staff in 2020, directing Frozen, Jr..
Recently, she was the Youtheatre Program Assistant at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, a Teaching Artist with The Stage School, and the Education Apprentice for School Programs at Roundabout Theatre Company. She received her BFA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Theatre for Young Audiences from The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Terry Lee holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance from the University of the Pacific. She has performed in the Roaring Fork Valley as a soloist and accompanist since moving here in 1980. Ms. Lee retired after 19 years as the Director of Development at Colorado Rocky Mountain School where she also co-directed many of the school’s musicals. She was the music director for Thunder River Theatre’s production of Quilters. She collaborated with Lon Winston and Valerie Haugen on their production of Burns and Allen, a TRTC original, and she was the music director for CMC Theatre’s production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Lee has been the music director for over half a dozen Theatre Aspen School productions including The Hobbit (2014), Seussical, Jr (2014), Working, the Musical (2014), Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr (2015), Once Upon a Mattress, Jr (2015), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2015), Big Fish (2016), Alice in Wonderland (2017) and Spamalot (2017).
Amy Honey was a Los Angeles based actor until moving to the Midvalley in July, 2016 with her husband, Ryan, and 3 children. During her time in LA she appeared in numerous TV shows, commercials and short films. She was very active in the LA theatre scene as a member of both the Open Fist Theatre and the Syzygy Theatre Group. Amy also worked as a children’s commercial agent for Brick Entertainment. She recently appeared in Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse with Thunder River Theatre Company. She is currently teaching acting classes for Theatre Aspen School at Basalt Elementary and Middle School.
Theatre Aspen Education is committed to the health and safety of our students and staff first and foremost. Our classroom procedures will be based on the most up-to-date recommendations from the national, state, and local levels.
We are eager to get back in the classroom and on stage, but are dedicated to doing so in a way that prioritizes the safety of our students while keeping parents’ minds at ease.
For a more in-depth look at our 2020 Safety Protocols, please email education@theatreaspen.org