Ragan Hoffman

FROM CENTERSTAGE TO BACKSTAGE!

Backstage is just as important as being center stage!

Join us as we talk with Ragan Hoffman, Professional Stage Manager, on the importance of the work done behind the scenes and how it can be just as important to make a production successful. We will cover all aspects of Technical Theatre jobs, from Stage Management to Design.

Ragan Hoffman is a South Jersey native who recieved her Bachelors of the Arts in Technical Theatre and an Arts Administration Minor at Rider University in Lawrenceville,  New Jersey. Theatre has always been a huge part of Ragan’s life from watching her brother perform, to performing herself, and then eventually taking the plunge into the Tech side where she found her forever home. 

Ragan has spent the last 9 years stage managing and light designing for the Off Broad Street Players Theatre Company at The Levoy Theatre, Commercial Township Performing Arts Department, Broadway Theatre of Pitman and just recently finished Stage Managing the World Premiere of New Musical: CLEAN SLATE in a Co-Pro between her Alma Mater and Passage Theatre in Trenton. Ragan has stage managed over 30 and light designed over 20 shows in her career.

Upcoming Adventure: BIG FISH! @ Broadway Theatre of Pitman!

CREATING A CHARACTER!

Actors tell a story using their voices, posture, movement, and more! Join us with celebrated area performer and teacher Anne Buckwheat as she shares strategies and techniques for becoming adept at creating a character on stage! We will also design masks to reflect the qualities of the character. 

Anne Buckwheat has portrayed a wide range of characters on stage and in independent films. Her favorite roles include Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, Widow Corny in Oliver, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie and Violet Weston in August: O’Sage County for which she won the 2015 NJACT Perry Award for Best Actress.

Her favorite film roles include: Secretary to the City Planner in Jason’s Letter, Peggy Moretti in Spending Thanksgiving with the Moretti’s and Mrs. Williams in the recently release Indi-horror film, Human Hibachi. Anne is an adjunct professor at Rowan College of South Jersey in the Theatre Department, teaching Stage Make-Up, Acting for Television and Children’s Theater. She is also a teaching artist at the Broadway Theatre of Pitman, MainStage Center for the Arts and Appel Farm.

STAGE COMBAT FOR YOUNG JEDI 

Join us for a fun day where students will learn basic strikes, blocks, falls, and force powers, delivered with safe foam light saber replicas (provided). The class will culminate with short choreography performed by students.

IT’S STILL CHRISTMAS!

Jennifer Carll-Simon, owner of the Squirrel’s Nest Art Studio in downtown Woodstown, taught elementary and middle school art for 26 years, before retiring in 2020. For more than 20 years, she taught Art at the Stow Creek Elementary and Morris Goodwin schools. At the Squirrel’s Nest, Jennifer teaches children and adults to explore their creativity through formal instruction and open studio time. This includes: Doodle Club for ages 7 to 14, art classes for home-school students, Wednesday Workshop for artists over 60, monthly Pizza and Painting for 8 to 13 year olds, monthly Sip and Paints for adults, and birthday parties for all ages. She also provides opportunities for local artists to teach and display (and sell) their work. This is Jennifer’s second year working with the Center Stage Kids. Jennifer grew up in Lower Alloways Creek, graduated from Salem High School and earned a bachelor of fine Art Degree from Kutztown University. She lives in Shiloh with her family and two dogs. 

Designer Cookies with Melissa Harnois. 

Melissa is a self-taught home baker who loves creating delicious desserts for friends and family. She first started cookie and cake decorating with her grand mom as a teenager and has stayed baking for the last 25 years.  Some of her favorite projects have been her 2 tier unicorn cake and her Christmas snowflake and Santa Claus cookies.