Darien Arts Center Welcomes Theatre Program Director

The Darien Arts Center is happy to welcome Maria Pizzarello of Stamford as its new Theatre Program Director. She will oversee theatre programs for both adults and children at the DAC and is part of the team leading a series of three Audition Workshops for those 15 years and older on June 26, 27 and 28.

Maria Pizzarello has been a NYC Public School teaching artist since 2005. In the past she has worked with the Theatre Development Fund, LeAP!, Onstage, Periwinkle Theater for Youth, and Theatre For A New Audience. Her students have performed and adapted the work of Shakespeare, written their own plays, devised ensemble performance pieces, sang and danced in musical productions, and performed their peers’ work on a Broadway stage. Growing up in New York, Pizzarello attended LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts for Drama, and recently adjudicated the auditions for incoming students. In 2004, she graduated with a degree in performance from Fordham University at Lincoln Center. She is an actress and a playwright and is published with Playscripts and Stage Partners.

Pizzarello is part of a team teaching Book the Gig at the DAC, an audition workshop geared toward the professional theatre audition and also leads The College Audition Workshop. These workshops are part of a series of three Audition Workshops that take place from 5-7 p.m. for those 15 years and older. Session 1 of the workshops is The Musical Audition, which takes place on June 26. It is taught by Rocco Natale, Executive Director of Open Arts Alliance along with accompanist, composer and librettist, Jake Lloyd. Book the Gig takes place on June 27th, with Pizzarella leading the first hour of the workshop, followed by NYC Casting Director Martha Wollner teaching the second half. The College Audition on June 28th addresses many questions that high school graduates will have as they navigate through the college audition process.

For more information or to register for workshops, visit darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. For questions, email Maria Pizzarello at maria@darienarts.org. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Darien Town Hall.